As a new year begins, Take Off seeks to spread the spirit as a powerful affirmation. When belief is awakened and aspiration is nurtured, Vietnam will continue to reach new heights.
The first Take Off of the Year of Binh Ngo will follow the journeys of Vietnamese individuals who persistently pursue their passions with determination and courage, turning ambition into remarkable accomplishments that serve the country and its people. Guest commentators include Mr. Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States, as well as beauty queen Ngoc Han.
Featured speakers include Professor Dr. Le Minh Thang, a senior lecturer at the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. As one of Vietnam’s leading figures in catalysis and emission treatment, she has devoted more than 20 years to transforming laboratory research into practical solutions that reduce environmental pollution and promote green chemistry.
Professor Le Minh Thang has received numerous prestigious domestic and international awards. In 2021, she was honored with the Asia Innovation Award from the Hitachi Global Foundation for her work on “Catalysts from Mixed Transition Metal Oxides and Technologies for Industrial and Domestic Waste Gas and Wastewater Treatment”, which was recognized as a significant contribution to developing countries. In 2022, she was awarded the Kovalevskaia Prize, which recognizes outstanding female scientists in Vietnam. She has published over 127 scientific papers, 37 ISI-indexed international papers , and holds two patents, and one utility solution, solidifying her standing in both national and global scientific communities.
Professor Dr. Le Minh Thang
Actor Lien Binh Phat will also appear as a guest speaker. He is the first Vietnamese actor to win the Golden Bell Award, one of Asia’s most reputable film honors. In The Outlaw Doctor, he portrayed Dr. Pham Van Ninh, delivering a compelling performance that captured the internal conflict between medical ethics and the harsh challenges of working abroad.
Taking the Take Off runway are Associate Professor Dr. Duong Duc Hung, Director of Viet Duc University Hospital, and Associate Professor Dr. Pham Huu Lu, Deputy Director of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Center at Viet Duc Hospital. They are members of the medical team behind Vietnam’s first simultaneous heart-lung transplant, a landmark achievement that positioned the country on the global transplant map.
The successful simultaneous heart-lung transplant with multi-organ failure patient marked a significant milestone, demonstrating Viet Duc Hospital’s breakthrough capacity in multi-organ transplantation and elevating Vietnam’s medical standing internationally. This rare and complex case required interdisciplinary coordination and the application of cutting-edge surgical and resuscitation techniques. This achievement represents a significant advancement in transplant medicine, particularly in the field of multi-organ transplantation. It also reaffirms the professional excellence of Vietnam’s surgical teams, offering new hope and treatment pathways for patients with end-stage heart and lung diseases.
Take Off will be broadcast live on VTV1 at 8:10 PM on March 1. Please stay tuned!