One of them is 26-year-old Phan Thi Thuy Tien. fter graduating from Quy Nhon University in 2022, she worked as an office employee before leaving her job to care for her newborn child. Encouraged by others to apply for a village leadership position, she decided to give it a try. “I never imagined myself in this role, but looking closely into it, I saw a potential career opportunity,” she says.
In July, she was appointed interim head of a village in Son Cam Ha Commune, Da Nang, which has nearly 390 households with 1,800 people.
The position helps her understand how local government works while enabling her to build relationships with local residents and senior officials. Her income, at VND5 million (US$197) a month, while modest, ensures a modicum of financial stability and enables her to care for her family.
Tien was among the area’s first two Gen Z village heads, Pham Viet Hau, chairman of the Son Cam Ha Commune people’s committee, says. “Bringing young people into these roles meets a pressing administrative need for tech adaptability.”
|
Phan Thi Thuy Tien, 26, as village head in Son Cam Ha Commune, Da Nang, July 2026. Photo courtesy of Tien |
Tien’s story is part of a wider trend in which village leadership is increasingly getting infused with young blood.
In Hai Phong’s Cam Giang Commune, two out of nine village heads belong to Gen Z, with the youngest being born in 2002. This trend is also reshaping how youths view public service.
Since early July, social media platforms have seen a surge in posts by young people sharing their “village head campaign manifestos,” complete with ambitious action plans and earnest visions for local development.
Among them is Nguyen Van Sang, 20, a third-year student at Da Nang University of Education, who recently posted a video showcasing his academic achievements to build public credibility to prepare for his future nomination as village head.
Sang used to think village administration was strictly for experienced elders, but seeing many local officials in their early 20s featured in the media has changed his perspective.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi To Quyen of the Academy of Journalism and Communication, with the recent reorganization expanding grassroots administrative regions, the role of village head has evolved into “a crucial link in community management.”
Leading a village now demands more than traditional elder prestige; it requires organizational capacity, management skills, and digital literacy, all areas in which younger people excel, she says.
She adds that as long as the position offers decent compensation and social recognition, it could become a viable career path for the younger generations.
But running a village in this era is no mean feat. The lack of practical experience and community engagement skills remain the main hurdle for young officials, Hau says.
Nguyen Hai Tan, chief of office at the Cam Giang Commune people’s council and people’s committee, says in the past, leaders were mostly veterans well-versed in resolving local disputes, but it is a task at which younger village heads often struggle.
Tien admits that while youth and tech-savviness are her greatest assets, she also faces some clear drawbacks.
Having moved to her husband’s hometown of Dai Trang just three years ago, she was initially unfamiliar with the area and its residents, especially as the territory was recently expanded following the administrative merger.
Ultimately, her toughest test lies in mastering public speaking and handling local grievances.
To overcome these hurdles, she constantly visits homes, attends village meetings, and learns about each household and its circumstances.
She has even set up social media groups for the village, while planning community events with year-end prizes to boost local engagement.
 |
|
Pham Luong Phuong Nguyen, 26, head of a village Fatherland Front Working Committee in Bao Thuan Commune, Lam Dong Province, aspires to become the village head, July 2026. Photo courtesy of Nguyen |
Similar ambitions are taking root elsewhere. In 2023, Pham Luong Phuong Nguyen returned to her hometown in Lam Dong Province at age 23 to join the local government, rising to become deputy secretary of the commune Youth Union and leading the Village Fatherland Front Working Committee.
Working in an area with a predominantly Co Ho ethnic population, she initially struggled with language and generational divides.
To overcome the challenges, she created social media groups to connect residents and organized sports tournaments and community games during holidays. “These activities brought people out of their shells and bridged the gap between families, helping bring everyone together for common causes,” she says.
Having found her footing, she now plans to run for village head soon.
Quyen emphasizes that retaining young talent requires more than just community recognition; it needs structural support, including fair incomes, social respect, and clear career advancement. “When young adults see a defined career path and room to grow, they will view local leadership as a lifelong calling rather than a temporary gig.”