On February 5th 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City Association for the Protection of Children’s Rights, in collaboration with Save the Children in Vietnam and relevant municipal departments, organized the Ho Chi Minh City Children’s Forum 2026 under the theme “For a Safe and Friendly Online Environment for Children.”
The forum brought together 150 child delegates from lower secondary schools, centers, and child care facilities across the city.
Photo: Children participating in the Forum.
During the program, participants were divided into six discussion groups and selected representatives to present on key topics, including: risks and threats to safety on the internet and social media; common risks faced by girls and ways to respond; skills to prevent online abuse, exploitation, and fraud; considerations when using AI for learning and entertainment; and the roles of families, schools, local authorities, and communities in building a safe and child-friendly online environment.
Following the discussions, the children engaged in direct dialogue with city leaders, representatives of departments and agencies, and experts. They confidently raised questions, shared recommendations, and expressed their expectations to policymakers and those involved in designing programs for children. At the same time, they received guidance and insights from police officers, technology experts, teachers, and city officials.
At the forum, Van, an 8th-grade student, shared: “The forum is very useful and engaging. It helps me gain more skills to protect myself online. Our group brought the message ‘Use AI wisely – don’t let AI use you’ to remind everyone to use AI in a proactive and safe way.”
Photo: Student sharing ideas in the Forum.
Providing advice at the event, Lieutenant Colonel Bui Thai Duc from the Ho Chi Minh City Police noted that social media and the internet can be either beneficial or harmful depending on how they are used. Adults generally have the knowledge and skills to distinguish between accurate and misleading information, while students often lack experience and are more vulnerable to harmful online content. He advised children to proactively seek information, communicate with family members and teachers, avoid imitating dangerous online behaviors, and not be drawn into illegal activities.
Photo: Representative of HCMC Police in the Forum.
Mr. Nguyen Tang Minh, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, stated that through the forum, the organizers aim to fully capture children’s opinions and practical recommendations on building a safe, healthy, and friendly online environment. These inputs will be conveyed to relevant authorities to contribute to improving policies and action programs for children in the city.
“In the context of rapid digital development, the online environment offers many opportunities for learning and connection, but also poses significant risks. Therefore, listening to children’s voices is a crucial foundation for families, schools, authorities, and communities to develop appropriate, effective, and practical solutions for child protection,” Mr. Minh emphasized.
Source: Phụ nữ Việt Nam
