Dr. Tran Bach Hieu: "Only with emotions can we be human."

In 2019, Dr. Tran Bach Hieu was honored by the Central Committee of the Youth Union as the first outstanding young teacher nationwide. He has been dedicated to the teaching profession for 13 years, especially teaching subjects such as Ho Chi Minh Thought and Party awareness training... subjects often considered dry, but his classes are always full, and the feedback on his lectures is consistently very high.

As someone who has studied, researched, and taught about President Ho Chi Minh, what message would you like to share with young people, especially students, every May?

Dr. Tran Bach Hieu:Every May, perhaps every Vietnamese person feels a sense of nostalgia, emotion, and special feelings when thinking about the father of the nation – President Ho Chi Minh – a son born from the nation who brought glory to the entire nation. Thinking about Uncle Ho these days, I am even more deeply moved by the famous line of poetry by the poet To Huu: "Loving Uncle Ho makes our hearts purer," because understanding him gives us remarkably positive and benevolent thoughts. Nowadays, many young people and students feel unmotivated, lacking confidence, even overwhelmed by the increasingly developed world, by those who seem to have been "born at the finish line." But when we learn about the life of President Ho Chi Minh, we know that he came from a fundamentally Confucian family, and could have lived a peaceful life. But no, he thought and lived far beyond what his contemporaries imagined. Troubled by the fate of the nation, Uncle Ho became a revolutionary activist, a true communist fighter, to reclaim independence and freedom for his people. Therefore, young people should quickly find their own mission, eliminating negative emotions, jealousy, envy, and unmotivated thoughts. The more complex, volatile, and changing life becomes, the more we must adapt. Therefore, I sincerely advise young people to think big, think broadly, and think deeply; don't just think about immediate concerns, and don't let ordinary desires cause you to lose sight of your noble ideals and forget the mission of your heart.

What is the most personal thing about Ho Chi Minh's moral example that impressed you?

In 2009, he wrote an article titled "Applying Ho Chi Minh Thought to International Solidarity in the Current Context"Magazine International Research InformationIn the present context, how should this application be understood?

Dr. Tran Bach Hieu:That article is over a decade old, but reflecting on it now, it's quite interesting when you relate it to the current situation. One could say... Ho Chi Minh's thought on international solidarity is exceptionally unique; it combines national strength with the strength of the times to create an invincible force, helping to defeat all unjust enemies. In the current context, the enemy not only of Vietnam but also of all humanity is the Covid-19 pandemic. For nearly four months since the outbreak of the disease, Vietnam has truly become a leading symbol in disease prevention and control, recognized by the international community. We are proud of our nation's tradition of mutual support and compassion, inheriting and successfully applying President Ho Chi Minh's thought on national solidarity in the fight against the pandemic. Vietnam's success shows that if countries around the world join hands and work together to fight the pandemic as if fighting a common enemy, applying the unique values ​​in President Ho Chi Minh's thought on international solidarity, the world has complete confidence in defeating the pandemic, as Vietnam has done and is doing in recent times. Because it's not enough for one country to conquer the pandemic; the world can only conquer it when all countries are safe. Therefore, international solidarity needs to be prioritized more than ever.

Dr. Tran Bach Hieu:Few nations have a figure like our President Ho Chi Minh, whose name has become the pride of the entire nation and the object of respect and affection from international friends whenever the name Vietnam is mentioned. Ho Chi Minh's moral thought is an invaluable legacy not only for Vietnam but also for all of humanity. Within his system of moral thought, I am particularly impressed by the virtue of self-sacrifice. It is the self-sacrifice of a heart that always beats in unison with all people. Perhaps among the moral values ​​of any ideology, culture, or religion, self-sacrifice is always the highest moral value, and in Ho Chi Minh, this virtue is clearly evident. His entire life was pure, unconcerned with fame or fortune, simple to the point of greatness, seeking nothing for himself, "sacrificing family for the sake of the nation," and he never received a single medal on his chest. Throughout his life, he followed only one principle: "I have only one desire, an ultimate desire, to see our country completely independent, our people completely free, and all our compatriots having enough food, clothing, and access to education." And until that ultimate desire was realized, he would not think of anything for himself. The poet Tố Hữu wrote about President Ho Chi Minh's self-sacrifice so beautifully: "Oh, such is President Ho Chi Minh's heart, always loving us, loving our common lives, loving the grass and flowers, only knowing how to forget himself for the sake of all, like a river flowing heavily with silt."

In today's rapidly changing world, how can we make political science lectures more engaging?

Dr. Tran Bach Hieu:It's true that the world is changing rapidly, the amount of information available to humanity is multiplying exponentially, and today's knowledge is more up-to-date than yesterday's in the blink of an eye. Therefore, we need to learn every day, every hour, and teachers must constantly update their knowledge. Political theory subjects are often labeled as dry and dogmatic. But clearly, "theory is only gray, while the tree of life is forever green." Scientific knowledge is an invaluable intellectual product of humankind. Teachers need to convey it in the most understandable way to their students. It needs to be made more relatable and accessible, with teaching methods, approaches, and illustrative examples that are most suitable for each student. Teachers need to be dedicated, using their knowledge and energy to convey knowledge emotionally in each lesson, making each political science lesson truly practical, fun, and engaging. A teacher in a lecture hall is like a conductor; they should create a wonderful melody for each student. This spirit of dedication to learning is the pinnacle of the profession.

Do you have any message for students this year who want to take your course at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi?

Dr. Tran Bach Hieu:The motto of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi is: "Cherish the past, seize the future." This is one of the most traditional universities in our country, formerly the Faculty of Literature, the first university established by President Ho Chi Minh's decree immediately after the 1945 Declaration of Independence. This university is part of the national education system, so the subjects I teach, such as "Ho Chi Minh Thought," are considered compulsory. As a former student of the university, I have a very genuine understanding of the learning environment under the roof of this 75-year-old institution. The subjects I teach, like many others at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, are not designed to make learning difficult, but rather to comprehensively develop students' knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The university provides the most favorable conditions for students to study, research, and participate in activities; taking care of even the smallest things like food and accommodation. During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, with the campaign..."Supporting students"The school personally delivered gifts that were not only of material value but also embodied love and empathy for the students. All of this represents the culmination of the spirit and essence of generations of teachers and students, from the Temple of Literature – National University to the Faculty of Literature and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Therefore, each generation of students entering the school is always trained and guided to appreciate human values ​​and compassion for life through natural emotional responses, because only through these emotional responses can one truly be human.