Phan Vũ Kim Phụng (centre) with her mother and brother at the Party admission ceremony in February 2022. Photo sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY - In recent days, people in Long Hòa coastal commune, HCM City's Cần Giờ district, have talked a lot about Huỳnh Trần Diễm Thúy, a graduate who volunteered to join the army this year.

With a bachelor’s degree in archivology, Thúy could easily find a suitable job but instead, wants to enlist in the military.

And she couldn't have been happier when she got the go-ahead to join the army.

At first, she was worried that because she only weighed 44kg, she might not meet the criteria for enlistment, but her fears were put to rest when she got the call-up.

For Thúy, her mother who works as a police officer has always been her idol.

The image of the mother in a military uniform, working for the community has been the driving force behind Thúy's decision.

Like Thúy, Phan Vũ Kim Phụng, a 25-year-old woman from District 3 in HCM City, also wrote a volunteer application for military service.

After graduating from university with academic results in economic law, Phụng applied to join the local mobile militia.

Wearing the blue shirt of militia, she actively participated in local movements and social activities. With outstanding achievements in local activities, the young woman became a Communist Party member in 2022.

Phụng's mother Vũ Thị Ngọc Hải Phượng said she encouraged her daughter's ambition, and saw many young people join the military service while she was working in Ward No 13.

"I felt quite emotional when I found that my daughter wrote an application to join the army," Phượng told Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberation Sài Gòn) newspaper.

Phụng is her youngest daughter and joined the local mobile militia after graduating from university and participating in COVID-19 prevention works.

The mother said: "Phụng really becomes more mature when she is a member of the Communist Party. It will be more difficult for a woman to serve in military service, but I always support my daughter's determination. And I believe Phụng will complete her duty well."

For Nguyễn Trang Hương Trúc, 22, from Xuân Thới Đông Commune, Hóc Môn District, wearing a blue shirt of the soldier is the fulfilment of her family's 20-year wish.

Nguyễn Văn Cước, Trúc's father said after leaving the army in 1989 and getting married, he wished to have a son and his son would join the army. But he has three daughters only.

Understanding her father's wish, Trúc volunteered to join the army after obtaining a college degree in economics.

"Teachers often told the whole class about the hometown's stories with glorious historical victories," she said.

"The desire to join the army, wearing the blue shirt of Uncle Hồ's army has come true. The days in the army will be difficult and hard, but I'm confident I can do it."

Phạm Hữu Nghĩa, military commander of Xuân Thới Đông Commune, said Trúc was the only female citizen representing Hóc Môn District to sign up.

"Not only her family, but the people in Xuân Thới Đông Commune are so proud of her," Nghĩa said.

Like other localities around the country, HCM City is scheduled to hand over the new soldiers to army units by February 8.

This year, the city recruited 4,079 citizens to join the military, including three females who wrote volunteer applications for military service.

Of these, 84 people are Party members, accounting for 2.21 per cent. Over 45 per cent of recruits have university and college degrees. VNS