12/08/2026
Overview of the Ceremony
The ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives from central ministries and agencies, including Mr. Nguyen Hoai Anh, Member of the Party Central Committee and Standing Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs; Mr. Le Quan, Deputy Minister of Education and Training; representatives of the Government Office and the Ministry of Education and Training. On this occasion, Hong Duc University was honored to receive congratulatory flower baskets from Mr. Nguyen Doan Anh, Member of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, and Mr. Le Tien Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Representing Thanh Hoa Province were Mr. Le Duc Thai, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Mr. Nguyen Hong Phong, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council; Mr. To Anh Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Mr. Trinh Tuan Sinh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thanh Hoa Province, along with former provincial leaders, members of the Provincial Standing Committee, representatives of provincial departments, agencies, and mass organizations.
The ceremony also welcomed leaders of local authorities across the province, representatives of associations, hospitals, enterprises, partner organizations, members of the appraisal team for the merger proposal, leaders of universities under provincial and municipal authorities, representatives of higher education institutions, colleges, vocational schools, and numerous experts and scientists from universities and research institutes nationwide.
Representing Hong Duc University were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hoang Ba Huyen, Secretary of the University Party Committee and President of the University; former Party Secretaries, former Presidents, former Chairpersons of the University Council; members of the Party Committee Standing Board, Vice Presidents, former Vice Presidents, as well as a large number of lecturers, staff, employees, and students.
Delegates Attending the Ceremony
At the ceremony, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Training announced the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1268/QĐ-TTg on the merger of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism into Hong Duc University. Subsequently, Deputy Minister Le Quan formally presented the merger decision to the University. The Department of Home Affairs of Thanh Hoa Province also announced decisions of the Provincial People’s Committee regarding the appointment of the President and Vice Presidents of Hong Duc University following the merger.
Mr. Le Quan, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, Presents the Decision on the Merger of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism into Hong Duc University
Leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, and the Standing Committee of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee Present Flowers to Congratulate Hong Duc University Following the Announcement of the Prime Minister’s Decision on the Merger of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism into Hong Duc University
The Department of Home Affairs of Thanh Hoa Province also announced decisions of the Provincial People’s Committee regarding the appointment of the President and Vice Presidents of Hong Duc University following the merger.
Mr. Le Duc Thai, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Thanh Hoa Provincial National Assembly Delegation, and Mr. To Anh Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, Present Appointment Decisions and Congratulatory Flowers to the President and Vice Presidents of Hong Duc University
Mr. To Anh Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, Delivers a Speech at the Ceremony
In his address, Mr. To Anh Dung, Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, emphasized that the merger represents not only an organizational restructuring but also a strategic milestone for the development of higher education in Thanh Hoa Province. The decision reflects the close attention and support of the Party, the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Education and Training, as well as the province’s determination to consolidate resources, improve higher education quality, and build a stronger institution capable of meeting the demands of rapid and sustainable development.
Chairman To Anh Dung highlighted that Hong Duc University, with nearly 30 years of development, has established itself as a comprehensive multidisciplinary university of the province, while Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with nearly 60 years of tradition, has made significant contributions to training human resources in culture, arts, sports, and tourism. The merger, he noted, brings together the strengths, traditions, and achievements of both institutions, creating a solid foundation for the comprehensive development of Hong Duc University in the years ahead.
Looking toward the province’s future development goals, the Chairman stressed that Thanh Hoa aims to achieve double-digit economic growth and become a new growth pole of the region. To accomplish this objective, the province identifies high-quality human resources, science and technology, and innovation as key drivers. In this context, Hong Duc University is expected to strengthen its role as a center for education, scientific research, and innovation, while serving as a bridge connecting intellectuals, scientists, government agencies, educational institutions, and businesses through the “State – University – Enterprise” collaboration model.
To realize these goals, the Chairman called on the University to focus on three key priorities: stabilizing its organizational structure and effectively utilizing human and physical resources after the merger; modernizing university governance based on autonomy, transparency, and efficiency while restructuring academic programs to align with provincial development needs; and enhancing the quality of faculty members, expanding cooperation with government agencies, universities, research institutes, and businesses, and promoting scientific research and technology transfer for socio-economic development.
On behalf of Hong Duc University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hoang Ba Huyen expressed his deep gratitude for the trust and support of the Party, the Government, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Thanh Hoa provincial leadership. He also acknowledged the valuable contributions of generations of leaders, lecturers, staff, employees, and students of Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism, affirming that their traditions and achievements will continue to be preserved and promoted within the shared academic community of Hong Duc University.
In his remarks, President Le Hoang Ba Huyen stated: “A merger is not the end of a journey; it is the beginning of a new vision.” He emphasized that the merger is not merely an expansion of organizational scale but, more importantly, an opportunity to achieve substantive improvements in education quality, scientific research, innovation, and service to society. The integration of the two institutions brings together educational traditions, dedicated human resources, and valuable cultural heritage, creating a stronger foundation for future development.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hoang Ba Huyen, President of Hong Duc University, Delivers His Acceptance Speech and Response Remarks
The President affirmed that the University would promptly translate the strategic directions and recommendations of provincial leaders into concrete action plans and development programs. Hong Duc University is committed to ensuring a smooth and effective integration process while maximizing the strengths, resources, and traditions of both institutions.
Looking ahead, the University leadership pledged to continue advancing university governance, improving the quality of education and research, fostering innovation, developing faculty and administrative staff, accelerating digital transformation, expanding domestic and international partnerships, strengthening cooperation with businesses and local authorities, and building a modern, inclusive, and learner-centered academic environment.
University Leaders, Former Leaders, Distinguished Delegates, Guests, and the Leadership of Hong Duc University Pose for a Commemorative Photo at the Ceremony
The ceremony marking the announcement of the Prime Minister’s Decision on the merger concluded successfully, opening a new chapter in the history of Hong Duc University. The merger not only implements the Party’s and the State’s policy of restructuring the network of public higher education institutions but also creates favorable conditions for the University to optimize resources, enhance educational quality, expand research and innovation activities, strengthen international cooperation, and contribute more effectively to the development of high-quality human resources for Thanh Hoa Province and Vietnam.
As a newly strengthened multidisciplinary and multi-sector institution, Hong Duc University is poised to further affirm its position as a leading center for education, research, and innovation, contributing significantly to the sustainable development of Thanh Hoa Province and the nation.