On the afternoon of July 31, the Vietnamese technology and education community was stunned by the news that Mr. Hoang Nam Tien, former Chairman of FPT Software, FPT Telecom and Vice Chairman of the Board of FPT University, suddenly passed away at the age of 57 after a stroke. A week earlier, he had been treated for a blocked artery and had undergone surgery.
The passing of a leader who was known as an “inspiration” for the youth, a bold administrator and a dedicated teacher has left behind endless sorrow. He was not only a “warrior” on the economic front, but also a person who ignited the fire of aspirations, a symbol of the spirit of lifelong learning and tireless dedication.
Nearly 30 years of service and the dream of bringing Vietnamese intelligence to the world
Born in 1969 in Hanoi, in a family with a revolutionary and academic tradition, Mr. Hoang Nam Tien is the youngest son of the late Major General Hoang Dan and Mrs. Nguyen Thi An Vinh, former National Assembly delegate. His family background has instilled in him a sense of responsibility, discipline and a great desire to contribute.
After graduating from the Information Technology major at Hanoi University of Science and Technology in 1993, he immediately joined FPT Corporation and dedicated his entire career there. Starting as a young programming engineer, he quickly showed his sharp management thinking and strong personality. He did not hesitate to express his opinions to his superiors and was always ready to conquer new challenges.
In 2001, he was appointed as the first General Director of FPT Distribution Company (FDC). Under his management, FDC became the pillar of the Group, contributing significantly to FPT's first revenue exceeding the 1 billion USD mark in 2008, a historic milestone.
During the period 2012-2020, as Chairman of FPT Software, Mr. Hoang Nam Tien realized the dream of bringing a Vietnamese software company to the world. With the spirit of a "warrior", he led FPT Software to achieve a growth rate of more than 30% per year, entering the top 100 largest software service providers in the world.
In 2020, he continued to hold the position of Chairman of FPT Telecom, steering the unit through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. FPT Telecom's revenue during this period increased from VND 11,466 billion to more than VND 14,700 billion, demonstrating his management talent and ability to handle the crisis. He once shared: "A leader is not only a strategist, but also someone who inspires aspirations in the team."
Journey of gratitude and passing on the torch to the younger generation
In April 2023, Mr. Hoang Nam Tien decided to move to the education sector, taking on the role of Vice Chairman of the Board of FPT University. He called this a “journey of gratitude”, a way for him to return the values he had received to society.
He once confided: “I am not a writer, I just write to preserve what is beautiful and kind. Just like teaching, it is my way of keeping myself young every day.”
The image of him wearing a T-shirt, sitting among students to talk about AI, blockchain, and startups has become extremely familiar. He uses everyday, humorous, yet profound language to arouse, guide, and inspire thousands of students. To young people, he is a special teacher: easygoing, but not easy in demanding effort and progress.
Not only stopping at the lecture hall, he also became an “influencer” with great influence on social networking platforms. His Facebook, TikTok, and Youtube accounts attract hundreds of thousands of followers, where he shares stories about management, business and especially his passion for reading.
He is known as the “god of book sales” because his live-streamed book introduction sessions always attract great attention. At the end of 2024, he sold nearly 2,000 books in just one live-stream session. For him, reading books is a personal need, a way to “think differently, act differently and live more deeply”.
He maintains the habit of reading 20-25 books per month and is a pioneer in applying AI to improve reading and thinking efficiency. With these contributions, he was honored as “Digital Content Creator for the Community” at the VCA 2024 Awards.
live kindly, live dedicatedly"
Mr. Hoang Nam Tien believes that everyone has a story worth telling. And his own life is a powerfully inspiring story.
Few people know that he - the former class monitor of the Amsterdam School of Mathematics - once failed the university entrance exam. It was the advice of his father, Major General Hoang Dan: "Wherever you fall, stand up there", that helped him retake the exam and pass the Information Technology major at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, opening up a brilliant career later on.
In 2024, he published two books about his parents. “Letter for You,” which recreates the love story of General Hoang Dan and Mrs. Nguyen Thi An Vinh through wartime letters, sold more than 50,000 copies and was honored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
He wrote: “Thinking about my parents, I cannot help but feel sad... there are sacrifices and losses that happen more quietly but are no less painful, that is youth, that is a happy family.” It is from stories about the dedication of the previous generation that he always urges young people to “live kindly, live with dedication.”
Even when facing an underlying illness, he never took a day off. During his last days in the hospital, he still texted his colleagues with optimism. He once said that he did not believe in retirement based on age, because for him, “when you stop working, it means you stop learning. When you stop learning, you stop living.”
His latest book, “AI for Business,” released in June 2025, is a testament to his spirit of continuous learning and forward thinking. He emphasizes that humans must master AI, so that technology can become a companion.
Immediately after the news of Mr. Hoang Nam Tien’s passing was announced, social networks and the technology and education community were flooded with emotional messages. This shows that he was not only an influential leader, but also a teacher, friend, and companion who left a deep impression on those who met, worked with, or simply listened to him speak.
Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/vinh-biet-ong-hoang-nam-tien-nha-lanh-dao-truyen-cam-hung-post2149042464.html
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