Hoang Nam Tien: The torchbearer has passed away.

Talented, dedicated, and deeply devoted to his homeland.

The sudden passing of Mr. Hoang Nam Tien has left a void in the hearts of many generations of intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and young people. At the age of 56, he always appeared as an energetic and inspiring figure, with his witty and generous conversations, insightful posts about books, current events, technology, and even simple yet heartwarming stories from his hometown.

Born in 1969, Mr. Hoang Nam Tien is a former student of the specialized mathematics class at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students, and later graduated from Hanoi University of Technology. Joining FPT from its early days, he successively held important positions such as Chairman of FPT Software, Chairman of FPT Telecom, and most recently, Vice Chairman of the FPT University Council. Throughout his more than 30 years working at FPT Group, Mr. Tien is considered one of the leaders with a strong innovative mindset, contributing to expanding the software market globally and promoting technology education in Vietnam.

He is a man of work and technology, but he can also be considered a "cultural figure" in his own way, through his profound reflections and contemplative writings on education, youth, success, and the limits of human life.

On his personal Facebook page, he frequently shares stories about reading, conversations and interactions with modern young people, stories about his parents, and cherished childhood memories. These small things make tens of thousands of his Facebook followers feel understood, encouraged, and radiate the simple warmth of an inspiring and successful person.

He always held a deep affection for his homeland, Nghe An. Mr. Hoang Nam Tien was originally from Nghi Thuan commune, Nghi Loc district, now Trung Loc commune, Nghe An province - a land that has given birth to and nurtured countless talented and resilient people.

The Hoang family in Nghi Thuan is descended from Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon, a renowned general of the Tran Dynasty who made significant contributions to repelling the Mongol invaders. To date, the family has spanned over 20 generations, and in each period, there have been individuals of exceptional talent and virtue who have made substantial contributions to their homeland and country. Along with a tradition of studiousness, academic excellence, and compassion, this family also possesses a strong tradition of patriotism and revolution, ready to sacrifice themselves when the nation is in danger.

Mr. Hoang Nam Tien is the youngest son of Major General Hoang Dan (1928-2003), a Hero of the People's Armed Forces who left a profound mark on the nation's history of struggle. Steeped in patriotic and revolutionary spirit, Mr. Tien grew up with a deep sense of responsibility to his homeland and country. Throughout his life, he has always harbored a desire to contribute to, build, and develop his hometown.

He demonstrated his pride in his heritage through practical actions. Using his influence, he repeatedly mobilized thousands of books to be sent to libraries in the mountainous regions of Nghe An province, contributing to bringing knowledge to disadvantaged students. Notably, he and his family contributed to building a school in his hometown of Trung Loc.

According to local statistics, over the years, the descendants of Colonel Hoang Khue (brother of General Hoang Dan) and Major General Hoang Dan alone have supported the construction of many projects, notably a two-story school (16 classrooms), rural roads, a power station, a memorial for martyrs in the commune, and a flagpole in the hamlet…; they have also sponsored more than 30 computers and student desks and chairs for the secondary school, donated bicycles to poor students, and given Tet gifts to families in difficult circumstances.

Mr. Hoang Nam Tien frequently returns to his hometown, visiting his community and aspiring to make more practical contributions to its development. Most recently, on the afternoon of April 11, 2025, at the thematic conference "Some Basic Issues on Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Application in the New Era" organized by the Party Committee and People's Committee of Nghe An province, he served as a speaker, sharing insightful and passionate perspectives. His discussions on the application of artificial intelligence were not only academic but also practical and relevant, allowing the audience to glean many useful insights.

A person of admirable character.

I met Mr. Hoang Nam Tien in 2015, as a remote collaborator on several personal IT projects he managed. Although we worked online, I quickly sensed his transparency, clarity, and seriousness in his work, and his genuine encouragement and support for younger colleagues like me.

Later, when I had the opportunity to meet and talk with him in person, my initial impression of him was that of a young, vibrant, energetic, and humorous man, but also very sharp and professional. From those initial brief exchanges, our conversations gradually became more frequent and longer, and our work expanded.

I transitioned to an editor role at a news agency, and had the opportunity to work with him on many content projects. At that time, he was not just a colleague; I gradually came to see him as a close friend – someone I could message anytime: noon, evening, even late at night. Whenever I had something to say, I'd call him. Whenever I had an idea, I'd ask him to write an article for me.

Knowing how incredibly busy he was, with a packed schedule and constant travel, he always replied immediately whenever he read a message. Sometimes it was a brief reply: "Send it this afternoon!"; other times it was a long, detailed sharing, not shying away from any topic. I never worried about missing deadlines when commissioning articles from him. Many times I wondered where he found the time to write and meticulously edit every line, when one day he'd message saying "I had bun thang (a type of noodle soup) in Hanoi this morning," and by the afternoon I'd see him taking pictures in a riverside province in the Mekong Delta.

As I type these words, I revisit that familiar message. Trembling. Choked with emotion. Those words have now become a deeply buried memory. He respected his work so much that he never allowed himself to break a promise, even the smallest ones. He never used the excuse of being busy to refuse something. If he couldn't do it, he would give a specific time. If he wasn't sure about something, he would double-check. His professionalism and sense of responsibility earned the respect of me and many others who worked with him.

I still remember the messages he sent: "I'm sorry, I finished writing the article this morning and rushed to the village, so the network was down and I couldn't send the file"; "Could you send the article around this afternoon?"; "Please proofread it for me, I was in a hurry writing on my phone earlier…". These were kind and responsible words of advice.

Even though I had already submitted my work, whenever a PDF version was available, I would send it to him. And every time, he would send it back: checking every punctuation mark, correcting a few words, pointing out tiny but "incomplete" errors. Looking back now, that meticulousness and attention to detail was his way of valuing his writers, his readers, and himself. Working with him, after the pressure, was a feeling of satisfaction, because I got to engage in dialogue, listen to his feedback, and most importantly, learn. I learned how to ask questions. I learned how to approach problems from multiple perspectives. I learned how to love my work and constantly improve myself.

In numerous articles submitted to Nghe An newspapers, radio, and television, he recounted family memories, about his father – Major General Hoang Dan, and his mother An Vinh – with deep pride and respect. He wrote about Nghe An – the land of the hot, dry winds and white sands – as a persistent source flowing in his consciousness, a place that nurtured his resilience, his aspiration to rise, and his constant pursuit of innovation. These writings are not pretentious but poignant, not rambling but profound, touching upon the very personal memories of those from Nghe An living far from home. He wrote for the people of Nghe An, but readers from anywhere can find empathy and positive motivation amidst the myriad challenges and changes of life.

Just this morning, I was thinking to myself: Tonight I'll text him to commission an article for the special issue commemorating National Day; I was even planning to ask him to share an article about the journey of educational reform… And yet… just a few hours later, I was shocked to hear that he had passed away. His death was so sudden, so unbelievable, for someone who just recently was having breakfast, working, texting, planning filming, writing articles… as usual.

As I sit here writing these lines, all I feel is a trembling, choked-up emotion. He passed away so suddenly, leaving behind so many unfinished plans and unspoken feelings. A man full of passion, talent, and deep love for his homeland, he has left an irreplaceable void in me and many others. But I believe that what he did, the writings he left behind, and the ideas he sowed will continue to spread, just as he lived – full of passion and responsibility.