As member of a delegation to visit Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands in May 2026, Mdm. Dau Thuy Ha, representatives of the Vietnam Association for Non-Public Preschool Education (VANPPE) met an extraordinary educator, Mr. Cao Van Truyen, the preschool teacher serving on Truong Sa Island. Amidst the vast ocean and challenging living conditions, his unwavering dedication to young children deeply inspired her and every member of the delegation.
Born into the Ra Glai ethnic minority community in Khanh Son District, Khanh Hoa Province, Mr. Truyen graduated from Nha Trang College of Education in 2011. Before volunteering for Truong Sa, he spent more than a decade teaching in mountainous areas of his home province, where he received recognition from Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training for his innovation and excellence in teaching. When the opportunity arose to volunteer on the nation’s remote islands, he did not hesitate to apply, believing that every Vietnamese child deserves access to quality early childhood education, regardless of where they are born.
Life in a preschool classroom on Truong Sa is unlike anywhere else. The number of children is small, their ages vary, and educational resources depend largely on supply ships arriving from the mainland. Beyond teaching, Mr. Truyen cares for the children’s daily routines, organizes creative learning activities, and provides the warmth and security they need to thrive. Watching the children gather around him, one can easily sense the trust and affection they have for their teacher.
Despite the island’s isolation, Mr. Truyen has embraced digital technology to enrich children’s learning experiences. Making full use of the island’s internet connection, he designs multimedia lessons, collects educational videos, digital storybooks, songs, and interactive learning materials that introduce children to Vietnam’s diverse landscapes, cultures, and wildlife beyond the horizon. Technology also enables him to connect regularly with fellow preschool teachers on the mainland, exchange professional knowledge, and continuously update his teaching methods to provide the best possible learning environment for his students.
Reflecting on his work, Mr. Truyen shared a philosophy that perfectly captures the essence of early childhood education:
“To do this job well, one must truly love the children and treat them as your own. At the same time, you need to observe them carefully, understand their emotions, encourage them, and praise their efforts. Only then will they come to school with joy and enthusiasm.”
Perhaps the most moving aspect of Mr. Truyen’s story is his resilience. In 2024, while serving on Truong Sa Island, he received news that his mother had become critically ill. After returning home to care for her during her final days and arranging her funeral, he chose to return to the island and continue teaching. His commitment reflects not only professional responsibility but also a profound sense of service to the children, their families, and Vietnam’s island communities.
For the families living on Truong Sa, the preschool classroom represents much more than a place of learning. It provides reassurance that their children are growing up in a caring educational environment, allowing parents to focus on their duties of safeguarding Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty.
Mr. Cao Van Truyen’s story is a powerful reminder that the future of education is shaped not only in modern classrooms but also in the country’s most remote frontiers. Through compassion, innovation, and unwavering commitment, he is planting the seeds of knowledge, kindness, and patriotism in the youngest generation of Truong Sa—one child, one lesson, and one smile at a time.
