Amid the electric atmosphere of the 24th Hanoi High School SoccerTournament – An Ninh Thu Do (Capital Security) Cup Number 1 Active 2025, endurance athlete and inspirational figure Vu Phuong Thanh (Thanh Vu), serving as brand ambassador for Number 1 under Tan Hiep Phat Group, shared thoughtful reflections on community values, youth development, and the deeper meaning behind long-term corporate engagement with the tournament.

For Thanh Vu, the competition—organized by An Ninh Thu Do (Capital Security) Newspaper—is more than a sporting event. It is a platform where students not only build physical strength, but also cultivate responsibility, life skills, and enduring values for the future.

 “It feels like coming home”

Returning to Hanoi for the tournament, Thanh Vu described a sense of familiarity and emotional connection.

“Each time I come back—especially for an event like this—I feel as though I’m returning home,” she said.

The stadium at Xuan Dinh, vibrant with flags, drums, and cheers from early morning, radiates youthful energy. Standing in the middle of that environment, she added, serves as a powerful reminder of why Tan Hiep Phat and its Number 1 Active brand have committed to supporting the tournament over many years. 

More than numbers: A story of growth

This year’s tournament saw a record 125 participating teams, a dramatic rise from just 31 teams in 2001.

For Thanh Vu, the figure is symbolic.

“It’s not just about the number of teams. It represents aspiration, expansion, and trust,” she said.

She credited the organizers’ persistence in building a safe, meaningful, and civilized sporting environment for students—an effort that has allowed the tournament to evolve into one of Hanoi’s most significant youth sporting events. 

A shared mission between media and business

Since 2017, Tan Hiep Phat has partnered with the tournament as a key sponsor. According to Thanh Vu, the longevity of this collaboration lies in a natural alignment of values.

[lời trích] sThrough the Number 1 Active Cup tournament, the message is to encourage young people to strengthen both mind and body, push beyond their limits, live positively, and confidently pursue their goals in life—true to the spirit of ‘Active every moment’.

An Ninh Thu Do seeks to create a healthy, enriching playground for students, while Number 1 Active aims to inspire a positive and active lifestyle among young people.

“When those two goals meet, the journey becomes organic,” she explained.

She emphasized that meaningful values are often nurtured through simple moments—sharing a drink, celebrating a goal, or embracing the spirit of fair play. These, she believes, are what generations of students remember most: a sense of community, responsibility, and personal growth.

“Community comes first”

At the heart of Tan Hiep Phat’s philosophy is a commitment to social responsibility.

“This is not a slogan—it is a guiding principle and core value,” Thanh Vu said.

Every meaningful action, every effort to push beyond one’s limits, contributes to the broader community. That ethos, she noted, has been central to the company’s sustained growth—and is a lesson they hope students absorb through participation in the tournament.

Soccer, in this sense, becomes more than a game. It becomes a classroom for teamwork, accountability, and awareness toward social contribution.

More than a beverage brand

Thanh Vu was clear that Number 1 is not merely a sports drink brand.

It represents a mindset: forward movement, resilience, and the courage to challenge personal limits.

“Each bottle is not just about hydration or energy boost—it’s about encouragement,” she said. “To stand up, to run, to try, to push forward.”

She expressed particular admiration for how naturally Hanoi’s students embrace this spirit—with sincerity, enthusiasm, and youthful intensity. 

Lessons that extend beyond the pitch

Having completed some of the world’s most extreme endurance challenges—from deserts to ultra-distance triathlons—Thanh Vu noted that the emotions she feels watching students play soccer are uniquely powerful.

“It’s pure, fresh, and full of innocence,” she reflected.

On the field, students learn to respect rules, recover from failure, manage emotions, and fight for a collective goal—skills that will prove essential in life beyond sport.

A message to the next generation

Asked what she hopes students will take away from the tournament, Thanh Vu’s answer was both simple and profound:

“It’s not purely about winning or losing. Pay attention to the journey and the values that matter”

She encouraged participants to carry forward the spirit of fair play, resilience under pressure, teamwork, and above all, a commitment to something larger than themselves.

“When we live for something beyond ourselves, we become stronger,” she said.

In both sport and life, victory and defeat are inevitable. What endures, she emphasized, is the journey that we can be proud of—the break-through training sessions, the moments of overcoming struggles, the shared encouragement among teammates.

“Those are the things that shape who you become.”

And with youth on their side, she reminded them, many more challenges—and opportunities—still lie ahead.