Farewell to Professor Chu Tuan Nha, former Minister of Science, Technology and Environment

On the morning of December 7, 2025, in Hanoi, the funeral of Professor, Dr. Chu Tuan Nha took place in a solemn and emotional atmosphere, sending off a devoted scientist and manager who made many important contributions to the development of the country.

At the National Funeral House (No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi), from 7:05 a.m. on December 7, 2025 (ie October 18 of the lunar calendar), the funeral of Professor, Dr. Chu Tuan Nha - former Minister of Science , Technology and Environment - was held with solemn rituals.

Representatives of the Party, State, Ministry of Science and Technology , ministries, branches, central agencies, along with many colleagues, students, international friends and relatives came to lay wreaths and offer incense in memory. Many generations of scientists, those who worked and worked with the Professor expressed their respect and gratitude for his great contributions.

Representatives of the Party, State, Ministry of Science and Technology, ministries, branches, central agencies, along with many colleagues, students, international friends and relatives came to lay wreaths and offer incense in memory. Many generations of scientists, those who worked and worked with the Professor expressed their respect and gratitude for his great contributions.

Professor, Dr. Chu Tuan Nha passed away at 05:31 on December 1, 2025, at the age of 87. During his career, he held many important positions such as: former Chairman of the National Council for Science and Technology Policy; former Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO; Chairman of the Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association, Chairman of the Vietnam - Algeria Friendship Association... In any position, he was always dedicated to the development of science and technology in the country.

The memorial service and funeral of Professor, Doctor Chu Tuan Nha will be held at 8:35 a.m. the same day at the National Funeral Home. The Professor's coffin will be buried at Thien Duc Memorial Park ( Phu Tho province).

The passing of Professor, Dr. Chu Tuan Nha is a great loss to the science and technology sector of Vietnam. He will always be remembered as an exemplary intellectual, a dedicated and kind manager, wholeheartedly devoted to the cause of science, education and international cooperation of the country.

When looking back at the development of science and technology (S&T) in Vietnam since the late 1990s, it is impossible not to mention the mark of Prof. Dr. Chu Tuan Nha. In his position as Minister of Science, Technology and Environment (October 1997–August 2002), he led the S&T sector through the pivotal period of industrialization, modernization and international integration, laying the institutional foundation, policies and management models for a modern S&T sector.

The most prominent mark was the direction of building and submitting to the National Assembly for approval the Law on Science and Technology in 2000 - for the first time, science and technology activities had a comprehensive legal basis, creating a framework for the science and technology market, expanding the autonomy of research organizations, linking research with production and life, and paving the way for important laws later such as the Law on Intellectual Property, the Law on Technology Transfer, and the Law on High Technology. He also directly promoted the building of the Science and Technology Development Strategy to 2010, with a vision to 2020, establishing national priorities in biotechnology, mechanics - automation, materials, energy, environment, information technology; the system of key science and technology programs at the State level for the periods 1996-2000, 2001-2005 became the pillars of national research.

In the field of quality and environmental measurement standards, he directed the harmonization of many national standards with international standards, enhanced the capacity of inspection and testing of goods quality to serve integration; built an environmental protection strategy, action plan and pollution control strategy, developed an environmental monitoring system and focused on programs to overcome the consequences of chemical warfare, opened the way for cooperation in dioxin research with the United States and Russia. In the field of industrial property, his leadership period recorded strong development in organization, infrastructure, patent data and the renaming of the Industrial Property Office to the Intellectual Property Office, marking a step towards modernizing national intellectual property work.

Prof. Dr. Chu Tuan Nha also left a deep mark in perfecting the apparatus, developing the team and expanding international cooperation. Local Departments of Science, Technology and Environment were strengthened; the system of Science and Technology Councils was restored; many training courses for management staff were organized; the National Council for Science and Technology Policy was established. Vietnam signed many bilateral agreements on Science and Technology, organized the 1998 ASEAN Science and Technology Week in Hanoi, affirming its increasingly important role in regional and international cooperation.

Not only a policy maker, Prof. Dr. Chu Tuan Nha always worries about the team of science and technology intellectuals, considering people, especially scientists, as the most valuable asset of the country. He highly values ​​the spirit of dedication, responsibility and innovation of scientific intellectuals for the future of the nation. On December 1, 2025, he passed away in Hanoi at the age of 87. His passing is a great loss for the Vietnamese science and technology sector, but the legacy he left in terms of institutions, strategies, management mechanisms and international cooperation continues to shine, becoming the foundation for future generations to build and develop the country's science and technology.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/vinh-biet-gsts-chu-tuan-nha-nguyen-bo-truong-bo-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-va-moi-truong-197251207094751257.htm