STCo AI HAY 2025 Awards: The FPT spirit needs to be “uncorked” again
In a cozy atmosphere with peanuts and beer, FPT people gathered, humming along to the familiar tunes of classic STCo songs. More than just an award ceremony, it was an honest dialogue about preserving and developing FPT’s unique cultural legacy.
On the afternoon of September 9, the award ceremony for the STCo AI HAY songwriting contest took place at FPT Tower. The event was graced by the special presence of FPT CEO Nguyen Van Khoa, musician Truong Quy Hai, FPT Software Creative Director Dinh Tien Dung, FPT Retail HR Director Hoang Cao Chung, along with representatives of the FPT Culture & Union Committee from various subsidiaries.
Several impressive numbers were highlighted by Nguyen Thanh Hung, Head of FPT Culture & Union Committee. With over 200 entries and enthusiastic participation from 7 subsidiaries, the contest was a complete success. At the same time, the organizers discovered new “seedlings” of STCo talent among the younger generation.
The authors of the top three prizes (First, Second, and Third) took to the stage to perform and present their “brainchildren.” Each piece received detailed comments from CEO Khoa. “For the Second Prize That Dung Bai and the Third Prize Retail Blung Bling, they were excellent and very suitable for grand stage performances, but in terms of copyright, they could easily run into trouble. Also, their catchiness and singalong quality were not very strong,” he said. He emphasized that the First Prize Ly Nhan Sep was well-deserved because of its simplicity, its folk melody roots, and no copyright risk. “FPT people can sing it anywhere, especially… at a nhậu table,” he joked.
The performances were delivered live, with the powerful voices of FPT singers unleashing the full STCo spirit.
It is known that the Second Prize work That Dung Bai was composed and performed by two GHC members: Vu Bich Ngoc and Nguyen Duc Thai. With a message closely tied to FSOFT’s 2025 business goals and its acceleration strategy in the AI race, the STCo piece boldly showcased the distinctive “spirit” of the Software House.
STCo to Remember and Pass On
Sipping beer, the veteran “big trees” of FPT’s STCo songwriting scene also shared heartfelt concerns about the past, present, and future of FPT culture, and what shape the FPT spirit might take in the years to come.
According to Dinh Tien Dung, “STCo needs to be fun, easy to spread, and carry a meaningful message — it shouldn’t be ‘soulless.’ Contribute to the shared joy, so that peers of the same generation can enjoy together.” “Professor Xoay” also suggested a simple formula for creating a proper STCo piece: choose music slow enough to articulate the lyrics; target the right audience by subtracting 20 years from their current age to find their musical taste, then select a tune and write lyrics accordingly.
He further explained that people inherently have three layers: confidence (showing off oneself), pride (an elevated form of confidence), and self-mockery (turning oneself into humor). Satirical laughter, therefore, splits into two forms: shared laughter and private laughter. He concluded: “Private laughter of a small group doesn’t resonate with the larger crowd. For STCo to spread, it must be the shared laughter about a story everyone knows.”
Following him, musician Truong Quy Hai – the author of many classic STCo songs – noted that the STCo spirit is rooted in Vietnamese culture, and FPT has cherished, preserved, and elevated it. He praised the enthusiasm of the young participants, calling it a positive signal. However, he also remarked that most entries still lacked a “visible reflection” of everyday life.
The STCo songwriting contest under the theme “AI HAY” was officially launched on July 17 and ran until August 29. In the end, the organizers awarded 13 individual prizes for 13 outstanding works, 2 group prizes, and 2 special prizes. The contest was part of a series of activities celebrating FPT’s 37th anniversary.
This year, the anniversary events took place at six locations: September 5 in Ho Chi Minh City, September 7 in Gia Lai, and September 13 simultaneously in Hanoi, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, and Can Tho. Alongside, online activities were held worldwide, including the gameshow “Duong len dinh OlympiAI” (Climb to the Peak of OlympiAI), the photo contest “FPT Moments” on FPT Place, avtar frame updates, and sending e-cards on FPT Chat.
