The stream of knowledge through two eras of development

On November 15, 1945, at the first opening ceremony of independent Vietnamese higher education at the Vietnam National University (the predecessor of today's Hanoi National University), President Ho Chi Minh personally presided over the ceremony, awarding diplomas to students and entrusting them with great faith in the nation's intellectuals. More than 80 years later, at this very same institution, in the aspiration to lead the country to prosperity by 2045, the message that "talented individuals are the lifeblood of the nation" continues to be emphasized by General Secretary and President To Lam as a guiding principle for the development of the era.

That is: to prepare high-quality human resources so that the nation can enter a new era with intellect, science , and innovation.

From the opening ceremony of the independence season to the aspiration for progress.

In his speech at the 120th anniversary celebration of Hanoi National University, General Secretary and President To Lam recalled the special milestone of November 15, 1945 – the moment when President Ho Chi Minh personally attended and presided over the first opening ceremony of Vietnam National University, the predecessor of Hanoi National University today. This was a special opening ceremony for Vietnamese higher education in the era of independence – where the young revolutionary state laid the foundation for a strategy of building the nation through knowledge and talent.

General Secretary and President To Lam presents a statue of President Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi National University. Photo: Thong Nhat

The opening ceremony took place more than two months after the historic Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh solemnly declared to the world that Vietnam had the right to freedom and independence, and indeed had become a free and independent nation. An era of independence had begun. Amidst the numerous difficulties following the seizure of power, when the country still faced "the enemy of hunger," "the enemy of ignorance," and internal and external enemies, President Ho Chi Minh's presence at the university lecture hall was a declaration of national development: to maintain independence, it was necessary to enlighten the people; to make the country prosperous, it was necessary to care for education and value talent.

The image of the national leader personally awarding diplomas to medical students, along with comrades Pham Van Dong, Vo Nguyen Giap, and Vu Dinh Hoe participating in teaching important subjects, remains a beautiful symbol of an education system linked to the nation's destiny and future. From that historic opening ceremony, Vietnamese education has carried a great mission: to train people with sufficient intellect, courage, and ambition to build an independent and prosperous nation. President Ho Chi Minh's message on that day is also the aspiration he expressed in his letter to students on the first day of school in independent Vietnam: "Whether the Vietnamese nation will become beautiful and prosperous, whether the Vietnamese people will reach the pinnacle of glory to stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the world, depends largely on your studies."

Eighty years later, at the 120th anniversary celebration of Hanoi National University today, May 16, 2026, General Secretary and President To Lam once again reiterated that ideological foundation in the context of the country entering a new era of development – ​​an era of national progress. If in the autumn of 1945, President Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation for an education system serving the cause of national defense and reconstruction after independence, today, the new requirement is to prepare high-quality human resources to enable Vietnam to break through through science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Therefore, the General Secretary and President's emphasis on building elite universities, innovation centers, and places where leading scientists, top technology experts, and outstanding students converge is not only a direction for educational development but also a strategy for preparing national strength for the future.

Preparing high-quality human resources for an era of growth.

If President Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation for the education system of an independent Vietnam, then today, General Secretary and President To Lam is entrusting his hopes to an education system capable of leading the country into a new era of development.

In his speech, the General Secretary and President repeatedly emphasized the risk of falling behind if the nation lags behind in science, technology, innovation, and the quality of its human resources. In an era of globalization and a rapidly developing technological revolution, falling behind means dependence and the loss of opportunities for advancement. Therefore, building a high-quality workforce is no longer just a requirement of the education sector, but has become a matter of national survival.

It is noteworthy that this message is not merely an aspiration, but the Party has set forth specific goals, tasks, and solutions in strategic decisions such as: Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation; Resolution 71 on breakthroughs in the development of education and training; Resolution 80 on the development of Vietnamese culture… From President Ho Chi Minh's thinking that "an ignorant nation is a weak nation" to the requirement to build "elite universities," "innovation centers," and "the pioneering force of Vietnamese higher education" as set forth by General Secretary and President To Lam today, a consistent thread runs through the country's development thinking: putting people at the center, using knowledge as the foundation, and using talent as the driving force.

From there, General Secretary and President To Lam defined the mission and requirements for Hanoi National University to become a hub for leading scientists, top technology experts, technology entrepreneurs, and outstanding students to research and master core and strategic technologies, demonstrating a very clear vision for the nation's competitive future. With seven specific requirements and directions, the General Secretary and President affirmed the great responsibility of Hanoi National University: to become a "brains" that the State turns to when needing scientific arguments for strategic decisions; a place where businesses seek to jointly develop technology, human resources, and new business models; and a place where society finds faith in the power of Vietnamese knowledge, science, and education.

The new era that the country is heading towards will be determined by the intellectual content, innovative capacity, and quality of the Vietnamese people. From the first opening ceremony of the autumn of independence in 1945 to the aspiration for national strength and prosperity today, history seems to be continuing with an unchanging source: caring for education, valuing talent, and preparing high-quality human resources is the most sustainable path for the country to enter a new era and stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading nations.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/mach-nguon-tri-thuc-qua-hai-ky-nguyen-phat-trien-10417191.html