After half a month of participating in the campaign entitled ‘Proud of a stretch of mountains and rivers’ launched by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCM CYU) Central Committee, there were more than 500 maps of Viet Nam with QR codes hung up by units and schools across the city with the hope of promoting publicity activities and educating patriotism, territorial integrity and national pride for the young generation.

Da Nang’s youth have simultaneously changed their Facebook avatars to respond to the campaign ‘Proud of a strip of mountains and rivers’ launched by the Central Youth Union. Photo: H.L

Looking at the map of Viet Nam mounted with augmented reality technology (AR technology) hanging next to the podium, Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, a 11^th grade student at the Phan Chau Trinh Senior High School, said emotionally, after her class was equipped large map, my friends and I often scan the QR code printed below the map to access the link https://bando.doanthanhnien.vn/ .

AR technology helps young girls see 3D digital maps on the phone screen and use it to interact with friends on digital technology platforms. The website also provides information and meaning of the campaign ‘Proud of a stretch of mountains and rivers’ and regularly updates the number of maps posted throughout the country.

“Looking at the information on the map, I am more aware of the issue of territorial integrity. In addition, it also helps students learn history and geography well thanks to easily looking up information and images through digital technology platforms," Kim Anh said.

It is known that this is one of nearly 50 maps of Viet Nam with QR codes given to teachers and students of the Phan Chau Trinh Senior High School by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee. Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung, the Principal of the school, said that this is a school with a 70-year history of formation and development, named after patriot Phan Chau Trinh.

According to the teacher, large-sized maps of the Fatherland hung solemnly in the classroom will serve as a reminder of the nation's peace, independence and freedom.

Similarly, at the Hoang Sa Exhibition House, there is also a large map of Viet Nam with a QR code in the lobby area to welcome visiting groups. Mr. Le Tien Cong, the Director of Hoang Sa Exhibition House, affirmed that the exhibition house is an address to educate patriotism and territorial integrity for pupils, students and local residents in general.

Therefore, installing a large-sized map of Viet Nam using AR technology will contribute to an interesting story about the love of the homeland, and the country at large, among the young generation. Not to mention, over time, the map will become a display artifact, marking an important milestone of the country's youth looking towards their homeland's sea and islands.

As a pioneer locality in implementing the campaign ‘Proud of a stretch of rivers and mountains’, Mr. Nguyen Manh Dung, the Secretary of Da Nang Youth Union, affirmed that the map of Viet Nam is a symbol of national and ethnic sovereignty. Hanging maps at places of study and work helps each person be more aware of preserving and protecting the integrity of Viet Nam's territory.

Mr. Dung further informed that in recent times, Youth Union members and young people in the city have organized many programmes and activities to spread patriotism and national pride. In that spirit, the city's youth will continue to accompany and prepare more maps of the Fatherland for distribution to municipal departments, agencies and private areas.

The campaign ‘Proud of a strip of mountains and rivers’ is being run by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee from now until 2025 at all levels of Youth Union at home and abroad.

Through the use of Viet Nam maps in learning, working and community living spaces, the organisers hope that people, especially the younger generation, will be more aware of preserving and protecting the integrity of the country's territory.

At the launching ceremony, Mr. Bui Quang Huy, the First Secretary of the Central Youth Union, affirmed that each of such maps helps people better understand geographical indications and place names associated with the history of the country’s development. To promote the value of the map, the Central Youth Union has required localities to place them in solemn, visible, and easy-to-see locations.

"With the criterion "each map is a heart of Viet Nam", we encourage people to hang maps on podiums, community houses, civil defense stations, border guards and border areas, seas and islands. Each map will be a testament to patriotism and to efforts to study and strive to build the Fatherland in the future," Mr. Huy expected.

Reporting by HUYNH LE - Translating by A.THU