French professor couple of Vietnamese origin and the story in Quy Hoa valley

Resolution 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation was issued on December 22, 2024, marking a strategic turning point in Vietnam's development orientation.

Resolution 57 not only demonstrates the political determination of the Party and State but also carries new and breakthrough viewpoints to remove bottlenecks, unleash creative potential, and make science and technology a key driving force for the country's rapid and sustainable development.

General Secretary To Lam compared Resolution 57 to "Contract 10" (Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW, also known as Contract 10 of the Politburo in 1988 on innovation in agricultural economic management) in the field of science and technology, demonstrating the nation's strong aspiration to rise up.

Professor Tran Thanh Van’s investment of millions of dollars in Vietnamese science is not for fame but as a duty of a scientist who wants to contribute to his homeland and country. Through this, he affirms the importance of science and education for the development of the country.

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More than 12 years ago, few people knew that Professor Tran Thanh Van, founder of the Association for Science and Vietnam, along with his wife, Professor Le Kim Ngoc, President of the Association for Helping Vietnamese Children in France, brought millions of dollars in savings from France back to Vietnam, with the desire to contribute to the development of science and technology in the country.

Not long after, August 12, 2013, marked a historical milestone when the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE) in Quy Hoa Valley (a valley formerly famous for Quy Hoa Leprosy Hospital), Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province (now Quy Nhon Nam Ward - Gia Lai) came into operation. Since then, ICISE has become a meeting place and academic exchange place for thousands of the world's leading scientists.

Professor Van recalled that before choosing Quy Hoa Valley as the “destination” of ICISE, he had surveyed and worked with many provinces and cities across the country. However, many localities did not really understand this project and wanted to “keep” him.

“In 2008, Mr. Vu Hoang Ha, former Secretary of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee (formerly) was a visionary and dedicated leader. I was moved when he asked us if we were doing basic science research. Then, the provincial leader showed us a large plot of land in Quy Hoa Valley. This is a quiet place, very suitable for scientists to have space to contemplate and create new ideas,” said Professor Van.

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According to Professor Van, through many years of ICISE's operation and leadership terms, especially the current leaders of Gia Lai province such as Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, are all very dedicated and determined people, always creating favorable conditions for the center to operate best.

“Up to now, what I am most satisfied with is that ICISE is considered a world heritage by world scientists, especially Nobel professors. After ICISE operated effectively, we established the Center for Scientific Discovery. Currently, this center operates very effectively, attracting many students to explore and study,” Professor Van expressed.

Professor Van recalls: “When we arrived, Quy Hoa valley was very desolate. Even when I decided to return to Vietnam to do science, my friends abroad said I would definitely fail. Everything went by so quickly, now this place is a “scientific paradise”. If we had to choose again, we would still choose this place, because the local leaders through the periods were very dedicated and interested in scientific development,” Professor Van said.

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More than a month ago, Professor Tran Thanh Van (known to international friends as Jean Tran Thanh Van) celebrated his 91st birthday. Compared to 10 years ago, his health has deteriorated significantly, but the professor is still concerned about Vietnam's science and education.

However, with its prestige, experience and capacity, after 12 years of operation, ICISE has organized more than 200 high-quality international scientific events and more than 60 specialized schools, attracting more than 16,500 scientists from 60 countries and territories. Among them, 18 Nobel Prize-winning professors have come to Vietnam to attend scientific events.

Through ICISE, inspiration and messages have been spread to the young generation of Vietnamese scientists, while opening the door to connect the domestic scientific community with international friends and the Southeast Asian region. Science has also become a diplomatic channel, helping countries cooperate to solve common problems based on knowledge and scientific evidence.

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Not only is it an international academic exchange center, ICISE is also a bridge to support students with a passion for scientific research. Through the sponsorship of the Vallet Foundation, the Vietnam Science Association founded by Professor Tran Thanh Van and his wife has so far awarded nearly 50,000 Vallet scholarships to outstanding students in Vietnam.

Professor Van said that every year, 30-35 students, of which 7-8 are from Binh Dinh (formerly Binh Dinh), receive scholarships to study engineering at the INSA engineering school system in France. Most of the students who study in France are successful, many of them have won prestigious international awards.

According to Professor Van, ICISE has now established a research institute with a group of Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics, and is in the process of establishing a group of theoretical quantum physics research.

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According to Professor Van, he was lucky to have met like-minded colleagues to have achieved today. Especially, when he returned to Vietnam, the leaders of Gia Lai province highly respected him and were determined to keep him to develop science. Along with that was the support of the Government and central ministries and branches, including Mr. Nguyen Quan, former Minister of Science and Technology.

Sharing about the fact that the professor and his wife spent millions of dollars in savings from France to Vietnam to contribute to science, Professor Van smiled and said: “Few scientists are rich. My wife and I only spend about 30% of our pension. At our age, we don’t ask for anything, our children are self-sufficient. We don’t travel or stay in luxury hotels.

Moreover, the duty of a scientist is nothing more than to contribute to the homeland. I think this is normal, what matters is fate and luck to meet like-minded people.

Talking about the development of Vietnamese science, Professor Van expressed his emotion when General Secretary To Lam signed and issued Resolution 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation.

“I know that in the past, state investment in science and technology was modest. However, after Resolution 57 was issued, especially with the strong direction of General Secretary To Lam, I believe that Vietnamese science will quickly develop and achieve success. Science cannot produce results overnight, we must make strategic investments early,” said Professor Van.

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Previously, at the working session with Professor Van, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, emphasized that ICISE is not only a source of pride for the province but also a bright spot on the scientific map of Vietnam and the region.

The Chairman of Gia Lai Province affirmed the strong support from provincial leaders and departments. He also pledged to remove obstacles and create the most favorable conditions for ICISE to develop more strongly, making practical contributions to the goal of science and technology development of the locality and the country.

At the meeting, the leaders of Gia Lai province and the Vietnam Science Association agreed to turn ICISE into a special academic destination for Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Raising the level of IFIRSE Research Institute in basic science, a place to nurture research directions that Vietnam lacks and is weak.

Develop applied research capacity and technology transfer from an international platform. Promote the role of scientific diplomacy, attract prestigious scientists to work in Vietnam, and inspire the younger generation.

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Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Secretary of Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee, identified the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as one of the key, strategic, and long-term political tasks, creating an important foundation for a breakthrough in the province's socio-economic development. In particular, the province's highlight is ICISE, founded by Professor Tran Thanh Van.

Gia Lai Provincial Party Secretary Ho Quoc Dung once emphasized that if it were not for the love of the homeland, the love of science, and the development of science and education for Vietnam, Professor Van and his wife would not have devoted all their passion, intelligence and life savings to return home to build ICISE. Professor Van even spent his own money to rent rooms and meals for scientists attending scientific conferences.

“The contributions of ICISE and Professor Tran Thanh Van and his wife Le Kim Ngoc are enormous to the country, not just to Gia Lai province. Thanks to Professor Tran Thanh Van and his wife, Vietnam has welcomed dozens of Nobel Prize-winning professors, many professors who have won top international awards, and thousands of international scientists,” said Mr. Ho Quoc Dung.

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