"November 20th is first and foremost a day to honor veteran teachers."

With a rich tradition spanning nearly half a century, the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language currently boasts over 30 retired faculty members, including more than 10 teachers over eighty years old. Whether still healthy or with failing eyesight and limited mobility, all the teachers arrived early, beaming with joy, enthusiastically chatting upon reuniting with each other and with current faculty members to listen to their life stories and offer suggestions on training the next generation of students. The heartfelt sentiments of all the teachers were clearly expressed in the song."Remember the person who planted the tree."Composed and performed with captivating artistry by his former teacher, Pham Tuan Khoa.

On behalf of the Faculty, the Dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Nam, shared with former faculty members, current faculty, and students the achievements the Faculty has accomplished in the past year. The Faculty currently has nearly 250 full-time Vietnamese students and hundreds of international students across various programs, making it a highly attractive educational institution and contributing significantly to the university's revenue and improving the living standards of its staff. Last summer, the Faculty organized a trip for all staff to Cambodia, a country with many memories associated with the Vietnamese Language Faculty during its time serving internationally after the Pol Pot regime was overthrown. The most vivid images from this trip were captured by a friend of the Faculty in a short, lively video clip, accompanied by traditional Cambodian music and vast palm tree fields. This evoked nostalgia in many faculty members, who spontaneously joined in the Roam Vong dance, filling the ceremony with emotion.

The CNK Committee presented flowers and gifts to congratulate the teachers on their 75th birthday.

Veteran educators such as Professor Hoang Trong Phien, Professor Dinh Van Duc, Professor Phan Hai, Professor Nguyen Trong Tan, etc., shared many heartfelt thoughts and messages with the younger generation. Upon receiving a bouquet of flowers as a token of appreciation from the new students of the 60th cohort, Professor Hoang Trong Phien, the first head of the Faculty, emotionally stated that he was a former student of the first cohort; sixty years have passed, and witnessing the young generation's growth day by day is a great happiness. Professor Dinh Van Duc, currently the Chairman of the Association of Retired Faculty Members of Hanoi National University, and a former student of Professor Hoang Trong Phien, humorously shared that he was a student of the 6th cohort, making it even more joyful to meet the 60th cohort students. Professor Dinh Van Duc, who was also a former Head of the Faculty, promised to work alongside the current faculty members to steer the ship forward step by step, acknowledging that many challenges remain and that has not been rushed. However, having overcome numerous difficulties to reach its current position, the former teachers all believe that the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language will always remain strong.

Student representatives presented gifts and congratulated the lecturers of the Faculty of Vietnamese Language and Literature.

In response to the advice and encouragement from the senior faculty members, the younger generation of teachers and all the students of the Faculty expressed their sincere feelings. Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Nga confided that seeing the image of the veteran teachers today filled her with both nostalgia and happiness. The sadness at the thought of leaving the school she had been attached to for so many years was overshadowed by the belief that each teacher, even after retirement, can still contribute in their own way and to the new generations of students.

Professor Hoang Trong Phien (former Head of Department, former student of Batch 1) poses for a commemorative photo with students of Batch 60.

For a teacher, there is no greater happiness than leaving their mark on the path of their students, their successors, and their educational institution; so that one day, those marks will be honored and remembered by their successors. The Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language always acknowledges such teachers in its efforts to build its own tradition. A tradition of gratitude to those of both the past and the present who have tirelessly worked to continuously create value for life.