Over half a century of stamp collecting.

Mr. Tran Huu Hue (born in 1951), residing in Thoai Son commune, has spent more than half a century collecting "pieces" of history and culture through small postage stamps.

Mr. Tran Huu Hue introduces his valuable stamp collection. Photo: Phuong Lan.

Mr. Hue's story of passion for stamp collecting began when he was 14 years old. Introducing each stamp, Mr. Hue said that in those years, when means of communication were still rudimentary, stamps were the passports that allowed letters to travel far and wide. For Mr. Hue, each stamp is not just postage but a miniature work of art, containing knowledge about geography, history, culture, and people.

In the beginning, he would cherish and carefully collect any stamp he found that was unusual or beautifully colored. Day by day, his love for these tiny stamps grew and became deeply ingrained in the young man. Mr. Hue's stamp collecting journey was not a bed of roses. During periods of war and the scarcity of supplies under the subsidy system, finding a new stamp was a real challenge. He had to go door-to-door to acquaintances, ask for old envelopes, or travel extensively, even going to Ho Chi Minh City to connect with like-minded individuals.

Driven by a thirst for knowledge, Mr. Hue taught himself foreign languages ​​and sought to connect with the international stamp collecting community. His first turning point came when he was introduced to a Japanese stamp club. From initial exchanges of letters in broken English, he established a network of friends across five continents. Thanks to these connections, his stamp collection grew increasingly diverse, encompassing rare stamps from many countries, giving him a multifaceted perspective on the world through stamps.

For over 60 years, through perseverance and dedication, from his humble beginnings to his current collection of over 200,000 stamps, Mr. Hue has amassed a collection of over 200,000 stamps. Within this miniature world, the most prominent are over 2,000 stamps featuring President Ho Chi Minh – a subject he has devoted considerable effort to collecting. Each stamp depicting President Ho Chi Minh is not only a work of art but also a historical story, helping viewers understand more about his life and great achievements. “For me, stamp collecting is not simply a hobby but also brings immense spiritual benefits. It helps cultivate patience, meticulousness, and expands my knowledge of the geography, history, and culture of countries around the world. These values ​​have motivated me to maintain my passion despite my advanced age,” Mr. Hue confided.

Besides the "Ho Chi Minh - Life and Career" stamp collection, the Hoang Sa - Truong Sa stamp collection is also Mr. Hue's second most cherished creation, meticulously collected over seven years since 1988, with the desire to contribute to affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over its maritime territories.

Among the hundreds of thousands of stamps he has collected, Mr. Hue currently owns 24 Vietnamese stamp collections with major themes on culture, history, and life. Each collection participating in exhibitions is meticulously presented on over 80 A4 pages, using approximately 400 stamps and 78 actual envelopes. Mr. Hue has taken his collections to many exhibitions both domestically and internationally, achieving high rankings with gold, silver, and bronze awards. Always accompanying him on this journey is his devoted wife, Mrs. Vuong Thi Mui Em. Their tireless efforts and the value they bring to society were officially recognized and honored by the Vietnam Record Organization (VietKings) in early February 2026.

Not keeping it to himself, Mr. Hue always harbored the ambition to pass on his passion to the younger generation. He established a stamp club to guide students in the local area. Currently, Mr. Hue maintains and regularly organizes two stamp clubs. Through each stamp, he hopes to contribute to educating students about patriotism, national pride, and cultivating good character. "Collecting stamps teaches us patience. To have a beautiful stamp collection, you must learn to wait, cherish it, and above all, learn to understand its origins," Mr. Hue shared.

The Vietnam Record Organization established a record for Mr. and Mrs. Hue: "The largest collection of Vietnamese and world postage stamps on cultural, historical, and lifestyle themes, which has participated in exhibitions and won numerous domestic and international awards." In addition, Mr. Tran Huu Hue was also awarded a Vietnam Record Certificate by VietKings for: "A person with a 60-year journey of researching and collecting postage stamps both domestically and internationally, owning 24 valuable thematic stamp collections. Furthermore, he has contributed to guiding and developing the stamp collecting movement in schools, churches, temples, and pagodas for 20 years (from 2006 to the present)."

PHUONG LAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/hon-nua-the-ky-suu-tap-tem-a481635.html