UEH’s 50th Anniversary: Honored with the First-Class Labor Order, Affirming Its Aspiration to Reach New Heights

28 Oct, 2026

A Historic Milestone in UEH’s Half-Century Journey of Development

The ceremony was attended by Comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Comrade Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Head of the Central Organization Commission; Comrade Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, former Politburo Member and former Chairwoman of the National Assembly; Comrade Trinh Van Quyet, Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Head of the Central Commission for Information and Education; Comrade Tran Luu Quang, Politburo Member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Comrade Le Tien Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister; and Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh, Member of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly.

Also in attendance were representatives of central offices, commissions, ministries and sectors; Ho Chi Minh City and other localities; diplomatic missions, international organizations, universities, research institutes, enterprises, and domestic and international partners.

Representing UEH were Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung, Secretary of the UEH Party Committee and President of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City; members of the Party Committee and Board of Management; leaders of member colleges and affiliated units; as well as former university leaders, educators, staff, employees, alumni, and outstanding students.

The presence of Party and State leaders, together with the many distinguished delegates, was a great honor and reflected the attention, recognition, and expectations placed on UEH at this historic milestone.

The UEH 50th Anniversary Ceremony was honored by the attendance of General Secretary and President To Lam and senior central leaders.

As part of the program, General Secretary and President To Lam and the delegation toured the exhibition “UEH – A 50-Year Journey: From Heritage to the Future,” visited the UEH Digital Heritage Room, and wrote commemorative messages marking the University’s 50th anniversary.

With the message “Embracing the Future Together,” the program revisited UEH’s half-century journey through a combination of historical records, technology, art, and stories from generations of UEHers, inspiring pride and a sense of responsibility to carry its legacy forward.

Honored to Receive the First-Class Labor Order in Recognition of Enduring Contributions

One of the ceremony’s most solemn and moving moments was the presentation of the First-Class Labor Order to the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City by General Secretary and President To Lam.

This prestigious State award recognizes UEH’s outstanding achievements in human-resource training, scientific research, and contributions to the country’s socio-economic development. It is also a source of pride and a tribute to generations of leaders, educators, staff, employees, and learners who have worked tirelessly to build the University’s reputation and standing.

On this occasion, UEH was also honored to receive the Traditional Flag of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee in recognition of the University’s contributions to the City’s development.

UEH receives the First-Class Labor Order and the Traditional Flag of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee

General Secretary and President To Lam presents UEH with a special gift to mark this historic milestone

Founded on October 27, 1976, in the early years following national reunification, UEH was established to train economic and management personnel to support the country’s reconstruction and development. From its first cohort of 516 students, the University has grown over 50 years into a community of nearly 280,000 learners and alumni. It has developed into a multidisciplinary, multi-sector university, expanding its work in scientific research, policy consulting, international cooperation, and the mobilization of social resources.

These achievements are reflected not only in the scale of education and academic standing, but also in the contributions made by generations of UEHers in public administration, business, and the community, alongside Vietnam’s process of renewal, integration, and development.

General Secretary and President To Lam: Uphold UEH’s pioneering tradition through the courage to renew itself and achieve new milestones

In his keynote guidance at the ceremony, General Secretary and President To Lam congratulated generations of UEHers and commended the University’s achievements and contributions over its 50-year journey of development.

He praised UEH’s growth alongside the country’s process of renewal and international integration. From a specialized institution, UEH has developed into a multidisciplinary university combining economics and management with law, technology, and emerging fields. It has contributed to new thinking in economics, stronger management capacity, and business development. UEH’s inclusion among Asia’s top 200 universities in 2026 was also a notable achievement in its efforts to enhance academic quality and international integration.

As Vietnam works toward its development goals for 2030 and 2045, the General Secretary and President emphasized higher education’s responsibility for developing human resources, advancing science and technology, fostering innovation, and serving society. UEH should continue striving toward advanced standards and upholding its pioneering tradition through the courage to renew itself and achievements that deliver tangible benefits to the country and its people.

General Secretary and President To Lam recognizes and commends UEH’s achievements and contributions over 50 years of development

In particular, the General Secretary and President called on UEH to focus on five key tasks in its next stage of development.

First, renew and improve the quality of education, develop a highly skilled workforce, and nurture talent for the country. UEH should educate graduates with strong knowledge, independent thinking, creativity, professional ethics, and social responsibility, while expanding interdisciplinary programs that combine economics and management with technology, data, and law. The use of artificial intelligence should help learners deepen their understanding, verify information, and take responsibility for their learning outcomes, while safeguarding quality and integrity in assessment.

Second, improve research quality and provide scientific evidence to support institutional reform and a new growth model. The University should focus on strategic issues such as labor productivity, business competitiveness, digital and green transitions, population ageing, and resilience amid international volatility. It should also develop strong research groups, promote interdisciplinary research, and produce distinctive scholarly work that delivers practical value for Vietnam.

Third, strengthen engagement with local authorities and businesses so that education and research directly serve development. UEH should proactively work with management agencies, local governments, and businesses to identify practical challenges, conduct research, and implement solutions. In Ho Chi Minh City, in particular, the University should continue contributing to human-resource development, modern financial services, the digital economy, and urban governance, while documenting effective models to inform policymaking and local development.

Fourth, build a strong community of educators and scientists and strengthen academic capacity through domestic and international cooperation. The University should attract and support talent, develop leading experts, nurture the next generation, and foster an open and rigorous academic environment. International cooperation should strengthen institutional capacity, expand joint research and faculty and student exchanges, and bring Vietnamese issues into global academic collaboration.

Fifth, strengthen Party building, modernize university governance, and use resources effectively to support sustainable development. UEH should exercise autonomy alongside accountability, openness, and transparency; uphold discipline and academic integrity; accelerate digital transformation in governance; and care for the material and mental well-being of its staff and learners.

Alongside these five priorities, the General Secretary and President asked UEH to review its development strategy and define priorities, expected outcomes, resources, responsibilities, and implementation timelines, ensuring that its strategic directions translate into tangible improvements in education, research, and governance.

He also called on the Government, ministries, sectors, and local authorities to continue providing support, resolving institutional and policy barriers, and enabling the University to develop. He emphasized that university autonomy does not mean having to finance all operating costs independently.

Addressing educators and students, the General Secretary and President highlighted teachers’ responsibility to impart knowledge, nurture character, and inspire a spirit of service. He encouraged learners to develop resilience, honesty, and responsibility, and to connect personal success with positive contributions to the community and the country.

The General Secretary and President’s guidance reflects recognition, trust, and high expectations for UEH, while also calling on the University to continue improving academic quality, modernizing governance, and making increasingly meaningful contributions to national development.

Announcing a New Development Strategy: Toward a Co-Creation University and an Innovation Hub for Cities and Regions

At its 50-year milestone, UEH reaffirmed its development ambitions through its 2025-2030 Strategy with a Vision to 2045, aspiring to become a Co-Creation University and the UEH UniverCity Innovation Hub for Cities and Regions.

This marks a shift in the way university development is envisioned. The University aims not only to educate, conduct research, and transfer knowledge, but also to connect government, businesses, communities, and social resources to jointly identify challenges, research and test ideas, and implement sustainable development solutions.

This direction will be advanced through initiatives in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary education; stronger research capacity and faculty development; digital transformation and internationalization; greener university spaces; and a happier university environment.

During its anniversary year, UEH implemented more than 27 flagship programs and activities connecting academic communities, businesses, the public sector, and generations of alumni. In particular, the launch of the “Multilateral Partnership Ecosystem: Co-Creating Value for a Sustainable Future,” together with a new strategy for public-sector partnerships, expands the foundation for collaboration and aims to create tangible value for society.

The new development strategy also affirms UEH’s determination to improve human-resource quality, research capacity, and governance effectiveness, while strengthening the University’s role in the development of cities, regions, and the nation.

UEH announces its 2025–2030 Strategy with a Vision to 2045, aspiring to become a Co-Creation University and the UEH UniverCity Innovation Hub for Cities and Regions

Proud of 50 Years of Heritage - Moving Forward with the Nation into a New Era

In the solemn and moving atmosphere of the ceremony, images, music, and stories from UEH’s 50-year journey brought generations of UEHers back to its earliest milestones and paid tribute to those who laid its foundations and steadily nurtured the University’s values.

Representing the UEH community, Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung, Secretary of the UEH Party Committee and President of UEH, expressed his appreciation for the General Secretary and President’s guidance and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to upholding its traditions, fostering unity and innovation, and translating strategic directions into practical action programs.

“Every step forward begins with a decision to renew ourselves. Fifty years gives UEH every reason to be proud. But those fifty years must not allow UEH to rest on that pride; we must carry our legacy forward through action and build the next stage of development on what we have achieved. A country may move quickly through capital and technology, but it can only go far through its people. This is the journey of Knowledge – People – Future that UEH has pursued, continues to pursue, and will pursue in the years ahead,” shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung, President of UEH.

Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung, Secretary of the UEH Party Committee and President of UEH, receives the General Secretary and President’s guidance and reaffirms the University’s determination to uphold its traditions, foster unity and innovation, and turn strategic directions into practical action programs.

Fifty years, a journey shaped by the intellect, dedication, and aspirations of generations who have served the community. The First-Class Labor Order is a great honor and a prestigious recognition of that journey. The General Secretary and President’s guidance, together with UEH’s new development strategy, provides fresh momentum for the road ahead.

Proud of its 50-year legacy, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City will continue to uphold its spirit of unity, pioneering action, and innovation, and pursue its ambition to co-create value and make increasingly meaningful contributions to building a prosperous, civilized, happy, and developed Vietnam.

Proud and memorable moments from the UEH 50th Anniversary Ceremony:

All preparations for the anniversary ceremony have been completed…

From early morning, UEH was filled with a dignified yet lively atmosphere as delegates and guests checked in and prepared to attend the University’s 50th Anniversary Ceremony and the presentation of the First-Class Labor Order:

UEH was honored to welcome General Secretary and President To Lam, together with a high-level delegation of Party, State, and central government leaders, to the ceremony—a historic milestone in the University’s development:

Comrade To Lam left a commemorative message marking this special event in UEH’s 50-year journey of development:

Comrade To Lam enters the A116 traditional hall:

The anniversary ceremony officially began, with ceremonial proceedings coordinated by Prof. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao, Deputy Secretary of the UEH Party Committee and Vice President of UEH:

On behalf of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung delivered the welcome address and officially opened the program: