Eulogy bidding farewell to Professor and People's Teacher Dinh Xuan Lam as he is laid to rest.

Respectfully addressing the spirit of Professor, People's Teacher Dinh Xuan Lam,

Dear all bereaved family,

Dear colleagues and friends,

Today, we gather here to bid farewell to Professor, People's Teacher Dinh Xuan Lam as he departs to the eternal realm.

A towering figure in modern Vietnamese historiography, an exemplary educator, and a beloved teacher to dozens of generations of history students, he is no longer with us! Due to old age and declining health, he passed away at 2:25 PM on January 25, 2017, which was the 28th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Monkey.

Professor Dinh Xuan Lam was born on February 4, 1925, in Son Tan commune, Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province, into a family of patriotic intellectuals and mandarins. The family and hometown traditions, with their mountains, rivers, and the Ngan Pho mountain range, left a deep imprint on the free-spirited soul, unwavering will, and straightforward yet kind nature of young Dinh Xuan Lam. From a very young age, his family provided him with favorable conditions for his studies and self-cultivation. At the age of 20, he graduated with a full Baccalaureate in Philosophy and Literature from Hue National School. Undoubtedly, his time studying at this renowned school in the capital city played a significant role in shaping the talent, character, and demeanor of the elegant, refined, and early-rising intellectual Dinh Xuan Lam, who showed a passion for culture, literature, and social sciences.

Leaving the capital, "young master" Dinh Xuan Lam returned to Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province, where his father was serving as district chief. It was at that time that the August Revolution broke out. The earth-shattering momentum and the nation's yearning for rebirth, especially the righteous and compassionate attitude of the Viet Minh leaders at that time, had a powerful influence on him, inspiring him to voluntarily dedicate his talent, passion, and intellect to serving the Nation, the People, and the Revolution.

The path he chose from a very young age was teaching, and he dedicated his entire life to this profession. During the years of the Resistance War against the French, with his profound knowledge and enthusiastic volunteer spirit, he was appointed as a Literature teacher at the High School.CollègeAt Dao Duy Tu High School (later renamed Lam Son High School) in Thanh Hoa city, during the resistance war, he evacuated to Tho Xuan, near the University Preparatory School and the Advanced Teacher Training School. It was here that he first met and interacted with prominent intellectuals, revolutionaries, and cultural figures such as Tran Van Giau, Dang Thai Mai, Nguyen Thuc Hao, Nguyen Manh Tuong, Dao Duy Anh, Cao Xuan Huy, Ton That Chiem Te, etc. Later, these individuals would become mentors who had a decisive influence on his academic aspirations. Also at that field school in the Thanh-Nghe-Tinh Free Zone, he made many friends, including Phan Huy Le and Tran Quoc Vuong, who were studying at the University Preparatory School – two who would later become his close colleagues and lifelong confidants.

After peace was restored, while serving as the principal of Yen Dinh High School (Thanh Hoa), he was sent to study in his second year of History and Geography at Hanoi Pedagogical University, and was appointed class leader of the first cohort of 29 students. There, he continued to receive instruction from esteemed professors such as Tran Van Giau, Dang Thai Mai, Dao Duy Anh, and Tran Duc Thao. He also reunited with friends Phan Huy Le and Tran Quoc Vuong and became acquainted with Ha Van Tan – a fellow student from his hometown, more than ten years younger than him, who was in his first year. In 1956, after graduating with honors, he, along with Phan Huy Le and Tran Quoc Vuong, were retained as lecturers at Hanoi University. In 1957, Ha Van Tan also graduated and was retained by the university.

Thanks to the dedicated and rigorous guidance of their mentors, Dinh Xuan Lam and his colleagues matured rapidly in their scientific and educational careers. He, in particular, received special trust and direct guidance from Professor Tran Van Giau, so that just three years later (in 1958), he and his colleagues, together with Professor Tran Van Giau, completed and published Volume I of the textbook.Modern History of Vietnam(The complete set consists of 3 volumes, completed in 1963). This is the most fundamental textbook, laying the foundation for the entire career of training and researching modern and contemporary Vietnamese history.

Throughout more than half a century dedicated to the Faculty of History, Hanoi University (now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Professor Dinh Xuan Lam, a People's Teacher, contributed to the training of tens of thousands of bachelors, masters, and doctoral graduates. Many of his students have become renowned scientists, leaders, and managers holding important positions in the country and in various ministries, departments, and localities. With his outstanding talent and virtue, he, along with Professors Phan Huy Le, Ha Van Tan, and Tran Quoc Vuong, has been wholeheartedly loved, admired, and respected by generations of history students."The Four Pillars of the Court"– an unofficial title, but one that has become a symbol of the heroic Department of History.

Professor Dinh Xuan Lam's prestige and contributions are not limited to the field of history and the university where he dedicated his life, but have actually extended far beyond, spreading and being affirmed at many universities and postgraduate training institutions throughout the country and abroad. From his working years and even after retirement, he has been invited by many universities and academies to collaborate on training at various levels and in different forms. Many universities abroad, such as in France, the Netherlands, and Germany, have also invited him to lecture on Vietnamese history. He was also selected to participate in the Vietnamese education expert delegation to Madagascar from 1981 to 1983. The widespread reputation of this great teacher and scholar has led many renowned experts, as well as newly qualified students from distant countries, to seek him out to discuss complex issues of modern Vietnamese history, or sometimes simply to verify historical documents.

Professor Dinh Xuan Lam not only made significant contributions to higher education, but also made many meaningful and lasting contributions to general education. He was the editor-in-chief and author of many history textbooks. He also actively participated in teacher training and professional development, and served as the chief examiner in many national history competitions for gifted students.

Besides his passionate love for teaching, the secret that helped Professor Dinh Xuan Lam become one of the leading figures in modern Vietnamese history lies in his scientific and serious attitude towards his profession: always closely linking teaching with research, using diligent and enthusiastic research as the foundation for every hour spent lecturing.

Professor Dinh Xuan Lam's entire life was a shining example in scientific research, and it was through his works that he firmly established the stature and academic prestige of an outstanding scientist. It began with his collection of works...Modern History of VietnamFrom 1958, he contributed to its completion under the guidance of Professor Tran Van Giau, concluding with the book...History of Vietnam, Volume IIIProfessor Dinh Xuan Lam, who served as editor-in-chief along with his students and published the book in 2016, has spent nearly six decades writing. With over 400 published works both in Vietnam and abroad, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest authors of modern Vietnamese historiography and one of the few most frequently cited by international scholars.

But what truly made Dinh Xuan Lam's name in the Vietnamese social science community was not the quantity, but the quality and impact of his published works. For decades, he devoted his energy, intellect, and passion to researching the history of modern Vietnamese patriotic and revolutionary movements. Hundreds of his research papers on the resistance against the French, the Can Vuong Movement, the Dong Du and Duy Tan movements, the Vietnam Restoration Society, and especially on the patriotic movement under the banner of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, have become the main source material and foundation for all research and teaching of modern Vietnamese history. To better understand the modern reform and national salvation movements, Professor Dinh Xuan Lam gradually expanded his research focus to the fields of economics, society, culture, religion, and ideology, and in each of these areas, he made outstanding contributions.

The most distinctive feature of Professor Dinh Xuan Lam's research is his use of historical sources. He collected a vast amount of historical material from numerous sources, meticulously examining and carefully researching each piece to its origin, comparing and contrasting it to determine its value and reliability. He consistently maintained this honest and professional attitude, considering it the supreme principle of a historian, which has made him a truly erudite scholar. With this standing and extensive professional experience, Professor Dinh Xuan Lam has participated in and chaired numerous scientific forums both domestically and internationally. Everywhere he has done so, he has earned the trust, affection, and respect of his colleagues thanks to his serious, scientific, open, and sincere work ethic. He always respects differences in professional discussions, but is also courageous and resolute in defending scientific truths and historical facts.

Besides teaching and scientific research, Professor Dinh Xuan Lam also participated very enthusiastically and responsibly in union activities. Even while teaching in Thanh Hoa, he actively participated in the Trade Union. Later, for many years he served as the Secretary of the Trade Union of the History Department, contributing much time and effort to strengthening the unity and camaraderie among the staff. His longest-serving position, and the one from which he made the greatest contributions, was Head of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Vietnamese History. For 32 years, from 1958 to 1990, he led the development of the Department into a strong and united scientific collective, directly training many outstanding teachers and scientists, making a worthy contribution to the overall achievements and reputation of the History Department - Hanoi University. From 1988 to 2015, he continuously served as Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association. With his immense prestige, he made significant contributions to the Association's great achievements and strengthened the love and unity among history enthusiasts, researchers, and educators nationwide. Professor Dinh Xuan Lam is also a highly respected and beloved leader of the UNESCO Science Center, the Pham Than Duyat Award Council, and a long-standing and effective collaborator with many major scientific, educational, and cultural institutions such as the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the National Political Publishing House, the Education Publishing House, the Vietnam Historical Museum, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Vietnam Military History Institute, the French School of Far Eastern Studies, etc.

He always held a deep and heartfelt love for his hometown of Huong Son, Ha Tinh. His profound affection and pride for his homeland were expressed in many of his writings, especially in two of his works.Nghe Tinh - yesterday and today(1986) andHistory of Ha Tinh(2 volumes, 2000) which he and his close friends and fellow countrymen completed and published. He also held deep affection for Thanh Hoa – which he considered his second home – and for Hanoi, the capital, where he lived, worked, and dedicated himself until his last breath. The ancient city of Hue also left him with many unforgettable memories from his student life at Hue National High School.

Due to his outstanding contributions to science and education, in 1984, he was awarded the title of Professor by the State. He was also one of the first to be awarded the prestigious title of People's Teacher in 1988. Professor Dinh Xuan Lam was also awarded the following prestigious medals by the Party and the State: the First Class Labor Medal (2006) and the Third Class Independence Medal (2016).

Ladies and gentlemen!

Professor and People's Teacher Dinh Xuan Lam has left us forever!

The family and clan are heartbroken by the loss of an exemplary husband, a kind, responsible, and compassionate father, and a model, gentle grandfather.

The nation's science and education system has lost a great scientist and an exemplary educator.

Friends and colleagues have lost a close and highly reliable partner, intelligent, knowledgeable, yet also extremely simple, witty, and humble.

Generations of history students will now lose a respected teacher who was always dedicated to his profession and wholeheartedly loved, taught, and guided his students.

These are the words shared by the teacher upon his retirement nearly 30 years ago:"If there is a next life and I could choose my profession again, I would still choose teaching."This will forever be etched in the hearts of countless students and colleagues of our teacher. We pledge to worthily continue his example of dedicated, creative work and unwavering commitment to his profession and to life!

Dear all bereaved family members.

In this moment of sorrow, on behalf of the faculty and staff of the University, along with friends, colleagues, and generations of students of Professor Dinh Xuan Lam, we express our deepest condolences and offer our most heartfelt sympathies to his family.

Let us all observe a minute of silence to remember and honor Professor Dinh Xuan Lam, and to bid him farewell as he is laid to rest.