VNU has left proud marks in the process of national unification.

Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang - Chairman of the Science and Training Council, former Vice President of Hanoi National University

- Dear Professor, it has been 40 years since the event of national liberation and complete unification (April 30, 1975), but the great historical significance and value of the event remains intact until today. Could you please share a few words about this assessment?

The Ho Chi Minh Campaign ended on April 30, 1975, a major event in the history of the nation and of special significance to the world. This was not only a glorious victory of our people in the cause of fighting against the US to save the country, but also marked the complete end of the 90-year struggle for national liberation. After the French occupied the capital Hue in 1885, the country fell under the yoke of colonialism. Since then, many generations of Vietnamese people have risen up to fight for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. From the Can Vuong movement to the Duy Tan movement along with countless armed uprisings... demonstrating the ardent patriotism and heroic spirit of the people, but all were drowned in a pool of blood. It was not until the Communist Party of Vietnam was born in 1930 that the national liberation movement had the right path. Under the leadership of the Party, in just 15 years, our people have made the first national democratic revolution.The first Vietnamese troops took the lead in Southeast Asia in August 1945, but the cause of regaining independence was not yet complete because the French returned, forcing the people to continue the 9-year resistance war.

The Dien Bien Phu victory shook the world, forcing France to sign the 1954 Treaty, which was a very fundamental victory, but independence was only achieved in half of the country. Continuing from 1955, the whole nation entered a long-term resistance war against the American imperialists with countless sacrifices and hardships, and then we had the final victory on April 30, 1975.

Looking back at the entire historical journey in which the Vietnamese people faced foreign invaders like this, we can affirm that the victory of April 30 was a complete end to nearly a century of struggle for independence, sovereignty and national unification. It was the crystallization of the patriotism, the will to be self-reliant, the strength and aspirations of the entire nation that had been pent up during a century of foreign invasion.

Raising the flag at the Independence Palace on April 30, 1975

- What is the most typical contribution that VNU, formerly the Indochina University, Hanoi University - the cradle of the Vietnamese intellectual class in the early days - made to the cause of national liberation, Professor?

It has been more than 100 years since the Indochina University - the first multidisciplinary, multi-field university model in Indochina during the French colonial period in 1906, to Hanoi University of Science - the first university of basic sciences contributing to the development of basic sciences for the Vietnamese revolution in 1956, to today's Vietnam National University - a center for training and scientific research with the mission of pioneering innovation, creativity, and leading the way in Vietnamese education. Vietnam National University, Hanoi is proud to have accompanied the history of the national liberation movement and had the opportunity to make worthy contributions, leaving many marks on the development path of the country and the nation.

Many famous and elite figures who made extremely important contributions to the cause of national liberation all studied or were more or less related to the Indochina University and Hanoi University. Outstanding figures such as: General Vo Nguyen Giap - the legendary general of the Vietnam People's Army, former student Dang Xuan Khu (aka General Secretary Truong Chinh) ... are all former students of the Indochina University. Many outstanding scientists in many fields, great intellectuals directly contributed to the resistance war. Former student and lecturer Ton That Tung - a famous doctor with liver transplant techniques in Vietnam, was in charge of health care for soldiers on the battlefield. Historian and revolutionary Tran Van Giau - a student of the famous historian Dao Duy Anh, contributed to laying the foundation for Revolutionary History, compiling the first fundamental History books of the Vietnamese History industry. Famous Philosopher Tran Duc Thao, then the first generations of researchers of Hanoi University such as Dang Thai Mai, Nguyen Tai Can...

During the resistance war against the US to save the country, the school's staff and students made worthy contributions. The whole country knows shining examples such as the hero, poet and martyr Le Anh Xuan (Ca Le Hien) - a young staff of the History Department, University of Hanoi or martyr Nguyen Van Thac... Forged through the war, many staff and students of the school have matured to become outstanding leaders such as Politburo members To Huy Rua (Head of the Central Organization Committee), Pham Quang Nghi (Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee), Dinh The Huynh (Head of the Central Propaganda Committee)... They are all people who once held guns in the Quang Tri battlefield, participated in the youth volunteer force to open the Truong Son road, were frontline reporters... Then many people became generations of leading scientists of the country in many fields.

The outstanding intellectuals of VNU are also the outstanding faces in the history of Vietnamese science and education over the past century. This is a great pride that not every training and research institution in Vietnam has.

Old Hanoi University

- Besides the outstanding alumni, what contributions has VNU made in each specific field, Professor?

Hanoi National University and the University of Foreign Languages ​​- the predecessor of VNU - played an extremely important role during the war as educational institutions with specialized subjects suitable for all activities, and made great contributions to the cause of national liberation and reunification.

During the period of resistance war against the US to save the country, when our resistance war entered the fiercest period (the whole country became a battlefield), we saw the role of young scientists of Hanoi University at that time very clearly. They made remarkable contributions and dedication in participating in the manufacture of weapons, developing technology, and reforming to increase labor productivity for the rear.

For example, physicists participated in the creation of unmanned vehicles to destroy magnetic bombs. The story of detecting magnetic bombs is not only an intellectual contribution, a technological solution, but this technique is especially meaningful when all of Vietnam's seaports at that time were blockaded by enemy mines. How can we open up channels and channels to break the isolation, trade with other countries, and ensure aid by sea?

Mathematicians participated in calculating azimuths for artillery and anti-aircraft guns to shoot down enemy aircraft accurately and to manufacture modern weapons. The staff and lecturers of the University of Foreign Languages, using their powerful weapon, language, as a bridge, made many specific contributions in working with Soviet experts, interrogating prisoners, and fighting diplomatically... There were notable figures such as former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan - he was a former student of the University of Foreign Languages.

Then the contributions of scientists of VNU to the battlefield were not only directly on the front but also in other fields. For example: compiling books of great value to encourage the spirit of the whole people. For example, in the fierce period of 1972-1973, Professor Phan Huy Le, Professor Tran Quoc Vuong and the historians of the school participated in compiling the book series History of Vietnam. Prime Minister Pham Van Dong said that the entire history of the nation was brought into the battle and the book series was passed around to read by our soldiers. Those were direct intellectual contributions on the battlefield.

In the harsh context, the entire Hanoi University of Science and the University of Foreign Languages ​​evacuated to the war zone, to the suburbs to maintain learning and teaching with the most determined spirit. And the intellectual force trained at the two schools was the force that later, when the country was unified, could participate in consolidating the achievements of the revolution and the victory of the resistance war.

When the war ended, educational activities, especially the higher education level of Saigon city, seemed to be paralyzed, with the social sciences and humanities sector in a crisis, because the number of intellectuals in the South had all evacuated. But right after the liberation, we resumed the normal activities of the leading higher education institutions there. With a strong force of scientists and intellectuals, Hanoi University of Science and Hanoi University of Foreign Languages ​​(now the University of Foreign Languages ​​- VNU) participated in taking over and supporting universities in the South after the successful resistance. The heads of the University of Literature, University of Science, Hue University Institute, and Da Nang University were all from Hanoi University of Science and the University of Foreign Languages. For example: The University of Literature had the head of the executive board as Professor Phan Huu Dat; Saigon University of Science had the head of the executive board as Professor Ly Hoa, a staff member of the Physics Department; The head of the executive board as Hue University Institute was Professor. Nguyen Quoc Loc… Later, in order to build a framework for universities in the South, basic science cadres of different generations, especially excellent young graduates, were mobilized to work there. These were our contributions as the country’s leading, key research and education institution for the April 30 victory, especially in the context of building a revolutionary science and education foundation at that time. These were worthy contributions that history recognized and we have the right to be proud of.

Teachers and students of the University of Foreign Languages ​​(Vietnam National University, Hanoi) greet each other as the bus carrying students sets off for the battlefield.

- The history of Vietnam's struggle for national liberation has a heroic yet beautiful and romantic page, which is the movement of intellectuals and young people putting down their pens and going to the battlefield to die for the Fatherland. These beautiful images have been praised a lot through poetry and movies. Can you share your memories of this movement?

I can say that every time I recall these memories, I am deeply moved. Hanoi University had thousands of intellectuals and students who put aside their studies to volunteer to join the army, to the fiercest battlefields. At that time, that movement was burning in the youth. Students wrote blood letters asking to leave. They were willing to leave their relatives and families, temporarily put aside their books and literature to embark on harsh challenges. They were willing to sacrifice for the Fatherland. The farewell ceremonies at the schoolyard and lecture halls were sacred and full of emotions. This group of soldiers and students supporting the battlefields helped create a "quality" change for our army. They brought with them the gallantry, romance, and suicide into the battles.

Many heroic examples of former teachers and students of the National University have become immortal symbols. According to statistics, 64 martyrs who were students and staff of the University fell on the battlefields, and hundreds of wounded soldiers returned to continue their studies and work. Thus, not only did they make special intellectual contributions, but the staff and students of the predecessor universities of VNU also made direct contributions, shedding blood on the battlefield for the final victory of the nation.

-How valuable and motivating is that tradition for the generation of scientists, students and trainees of VNU today, Professor?

VNU is honored to have made indelible contributions to the nation's history, in many aspects and fields as I have shared above. This is a pride that not every educational institution has. We have an important position, a valuable foundation, so we must know how to multiply that strength and value. Each stage of historical development requires each unit and individual to have different tasks. Now is a time of peace, without bloodshed or war, so we must contribute to developing a rich and strong country, on par with advanced countries in the region and the world. Contributing in our own field is research and training.

How can we have valuable and top-notch research projects that solve many practical problems of national development? How can we train people with professional capacity and good moral qualities, with beautiful ideals? How can we create a healthy and top-notch academic environment? How can we be the pioneers in creating and disseminating knowledge, bringing Vietnamese science and education to new heights? I always believe that the mission of VNU, Hanoi, which has been clearly defined in the Law on Higher Education, in the Development Strategy to 2020 and the Vision to 2030 of VNU, Hanoi, will always be the most valuable way to continue the tradition and also the most practical way to commemorate and remember the great victory of April 30th of the nation.

- Thank you for sharing, Professor.