Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong receives Order of the Rising Sun, marking a journey of fostering Vietnam-Japan friendship
WVR - On the evening of August 21, the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam held a ceremony to confer the Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, on Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong, former Head of the Japanese Studies Department at Hanoi University.
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| Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki (second from left) presents the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, to Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
The ceremony was attended by Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach, Deputy Rector of Hanoi University, as well as representatives of Vietnamese and Japanese agencies and organisations.
The event also brought together a number of generations of lecturers and alumni of the Japanese Studies Department, colleagues, family members and friends of Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong.
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| Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki speaks at the ceremony conferring the Order of the Rising Sun on Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Ito Naoki emphasised that Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong’s sustained contributions have helped sow the seeds of understanding and strengthen connections between the peoples of Vietnam and Japan.
The Ambassador noted that, over more than half a century, from his early days in the classroom to 17 years leading the Japanese Studies Department at Hanoi University, Dr. Huong devoted himself wholeheartedly to training generations of Vietnamese people in Japanese language and helping them gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and people.
According to Ambassador Ito Naoki, in the early years of his teaching career, when Japanese-language textbooks and dictionaries were still scarce in Vietnam, educator Nghiem Viet Huong patiently gathered every available source of material, compiled his own textbooks and devoted himself to each student, with the aim of bringing Japanese closer to learners through accuracy, vividness and passion.
The Basic Japanese Learning Dictionary, compiled by Dr. Huong in 1997, became a notable milestone in this journey. More than 10,000 copies were sold, turning it into a “bedside book” for generations of Vietnamese people studying, working and learning about the Land of the Rising Sun.
Referring to Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s visit to Vietnam in May 2026, Ambassador Ito Naoki emphasised that the two countries reaffirmed their determination to further deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with people-to-people diplomacy identified as an area requiring stronger promotion.
Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong’s journey, he added, stands as a testament to the role of education in steadily fostering understanding and strengthening ties between the peoples of the two countries through language and culture across generations.
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| Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach, Deputy Rector of Hanoi University, speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
Continuing the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach, Deputy Rector of Hanoi University, affirmed that the Order of the Rising Sun represents a prestigious recognition of Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong’s sustained contributions to promoting Vietnam-Japan friendship and cooperation, particularly through education and Japanese-language training.
Recalling educator Nghiem Viet Huong’s career in the field, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach said that he was among Vietnam’s first Japanese-language lecturers and devoted himself to developing training programmes, building up the teaching staff, and laying important foundations for the establishment and development of the Japanese Language Department.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach, throughout his 40 years at the university, whether serving as a lecturer or as head of the Japanese Studies Department, Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong has remained dedicated to his profession and wholeheartedly committed to his students, making significant contributions to training high-quality human resources and strengthening Vietnam-Japan friendship.
Many generations of his students have since matured and gone on to hold positions in education, research, diplomacy and business, creating a lasting legacy that educator Nghiem Viet Huong has left for the Japanese Studies Department and Hanoi University.
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| Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong delivers remarks at the ceremony. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
At the ceremony, Dr. Nghiem Viet Huong, former Head of the Japanese Studies Department at Hanoi University, said that receiving the Order of the Rising Sun was an honour for him personally, while also providing an opportunity to look back on nearly 60 years devoted to the Japanese language, education and the pursuit of stronger friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and Japan.
Reflecting on his journey, educator Nghiem Viet Huong recalled his years studying in Japan under difficult conditions, his return to Vietnam, when he and his colleagues laid the first bricks for Japanese-language education in the country, his years of study and research in Japan, as well as his activities promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Recalling this journey, he cited a Japanese proverb: “If you sit on a cold stone for three years, even the stone will become warm” (Ishi no ue ni mo sannen).
For educator Nghiem Viet Huong, the saying offers a simple yet profound reflection of the path he has taken, with each milestone shaped by perseverance, dedication and precious opportunities throughout his life.
Looking back, he said that every step forward in Japanese-language education has been built on the collective efforts of generations of teachers and students, helping lay the foundation for the wider teaching and learning of Japanese in Vietnam.
After many decades devoted to the profession, educator Nghiem Viet Huong emotionally shared that “the greatest happiness for a teacher is to see their students grow and mature”.
| The Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun (Japanese: Kyokujitsu-shō, 旭日章) is one of Japan’s prestigious orders. It was established by Emperor Meiji in 1875 and was the first national order established by the Japanese Government, marking an important early step in the development of Japan’s modern honours system. The order features rays of light emanating from the rising sun, reflecting the symbol and name associated with Japan as the “Land of the Rising Sun.” It is awarded to Japanese and foreign nationals who have made outstanding achievements or significant contributions in various fields. Over nearly 150 years, the Order of the Rising Sun has been divided into several classes, each with different designs and accompanying insignia. The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun is the highest class in the system. In recent years, numerous Vietnamese citizens have received various classes of the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Government in recognition of their contributions to friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan. |
Some other images from the event:
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