Happy 80th birthday to Professor Vu Duong Ninh, People's Teacher.

Attending the ceremony were Professor Phan Huy Le (Honorary President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association), along with professors from the Executive Board of the Vietnam Historical Science Association: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Duc Cuong (President of the Association), Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc (Vice President of the Association), Professor Dr. Vu Minh Giang (Vice President of the Association, Chairman of the Science and Training Council of VNU); Professor Dinh Van Duc (President of the Association of Retired Teachers of VNU). Representatives from research institutes, centers, universities, high schools, specialized journals, and publishing houses... that have had deep cooperative relationships throughout the research and teaching process with Professor Vu Duong Ninh also attended the ceremony. On the university's side, the following were present:Professor Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University), along with teachers from the Party Committee, Board of Directors, Trade Union, Youth Union - Student Association, and the Association of Retired Teachers of the University, and a large number of friends, colleagues, and generations of students from the Faculty of History and the Faculty of International Studies - the two units where Professor Vu Duong Ninh worked and was directly associated for many years - gathered to celebrate with him.

The audience watched a documentary about the life of Professor Vu Duong Ninh.

Professor Vu Duong Ninh, a People's Teacher, was a student in the first cohort of the History Department at Hanoi University. He was a classmate of many renowned educators and historians such as Professor Phan Dai Doan, Associate Professor Le Mau Han, Associate Professor Nguyen Thua Hy, and Associate Professor Pham Thi Tam. Professor Vu Duong Ninh is one of the leading scientists of the golden generation at Hanoi University – pioneers who contributed to the development of new academic disciplines at the University in its early stages. These professors were part of a generation of scientists who helped build the prestige and standing of the former Hanoi University, as well as shaping the unique teaching and research style of the "General University school."

Professor Vu Duong Ninh, a People's Teacher, is a leading expert in world history in general and modern and contemporary world history in particular. For many years, as Head of the Department of World History and Vice-Head of the Faculty of History, Professor Vu Duong Ninh contributed to training many generations of students specializing in world history and international relations. In 1995, from a department within the Faculty of History, in response to the new development requirements of the country, Professor Vu Duong Ninh was one of the initiators and founders of the International Studies major – which later became the Faculty of International Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, a pioneering unit in training in this field nationwide.

As an expert in World History, Professor Vu Duong Ninh was invited by the Ministry of Education and Training to lead the development of undergraduate and postgraduate training programs in subjects such as World History, History of International Relations, and History of World Civilization, for use in universities nationwide. He also edited many fundamental textbooks in the field, including: "Modern World History," "History of World Civilization," "History of International Relations" - Volume I, and "Some Special Topics on World History" (three volumes published to date). In addition, he contributed to secondary education as the chief editor of the 12th-grade History textbook; and made many noteworthy suggestions and proposals to improve the effectiveness and quality of teaching and learning History.

For his outstanding contributions to science and education, Professor Vu Duong Ninh has been awarded many prestigious titles by the State: Excellent Teacher (1994), People's Teacher (2002), Second Class Anti-American Resistance Medal, Second Class Labor Medal (2000) and First Class Labor Medal (2004), 40-Year Party Membership Badge (2007)...

Expressing gratitude for the close relationship between Professor Vu Duong Ninh and the University, Professor Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University) delivered a speech.:Professor Vu Duong Ninh, a People's Teacher, is an exemplary educator for many generations of students and trainees in the Faculty of History and the Faculty of International Studies. He is a leading expert in the field of modern and contemporary history, with dozens of outstanding works and over 150 articles published in domestic and international journals. In particular, his research works, textbooks, and monographs have a very wide reach, such as "Modern World History" and "History of World Civilization," which have been reprinted 18 times...

Professor Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University) delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Furthermore, he was a key expert in establishing the International Studies program and the Faculty of International Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. At that time, amidst many unclear and incomplete views on this new field of study, Professor Vu Duong Ninh, with his foresight and extensive knowledge, affirmed the name, nature, and development direction of the discipline. And to this day, the reality in Vietnam and around the world has confirmed the correctness of this.

In the students' impression, he was strict yet incredibly tolerant, meticulous but never bogged down in trivial matters. He was "very international," yet also "very Vietnamese," elderly yet youthful, sociable yet not assimilated... These personality traits contributed to establishing a unique style both in his work and in his life.

Professor Dinh Van Duc, Chairman of the Association of Retired Faculty of Hanoi National University, shared his thoughts: "Professor Vu Duong Ninh has achieved many admirable things in life. He has reached the age of 80 yet remains healthy, energetic, and intellectually sharp. He continues to dedicate himself tirelessly to science and life, earning the respect and admiration of generations of students, friends, and colleagues..."

On behalf of the Faculty of History, Associate Professor Dr. Vu Van Quan (Head of Faculty) expressed his deep respect for one of the Faculty's great teachers: Professor Vu Duong Ninh, who made very important contributions to the Faculty's development. He has always been admired by generations of students, friends, and colleagues for both his talent and character. He is exemplary in both his teaching style and his meticulous and serious approach to life. His lectures are gentle yet profound, deeply insightful and humane. But alongside that, his fighting spirit is also strong, demonstrated in every scientific argument, defending and supporting the positive and good development trends of education and society as a whole. For generations of students, not only graduate students and researchers, but also undergraduates, he has always shown great care, guidance, and support..

Associate Professor Hoang Khac Nam (Head of the Faculty of International Studies) - representing the faculty and students of the Faculty - extended congratulations and gratitude to the first Dean of the Faculty: He laid the foundation for the development of the Faculty of International Studies over the past 20 years. The vast amount of knowledge he has accumulated and the faculty members of the Department are continuing to pass on to generations of students. His exemplary moral character has become a symbol of the Faculty of International Studies.

Among Professor Vu Duong Ninh's students, many have achieved success and currently hold important positions at leading universities and research institutes in Vietnam. They also shared memories and the valuable knowledge they received from their teacher – knowledge that has now become a precious part of their lives.

Receiving the expressions of gratitude from the University, generations of students, friends, and colleagues, Professor Vu Duong Ninh expressed his emotion. He shared: He joined the University in 1956 at the age of 19 and received his retirement papers in 2006 at the age of 69, so he has now completed 50 years of dedication to the University. In the 10 years since his retirement, he has continued to teach and conduct research. The achievements in his career and life are due to the education he received and the affection and support of the teachers and students of Hanoi University, later the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Throughout his life, he pursued only one profession – teaching: teaching world history, world civilization history, and international relations history. In his research on international relations, he consistently advocated the view that the world is inseparable from Vietnam. His later research focused heavily on the history of Vietnam's foreign relations.

Professor Vu Duong Ninh said: “I achieved these results, first and foremost, thanks to the contributions of my teachers. I want to express my gratitude to the teachers who introduced me to history, such as Professors Tran Van Giau, Dao Duy Anh, Cao Xuan Huy, Pham Huy Thong, and Dinh Xuan Lam. They are exemplary figures of great talent and virtue, and I always strive to learn from and absorb some of their qualities. Secondly, I want to express my respect and admiration for my seniors, Professors Phan Huy Le, Ha Van Tan, and the late Professor Tran Quoc Vuong. From them, I learned the spirit of self-study, creativity, and enthusiastic scientific research with a rigorous attitude. These are truly direct role models that I strive to emulate. However, I realize that I am still far from catching up with my seniors.”

Professor Vu Duong Ninh, People's Teacher, delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Professor Vu Duong Ninh also expressed his gratitude to his colleagues who have contributed to building and developing the field of History; to the generations of students and trainees who have inspired him to strive tirelessly in research and teaching; and to the agencies, universities, research institutes, and partners who have created opportunities for him to collaborate and share new research results, thereby helping him to broaden his knowledge, thinking, and vision in life.

At the end of the ceremony, Professor Vu Duong Ninh personally presented his books, "Vietnam in a Changing World" (editor) and "The Vietnamese Revolution on the International Chessboard - History and Issues" (2nd edition), to Professor Phan Huy Le, Professor Vu Minh Giang, Professor Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Professor Dinh Van Duc, Associate Professor Tran Duc Cuong, Associate Professor Pham Xuan Hang, and Professor Pham Quang Minh.

Professor Vu Duong Ninh poses for a photo with faculty and staff of the Department of International Studies.