Millions of Vietnamese mobile users were surprised this week when major carriers Viettel, MobiFone and VinaPhone changed their network names to “Tự hào Việt Nam” (“Proud of Vietnam”) ahead of National Day.
The phrase appeared on the night of August 31 and throughout September 1, replacing the usual carrier names on subscribers’ phones. iPhone users could see the message after restarting their devices or toggling Airplane Mode.
The move, rare in the telecommunications industry, came without advertisements or fanfare. Instead, the carriers delivered a subtle but powerful gesture of unity and patriotism as Vietnam prepared to mark its September 2 national holiday.
Vietnamese operators have previously used network name changes to spread public messages, including “Stay at home!” during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
(Source: Vietnam+)
