A Letter of Remembrance to Mr. Hoang Nam Tien – A Tireless Inspirer
"If life is a journey, then he was a dedicated guide, both humorous and profound."
Dear Mr. Hoang Nam Tien,
Although I've never had the chance to meet you, I – a young person pursuing technology in Vietnam – have been repeatedly "energized" by your profoundly insightful and philosophical sayings. I once saved one of your quotes:
"Choose a profession that doesn't become obsolete. And if it does, be the one to make it fashionable again."
When I heard the news of your passing, my heart sank. It's not just a loss for FPT or the Vietnamese technology industry, but the loss of a vivid example of the spirit of "Vietnamese people mastering technology".
You used to make every technology sharing session as entertaining as a comedy show, but behind that smile was a depth of thought that not everyone could easily imitate. You were someone who both thought big and acted genuinely, turning technological ideals into tangible realities.
Thank you, for daring to think, daring to speak, and daring to act – giving Vietnamese youth another role model to be proud of.
10 Things Vietnamese Youth Learned from Hoang Nam Tien
1. Success doesn't need embellishment – it needs real results: You always said bluntly: don't polish the media, let the products and values speak for themselves.
2. Leading is not about being the smartest, but about daring to go first: You were an early advocate for AI, digital transformation, and technology education in Vietnam.
3. Leadership doesn't need to be stern, it needs sincerity and depth: The way you conversed and joked was precisely how you opened up and guided the team.
Technologists are not insensitive: You cared deeply about the community, having traveled to hundreds of provinces and cities to train and inspire.
Speak the truth – live authentically – work genuinely: Having shared about failures, pains, and personal lessons... you weren't afraid to "expose what wasn't good enough".
Learning is never enough: You read more than you talked. Every time you spoke, it was a treasure trove of academic, cultural, and business citations.
Adapt or die – digital transformation is mandatory: You not only said it, but FPT under your leadership deeply applied it.
Respect young people and let them shine: Many young CEOs at FPT were mentored and taught by you with absolute trust.
Transforming technology businesses into places that nurture knowledge, not just places to make money: You placed technology and education side by side as two great wings of the future.
The Vietnamese spirit can be globalized if we know how to keep up with the times: You always thought about bringing Vietnamese solutions to conquer the world.
International Perspectives: Are there any "Hoang Nam Tiens" abroad?
In Japan, there was Masayoshi Son – CEO of Softbank, of Korean descent, who built a global technology empire. In India, young people follow Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google). In the US, of course, there are Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, or recently Jensen Huang – CEO of NVIDIA.
But what is the common point between them and Hoang Nam Tien?
👉 It's the ability to turn knowledge into motivation, technology into deeply inspiring stories, and especially – never separating technology from people.
Mr. Tien didn't try to be a "world leader". He did great things in the role of a Vietnamese person, so that young people believe that they are not inferior to anyone if they know how to learn and act.
Mr. Hoang Nam Tien is no more, but his legacy – his ideas, lessons, and pioneering spirit – will live on forever.
Each young person today can continue the story he left behind: a Vietnam that masters technology, is honest in business, humorous in communication, and humane in action.
Thank you – the person who lived life to the fullest with passion and responsibility.
Source: Synthesis
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