May is a time for the Vietnamese people to remember the birth of their great leader who changed the nation's destiny with his courageous decision in 1911 to embark on a new voyage. From Nha Rong Wharf, the young Nguyen Tat Thanh departed to seek a path for national salvation. This was not just an overseas trip, but the beginning of a completely new path for Vietnam. Ahead was a vast ocean, with no clear answers or no guarantees except an unshakable belief that the nation deserved a different future. What made President Ho Chi Minh truly great was not only his historic achievements, but also his courage to go where no one had gone before and to choose a path no one else dared to take. Take Off with the theme “Creation” continues that spirit by sharing inspiring modern stories.
The May edition of Take Off features Vien Hong Quang, who is restoring and colorizing documentary films about President Ho Chi Minh and beginning a journey from historical values; Tran Tuan Minh, one of Forbes Asia’s “30 Under 30 Asia” in 2024, who is building a global network; and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, former Chairman of the University Council of the University of Engineering and Technology under Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Le Ba Tan, Director of Viettel IDC and Meritorious Artist Kieu Anh
Other guests include Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Le Ba Tan, Director of Viettel IDC, who studied and worked internationally before returning to Vietnam to develop new technologies for Vietnamese businesses. Also featured is Meritorious Artist Kieu Anh of the Vietnam Music and Dance Theatre. Ms. Kieu is known for performances that leave a deep impression on audiences.
A 31-year-old man spends nearly 10 hours a day in his small Hanoi room colorizing black-and-white historical photos and films, meticulously adjusting footage frame by frame. He refers to this process as “searching for colors for history”. In 2020, he released a colorized version of an interview with President Ho Chi Minhfrom 1966, which gained millions of views on social media and sparked renewed interest in history. For him, this work is a way to relive important moments and share them with younger generations, showcasing how technology can bridge gap between the past and present.
Tran Tuan Minh, founder of Vietnamese tech company EveryLab, has created technology products for the Vietnamese by the Vietnamese people. In 2024, Minh was recognized on the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list for his social impact. Minh aims to help young Vietnamese people turn their breakthrough ideas into reality instead of seeking personal success alone.
His journey to build networks for student entrepreneurship in Vietnam began with tough choices, including turning down attractive opportunities abroad. Starting with limited resources, he organized workshops and talks, driven by the belief that Vietnamese youth could create value if given the right opportunities. To him, “creation” means fostering an environment where others feel empowered to start their own journeys.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc has devoted his life to research, teaching, and pioneering work in advanced materials and structural engineering. To him, “creation” is not merely an idea, but the result of decades of disciplined scientific work.
In 2025, nine Vietnamese scientists were included on the list of the world’s 10,000 most influential scientists, as published by the American journal PLOS Biology. Among them, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc stood out as one of Vietnam’s leading scientists in advanced materials and composite structures, with more than 4 decades of dedication to science and education.
From 2019 to 2024, PLOS Biology consistently recognized him as one of the world’s most influential scientists. He is also one of the few researchers based in Vietnam ranked by Research.com as one of the world’s outstanding scientists in Engineering and Technology.
Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc inspires generations of young intellectuals through his dedication to teaching and his international scientific achievements. He has devoted himself fully to Vietnamese science and academia for more than 40 years, serving as a guide and inspiration to many younger generations.
Through these three stories, “creation” is not as an abstract concept but rather a very real journey: young people entering the world of technology, individuals bringing history closer to younger generations, and a scientist dedicating his entire life to knowledge. Each journey begins differently, shares the same spirit: the courage to begin, to persist, and to believe that their values truly matter.
Creation, therefore, is not only about starting something new. It is also about continuing, renewing, and expanding existing values. After all, these storiesleave us with a question for each of us today: What will we create next for ourselves and for the future?
