Hailing from a rural riverside village along the Red River, Tran Viet Long rose to become an Information Technology lecturer, becoming one of the first people with disabilities in Vietnam to work professionally in the IT field. His journey is a poignant story of perseverance, faith, and an unwavering desire to build his own future.
Born in 2000 in Hanoi, Long has a severe mobility disability, including partial paralysis on the left side, a stiff left arm, and a limp. His parents are farmers who spent their lives working in the fields. Since childhood, they taught Long to perform household tasks within his abilities. Through these simple tasks, Long began to find self-worth, realizing that he could be helpful and capable, just like anyone else.
As an early members of Vietnam’s community of disabled learners, Tran Viet Long was deeply inspired by Nguyen Cong Hung, the late “IT knight” who pioneered IT learning pathway for people with disabilities. Driven by this inspiration, Long devoted himself entirely to programming, aiming to prove that people with disabilities can live independently and make meaningful contributions to society. In Station of Love, with the theme “Stepping Toward the Future”, audiences follow Long’s emotional journey, from a partially paralyzed rural boy to an IT lecturer. The program also delivers a touching surprise when Vu Phong Ky, the teacher who accompanied and mentored Long during his studies, appears to congratulate him.
Not only did Long overcome his own physical limitations, but he also became a dedicated teacher and an inspiring torchbearer in Vietnam’s disability community. He won awards at the Global IT Challenge (GITC) for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024, an international competition with contestants from across the Asia–Pacific region. In previous years, he won Third Prize at GITC 2022 in China and Second Prize at GITC 2023 in the UAE. These achievements bring pride not only to himself but also to the disabled community of Vietnam. Today, Tran Viet Long serves as a coach of Vietnam’s national team of disabled contestants, doing so without compensation. Outside of work, he volunteers to train candidates, share his skills, and prepare them for international competitions.
Long has transformed from a boy with a clenched, immobile hand, Long has become a lecturer, a career mentor, a motivational figure, and a representative of a new generation of Vietnamese youth with disabilities who live meaningfully, help others, and continue to make a meaningful contribution. The gift from Station of Love will be a source of strength for Viet Long as he continues his humane and inspiring journey.
In this special episode themed “Stepping Toward the Future”, viewers will hear Long’s story and see his warm smile. They will also realize a simple yet powerful truth: even when one’s legs cannot move freely, it is possible to advance toward the future, with intellect, willpower, and a steadfast heart.
Station of Love airs at its regular time, 10:00 AM, Saturday, November 15, on VTV1.
