HUST "Flowers" in the World of Engineering and Technology

On October 11, the campus of Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) was more vibrant than usual. The graceful, flowing áo dài of the HUST alumnae made the technical university, typically filled with the colors of student uniforms, feel unusually gentle and warm. Today, nearly 120 alumni from all corners of the country returned to campus to gather for the "HUST Alumnae Connection" event, celebrating the 69th anniversary of their beloved alma mater (October 15, 1956 – October 15, 2025).

The gathering was honored by the presence of Assoc. Prof. Huỳnh Quyết Thắng - President of HUST; Prof. Lê Anh Tuấn - Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the University Council; Assoc. Prof. Trần Ngọc Khiêm - Vice President of the University; Assoc. Prof. Bùi Đức Hùng - Chairman of the University Trade Union; Dr. Nguyễn Quân - former Minister of Science and Technology and President of the HUST Alumni Network; and Ms. Đinh Hoài Giang - Head of the HUST Alumnae Liaison Committee.
  "I Have Lived Nearly 60 Years with HUST"

In her opening remarks, Ms. Đinh Hoài Giang, Head of the Alumnae Liaison Committee, shared emotionally: "Today, in the joyful atmosphere leading up to the 69th anniversary of HUST's founding, we are so happy to meet again at the home of HUST Alumni—a place that holds so many memories of our years of study, training, and growth."

Her words seemed to touch upon the youthful memories of the alumnae: the practical sessions in the laboratory, the sleepless nights with blueprints—memories of resilient HUST women in a technical world once thought to be only for men.
  Prof. Dr. Đặng Thị Kim Chi (People's Teacher), an alumna from the cohort 11 Chemistry major who has been with HUST for over half a century, reminisced: "I studied at HUST during the years of the war against the Americans. The evacuated laboratories, the dedicated teachers who guided us through countless hardships... it all feels like it was just yesterday. After nearly 60 years of connection, HUST is not just where I worked; it has become a part of my life."

For Ms. Kim Chi, being a woman in science and engineering is not easy, but "it doesn't mean it's impossible." She added, "We need to know how to balance work and family, and how to share our burdens. Learning is a lifelong journey, and the HUST spirit will endure forever."

HUST Alumnae Creating Technology
  Among the HUST alumnae present this morning, it was deeply moving to see the presence of Hero of Labor Nguyễn Thị Nguyệt, an alumna from the cohort 14 Electric Machines major, a woman honored as the "Golden Woman of Vietnam's Power Industry."

From her early years after graduation, Ms. Nguyệt dedicated herself to research, design, and manufacturing. She was the first person in Vietnam to successfully design 110kV, 220kV, and 500kV transformers—products that bear the mark of HUST ingenuity, saving the state significant costs and affirming the capability of Vietnam's power industry.

For her immense contributions, she was awarded the title of Hero of Labor by the State in 2006.

Facing her fellow alumnae, Ms. Nguyệt spoke emotionally of her old school: "Though 50 years have passed, the image of our HUST teachers diligently working at the lectern is still deeply etched in our minds. To us, our teachers are the most revered people!"

For Ms. Nguyệt, success in science is always linked to a spirit of dedication and courage: "In scientific research, if you don't dare to take risks, you will never succeed. For science to develop, there must be risk-taking."

That statement is not just the creed of a scientist but also the spirit of a HUST woman: Daring to think, daring to do, daring to take responsibility, and always moving forward with knowledge and faith.
  When alumna Nguyễn Thị Hiền, from the cohort 14 Chemistry major, spoke, the hall fell silent with emotion. At 75, she remains vibrant, her voice full of energy as she recalled her "HUST youth":

"We entered the university in 1969, the year President Ho Chi Minh passed away. The entire school stood in silent tears. Then came the years of destructive warfare, and we were constantly evacuated. Our teachers took us everywhere; wherever it was safe, they set up classrooms and dorms for us to study. From a girl who had never carried water, I learned to carry water and boil it to support my friends who were building dikes. Once, I fell and spilled all the water. My friends asked if I was okay, but I cried because I felt sorry that everyone would have no water to drink…"

Today, Ms. Hiền is the Chairwoman of the Board of VIETSENS Technology Group, managing seven subsidiary companies. Their medical software product won the National First Prize in 2023 and a Special Prize in 2024.

"HUST taught us not only knowledge but also how to live—how to overcome hardship. Every success I have today bears the imprint of HUST," Ms. Hiền said with reverence.
  In a gentle blue áo dài, Ms. Trần Thị Mỹ Hải, an alumna from the cohort 37 Textile major, shared with a smile: "The áo dài I'm wearing is woven from... pineapple leaves. It's a product of Vietfiber, the only Vietnamese enterprise that produces natural fibers without using chemicals."

She recounted her first day at HUST, where the young rural girl thought she had entered the wrong Textile class when she looked around and saw only... male students. But it was at that very school that she found the passion and determination to become an engineer at Hanosimex, and later to found Vietfiber—a pioneering enterprise with the green ambition to transform Vietnam's textile industry.

"I just hope that Vietnam can have high-quality natural fibers, produced without chemicals. The áo dài I wear today is the crystallization of the knowledge and love for the textile industry that HUST gave me."
  In the hall filled with warm chatter and laughter, Ms. Hà Thị Thùy Dương, an alumna who graduated in 2006 with a degree in Organic and Petrochemical Technology, was the youngest face. She graduated from HUST in 2006, pursued her Master's in South Korea and Canada, and is now the Deputy Director of Sotaville Company—a pioneering distributor in the chemical, electronics, and safety equipment industries for the electronics, machine manufacturing, automotive, and occupational safety sectors nationwide.

"On my first day, I heard the saying: 'HUST boys are like parrots, HUST girls are like baked cassava.' I think that even if HUST girls are like 'baked cassava,' when we walk through the lecture halls, the whole row exclaims 'wow!' I am proud to have studied here. HUST forged our character and knowledge so that we can stand firm in today's industrial world," Ms. Thùy Dương said proudly.

Two "HUST Steel Roses" from Cohort 19

Among the resilient flowers of HUST this morning were two women from the same cohort 19 - both had worn the soldier's uniform and carried the spirit of engineers who never retreat.
  Ms. Dương Tạ Hòa Bình, a military officer and an alumna from the cohort 19 Mechanical Engineering major, graduated in 1979 and immediately began teaching reserve officer classes at the Military Technical University (now the Military Technical Academy) in Vĩnh Yên. With nearly 35 years of service in the armed forces, she worked in many sectors, including motorcycles, automobiles, and naval vessels—fields where women were rarely seen.

A well-deserved reward for her relentless efforts was the Labor Order, Third Class, awarded by the State to the ship repair and construction enterprise she managed—a tribute to the persistent and proud journey of a HUST woman.

A classmate of Ms. Bình, Ms. Nguyễn Thanh Vân, an alumna from the Radio Engineering major and now the Chairwoman of Minh Tam Equipment Co., Ltd. (Mitalab Group), also began her career in the military. Graduating in 1979, she attended reserve officer training, served in the Capital Military Region, and then spent many years working at state-owned enterprises and projects before starting her own business.

"I am happy to return to my old home—the place that gave me beautiful youthful years and a solid foundation of knowledge to step into life."

From a female radio engineer to the founder of a business that supplies modern medical equipment to hundreds of hospitals nationwide, Ms. Nguyễn Thanh Vân has clearly demonstrated the steadfast, creative, and determined spirit of a HUST woman.

The Success of Alumnae - The Pride of HUST
  Speaking at the gathering, Dr. Nguyễn Quân, former Minister of Science and Technology and President of the HUST Alumni Network, said emotionally: "The number of alumnae attending today is even larger than expected, which shows their special bond with our beloved HUST. I hope the Alumnae Liaison Committee will continue to be a bridge that connects us and contributes to the overall development of the HUST Alumni Network."

Assoc. Prof. Trần Ngọc Khiêm, Vice President of HUST, affirmed: "I see the success of the Alumnae Network and of every HUST woman. For the university, this is not just a source of pride but also a hallmark of our sustainable development."
  Though time may pass, and though they may be in different parts of the world, the HUST alumnae, with their values of "Responsibility - Creativity - Integrity - Excellence," will forever walk alongside the development of the nation's leading technical university.

One school, many generations, and one shared heart: The HUST heart.