Top 10 Most Renowned Scientists in Vietnam's History

Nguyễn Văn Hiệu was a distinguished professor, politician, and physicist in Vietnam. Born in Cầu Đơ, now part of Hà Cầu ward, Hà Đông district, Hanoi, in a modest civil servant family, he faced numerous challenges to pursue his academic path.

Although the field of physics was underdeveloped in Vietnam, thanks to Professor Nguyễn Văn Hiệu's contributions, it is no exaggeration to say that Vietnamese physics entered a new era. Between 1960 and 1963, he published 12 research papers on neutrino physics. Later, the Dupna Nuclear Research Institute formed a new research team under his leadership, consisting of physicists from the USSR, Hungary, Romania, and Vietnam. Professor Nguyễn Văn Hiệu authored 130 scientific papers spanning various fields, from weak interactions and symmetries of elementary particles to analytical theories on strong interactions and field theory, including quantum field theory methods in solid-state physics. Many of his works were published in renowned international journals.

He is the author of hundreds of research papers in both Solid-State Physics and Quantum Field Theory. Additionally, he made significant contributions to the establishment of the Vietnam Academy of Science and the Institute of Physics. For his remarkable work, he was honored with the Hồ Chí Minh Award by the government.

Professor Hoàng Tụy was a prominent Vietnamese mathematician. Alongside Professor Lê Văn Thiêm, he was one of the two pioneers who brought Vietnamese mathematics to the international stage. He is credited with inventing the Tụy cutting method, which solved many global optimization problems in applied mathematics. This method is considered a foundational milestone in the development of global optimization theory. Thanks to his remarkable achievements in mathematics, he significantly contributed to enhancing Vietnam's educational system, placing it on par with other developed nations.

He authored over 100 papers published in prestigious international journals, including works on Mathematical Programming, Global Optimization, Convex Programming, the Minimax Theorem, and Extremal Problems. His groundbreaking contributions earned him both domestic and international recognition.

• Honorary Doctorate from Linköping University, Sweden (1995).
• Ho Chi Minh Award, First Class (1996).
• Phan Châu Trinh Award (2010).
• Constantin Carathéodory Award (2011).
• 65th Anniversary of Party Membership Medal (2015).

Professor Hoàng Tụy played a crucial role in the development of mathematics in Vietnam and was instrumental in training successive generations of young Vietnamese mathematicians.

Professor Đặng Vũ Minh is a renowned Vietnamese chemist, Doctor of Science, and foreign academician. He has authored numerous research papers in the fields of rare element technology and chemistry. He is also the co-author of the book Fission Products of Super Uranium Elements in the Universe, published in Russian by Nauka Publishing House in Moscow in 1984. He served as the editor-in-chief of the journal Chemical-Physical-Biological Analysis and as the president of the Vietnam Chemical-Physical-Biological Analysis Association. In 2005, he was awarded the First-Class Labor Medal, the Second-Class Anti-American Resistance Medal, and the State Prize for Science and Technology.

Professor Đặng Vũ Minh’s scientific achievements and contributions have earned him great respect from the Vietnamese government. As a result, in 2007, he was elected as a delegate to the 12th National Assembly and appointed as a member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, as well as the Chairman of the Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment.

Professor Ngô Bảo Châu, born in 1972 in Hanoi, is the youngest Vietnamese mathematician to ever be appointed a professor at the age of 33. He is best known for proving the fundamental lemma for Lie algebra, an achievement that earned him recognition as one of the top 10 scientific discoveries of 2009 by Time magazine. In 2010, he became the first Vietnamese to win the prestigious Fields Medal. His international scientific work has been highly regarded, and he has made significant contributions to Vietnam’s educational system.

Having achieved remarkable success at a young age, Professor Ngô Bảo Châu is equally passionate about teaching. In early 2015, he commented, "One thing that was a bit disappointing last year was that the focus of education reform, especially in higher education, was neglected. Clearly, this is a crucial issue because higher education determines a country's future development and the training of human resources for society."

On April 21, 2020, during an online talk with students about the role of teachers, he expressed his thoughts: "A great teacher is someone who knows how to ask the right questions, pushing us to seek the truth." When asked how to make new discoveries, he replied: "I believe that discoveries don’t just pop into our heads. In fact, every discovery comes from our experience. When we’re just starting, that experience might come from solving various problems during our studies."

Professor Nguyễn Sơn Bình is a renowned scientist who has made significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific community. After earning his PhD in Chemistry from Caltech in 1995, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Scripps Research Institute. He is currently a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. His research is focused on the design of soft materials for applications in materials science, catalysis, and medicine. He is also a prominent member of the U.S. Argonne National Laboratory.

In 2015, he was recognized as one of the world's most influential scientists by Thomson Reuters, and he is one of only four Vietnamese-origin scientists included in this prestigious list. His research areas include inorganic and organometallic chemistry, organic synthesis, polymer science, and the development of environmentally friendly catalysts and bio-materials.

Professor Nguyễn Sơn Bình’s groundbreaking research has earned him numerous awards, including:

• AURS Award for Outstanding Support of Undergraduate Research (2005)
• ASG Faculty/Administrator Honor Roll (2003-2005)
• Weinberg Award for Distinguished Teaching (2002 & 2003)
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2000)
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2000)
• Union Carbide Innovation Recognition Award (1999)
• David and Lucille Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering (1997)

Professor Nguyễn Xuân Hùng specializes in mechanics and hails from Tánh Linh, Bình Thuận, though his roots are in Quảng Trị. He graduated from the University of Science, part of the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City. After completing his degree, he pursued a master's in the field of continuous environmental mechanics. Upon earning his master's, Professor Nguyễn Xuân Hùng received a prestigious PhD research scholarship and further studied computational mechanics at the University of Liège in Belgium.

Currently, he teaches at the University of Danang – University of Science and Technology (HUTECH) and is a visiting professor at Sejong University in South Korea. With over 60 international publications and more than 40 conference papers, his research focuses on developing computational tools and simulations in fields such as engineering mechanics, biomechanics, materials science, and R&D for advanced technological products. His work continues to be applied in practical, real-world scenarios.

Nguyễn Thục Quyên, born in 1970 in Ban Mê Thuột, is Vietnam's most renowned female scientist. She is a Vietnamese-American scientist and researcher currently serving as a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Nguyễn Thục Quyên gained international recognition when she was awarded the prestigious Alfred Sloan Fellowship. Her research focuses on organic electronic devices such as photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and plastic solar cells using conductive plastic materials.

Throughout her career, her remarkable contributions to science have earned her several prestigious awards:

• In 2005, she received the "Young Researcher Award" in the United States.
  
• In 2006, she was honored with the "National Science Career Award".
  
• In 2000, she won two international awards, the "Graduate Student Award" in the U.S. and the "Outstanding Innovative Research Award" in Austria.
  
• In 2008, Nguyễn Thục Quyên received the "Harold Plous Award" from the University of California, Santa Barbara, for her research in organic photovoltaic materials, becoming the first professor in Chemistry and Biology to win this award in 17 years.
  
• In 2009, she was named an "Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellow" at the University of California.
  
• In 2015, she was recognized by Thomson Reuters as one of the world’s most influential scientists.

Tạ Quang Bửu was a prominent professor and scientist from Vietnam, known for being a pioneer in the field of science, technology, and military engineering in the country. He played a key role in suggesting improvements to the educational system, focusing on modern and practical content that best suited the conditions of Vietnam. His notable works include research in basic sciences and mine-clearing techniques during the war. Some of his most significant publications include:

• Elementary Statistics
• Life
• Physics Fundamentals
• Operator Algebra (1961)
• Atoms – Nuclei – Cosmic Rays

His contributions have been pivotal in bringing new advancements to Vietnam. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded numerous prestigious honors:

• First-Class Independence Medal, posthumously awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal.
• First-Class Resistance Medal.
• First-Class Victory Medal.
• First-Class Resistance Medal against the U.S. and the War for National Salvation.
• First-Class Combat Medal.
• Third-Class Glorious Soldier Medal.

In addition, several streets in Hanoi’s Hai Ba Trung District, Ho Chi Minh City’s District 8, Dong Hoi (Nam Ly Ward), Hue, Da Nang, Ha Long, the largest library at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Thang Long University Hall, and the Tạ Quang Bửu Award for scientists in Vietnam bear his name.

Trần Đại Nghĩa was a renowned professor, military engineer, and scientist who laid the foundation for Vietnam’s military science and defense technology. His real name was Phạm Quang Lễ, and he was from Vĩnh Long. He also held high-level roles in science and technology management. His work in weapon development received international acclaim. He is often regarded as the father of Vietnam’s defense industry.

Engineer Trần Đại Nghĩa, alongside his colleagues, developed the Bazooka anti-tank gun, enabling Vietnamese forces to counter French tanks and bunkers. He later worked on creating the 60mm recoil-less rifle (SKZ). His inventions were crucial to Vietnam’s struggle for independence, marking a new era in the country’s defense and military industry. In recognition of his immense contributions, his name has been given to streets and schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi to honor his legacy.

Additionally, on November 16, 2015, the President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology issued a decision establishing the Trần Đại Nghĩa Award to honor authors of significant scientific works that have directly contributed to the country’s economic, social, and national security development. The award was first presented in 2016.

Lê Văn Thiêm was the first talented professor and doctor of mathematical sciences in Vietnam. He made significant contributions to the development of mathematics as an academic discipline in the country. His main research focused on the theory of modular functions, Riemann surfaces, and various aspects of applied mathematics.

When it comes to the accomplishments of Professor Lê Văn Thiêm, it’s clear that he is greatly admired for laying the foundation of Vietnam's mathematical field. Under his leadership, the Institute of Mathematics became a renowned center for mathematical research in Vietnam, gaining international recognition. He was among the first to solve the inverse problem of the distribution theory of modular functions, which is now considered a classic result in the field.

He was also the author of over 20 mathematical papers published in international journals and served as the editor for numerous mathematics books. Notably, he authored two monographs: “Some Mathematical Problems in Elasticity Theory” (1970) and “Mathematical Issues in Viscous Fluids” (1970). In recognition of his outstanding mathematical contributions, he was awarded the Hồ Chí Minh Prize by the Vietnamese Government in 1996.