On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day, Professor Nguyen Duc Khuong shared with Dan Tri newspaper his perspectives on the country's development journey, the role of Vietnamese intellectuals, and sent a message to the younger generation to continue writing the glorious history of the nation.
A reporter from Dan Tri newspaper had a conversation with Professor Nguyen Duc Khuong, listening to his insightful perspectives on the country's development. He emphasized that patriotism is not something abstract, but is expressed through concrete actions, from doing the smallest things well to contributing to overall development.
His stories not only inspire but also convey meaningful messages to the younger generation, who will follow in his footsteps and write glorious chapters in the nation's history.
Professor Nguyen Duc Khuong, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day, a very important historical milestone for our nation, could you share your strongest emotions when looking back on the long journey our country has taken? What image comes to mind first right now?
- This is a very meaningful question and evokes many emotions in me. When I think about the 80 years of our country, my greatest emotion is pride. It's pride in a Vietnam that has overcome many challenges and difficulties since the early days of independence to become a modern, friendly, and peace- loving nation.
Today, Vietnam is highly regarded by the world for its partnerships in all areas, from politics , economics, social affairs, and national security and defense.
I think this is a point that needs to be emphasized. The respect we have today is not accidental. It is the result of a long and arduous journey.
Imagine that, from the very first days of independence until now, we have faced numerous difficulties and obstacles in diplomacy , politics, and economics. During those times, many countries did not fully understand the vision, actions, and aspirations of Vietnam and its people.
But throughout that journey, we have always had a strong aspiration. The aspiration to rise up, the aspiration for independence, freedom, and a path of development to build a civilized, stable, and prosperous society for all. That is the ideal of our nation.
All we desire is a stable peace to foster development and build prosperity. Every citizen can contribute to that prosperity and help make Vietnam the respected country it enjoys today from international partners.
How did his childhood memories in Vietnam shape the Professor's personality and his later aspirations for research and contribution?
- I can say that I was born at a time when the country had achieved peace, after decades of resistance against the French and the Americans. Although we later experienced a border war, my earliest memories of the war come only from my father's stories.
My father was a soldier at the time, directly participating in the 1979 border war to defend the country's borders. Those stories are truly sacred, and they are my first memories of patriotism.
Growing up, my childhood was spent in a time when, despite the country's difficulties, there was peace. The border war lasted until the early 1990s, and I didn't have to live through a period of brutal warfare, without bombs, bullets, or displacement.
Looking back now, I realize it was a very special childhood. My childhood was filled with the laughter of children in the fields, with activities alongside friends building schools and cleaning up the neighborhood. It was so peaceful and wonderful.
Later, when studying history, I gradually realized that to achieve this peace, the nation had gone through an extremely difficult period. Through youth union activities, I felt the determination of previous generations. They did everything in their power to ensure that the younger generation could have that independence and peace.
I told myself that the time would come when I would have to participate in work that served the development of the country, contributing to the development of my village, my organization, and my workplace.
At that time, I didn't have many specific ideas about what I would do in the future, but my biggest desire was to go to university, explore the world, and find ways to contribute more to my country.
Upon arriving in France, what moments of "enlightenment" did the professor experience that led him to realize his mission was not only to contribute personally but also to be closely linked to the development of Vietnam?
- When I went to France, I was truly bewildered. I think the biggest shock wasn't the cultural one, because France and Vietnam share a fairly similar cultural landscape. The biggest shock was the disparity in intellectual level, life experience, and understanding of the world between Vietnamese students and international students.
I remember, after the first class of my first course, the teacher said she would send the assignment via email. At that time, in Vietnam, I had only just started using computers to learn programming and had very little time for practice. I had to ask a Tunisian friend what email was and how to use it.
After 15 minutes, he created an email address for me. This shows how far behind I was technologically in the developed world back in 2000.
This gap motivated me to learn continuously. I realized I had to work very hard to close the gap in professional skills and then surpass them in order to continue my studies at a higher level. I think that striving to reduce that gap is extremely important for us to progress.
Secondly, I've noticed that the Vietnamese student and intellectual community in France is growing stronger. It's a huge resource. I think this force has the potential to continue the legacy of the great figures who came before, the generations that have been so successful, such as Professor Tran Dai Nghia or, more recently, Professor Tran Thanh Van and his wife.
That motivated me to join and establish the Vietnamese Student Association in Paris, and later the Vietnamese Student Association in France. By 2008, we had built a network with over 20 branches across the provinces and cities of France.
Most importantly, you need to have strong connections with the Vietnamese Student Association in Vietnam and the Central Committee of the Youth Union.
It can be considered an integral part of the Vietnamese Student Association in Vietnam. As the members of the association matured and became professionals and intellectuals, I posed the question of how to connect, support each other, and contribute to Vietnam. This led to the establishment of the Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts Global (AVSE Global) in 2011.
The professor once said that for Vietnam to become a powerful nation, it must start by doing the small things well. From what experiences in the professor's career did this philosophy originate?
- This philosophy is my way of life. I've found that, when faced with any problem, if we don't take the first steps, we'll never leave the starting line. Once we start, we'll gradually move towards the goal. Along that journey, there will be big and small tasks. Usually, the experience gained from small tasks will help us shape how to tackle big tasks.
A major undertaking cannot be accomplished overnight. We must break down that large task into smaller ones. That is also the way to achieve success. Looking back at Vietnam's history, this story has almost become ingrained in the blood of the Vietnamese people. It is a natural trait.
I also believe that the destination is never the limit. Every time we achieve a goal, it becomes the starting point for a new one. And each time, we have small things to do. The small things of today will be much bigger than the small things of the past.
As an intellectual living and working abroad, what specific actions does the professor demonstrate the concept of patriotism?
- When I boarded the plane and left Vietnam, I had a different feeling about patriotism. When we are in the country, we take it for granted that patriotism is already within us. But when we go abroad, each of us is almost an "ambassador" of Vietnam.
People look at Vietnamese people abroad, which means they are looking at representatives of Vietnam. We need to project the image of a peaceful, strong, dynamic Vietnam, ready to cooperate internationally.
The work that AVSE Global (Global Vietnamese Scientists and Experts Organization) is undertaking in Vietnam spans consulting activities and the development of strategic reports at both the provincial and national levels.
At the local level, we've traveled from North to South, from Yen Bai to Bac Lieu. Along that journey, we've partnered with many localities such as Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Ho Chi Minh City…in development projects.
Each program requires in-depth field research: living and interacting with local people, conducting interviews and surveys to understand the development concerns of each region. This is also what we value most – directly experiencing the changes and aspirations for development in the local area.
In parallel with consulting services, AVSE Global has conducted numerous high-level training programs for corporate leaders, university students, and government officials. Topics range from leadership and innovation to specialized technical issues such as urban underground drainage systems.
Above all, AVSE Global's core activity revolves around connecting knowledge, based on a network of over 10,000 Vietnamese professionals in more than 30 countries. We continue to implement international initiatives such as One Global Vietnam, the "Influential Vietnamese People" recognition series, research and development (R&D Forum) programs, and the Vietnam Innovation Networking Initiative (VGIC), selecting and supporting the Top 100 in the topics we want to focus on.
In addition, we expand our connections through various channels such as policy forums and thematic workshops with in-depth content on finance and banking, carbon credits, climate change, health, education, etc.
In the context of today's volatile world, geopolitical competition, climate change, and the rapid development of AI, Professor, what are the driving forces for the continued development of Vietnamese imagination and creativity?
- In the past, people used to say that the intelligence and creativity of the Vietnamese people would emerge when we were put in a passive position, meaning we only acted when the water reached our feet. But now, with the world constantly changing and unpredictable, we can no longer wait until the water reaches our feet. We need to build a roadmap, a longer-term vision.
What is valuable is that the entire Vietnamese nation shares a common vision: the vision for 2045, when the country celebrates 100 years of independence and becomes a developed nation. This is not only the aspiration of the leaders but also the aspiration of every citizen. This long-term vision is the driving force that prepares us to face any challenges.
To achieve that, we need to build a sufficiently strong internal self-reliance, combined with international integration to attract resources. A nation's internal strength, the self-reliance of its people, its risk management capabilities... all of these will create a synergistic strength. I believe that to stand on the shoulders of giants, we must first be self-reliant. Only then can we take advantage of the best that they have to offer.
Professor, could you send a message to the younger generation, those who will continue to write the glorious story of our nation?
My message is perhaps very concise and focused on one point: Vietnam's history is being written by its contemporaries. Each era, each generation, has its own tasks and responsibilities for the country's development.
I think the younger generation just needs to be aware of this. We need to combine our internal strengths, our traditional strengths, with a sufficiently strong resource from the international community. Then, everyone will work towards common goals, so that Vietnam becomes a destination for intellect, science and technology, innovation, and all programs that can contribute to a more peaceful and stable world. This is the brand of Vietnam in the coming development phase.
We should place Vietnam's development within the context of global prosperity. Then, we will gain the support of the entire world, as if all the universes were converging for Vietnam's development. I believe that the younger generation, with their strengths, will be able to further develop Vietnam's unique characteristics.
Thank you, Professor, for taking the time for this conversation!
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/gs-nguyen-duc-khuong-lich-su-viet-nam-duoc-viet-tiep-boi-nhung-nguoi-duong-dai-20250817100502925.htm
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