Education

Associate Professor Pham Vu Hong Son - "The Nghe An Calligrapher" of the 4.0 era.

Le Xuan - Technical: Hong Toai • November 16, 2025 12:43

Teaching is a noble profession, one that is respected by society, and many families and clans in Nghe An have passed it down and entrusted it to their descendants to continue. Associate Professor Dr. Vu Hong Son, a lecturer at the University of Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, has continued this fine family tradition, becoming an exemplary "Nghe An scholar" in terms of moral character and a pioneer in researching and applying highly practical works in the city named after President Ho Chi Minh.

Le Xuan ButTechnique:Hong ToaiNovember 16, 2025

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Teaching is a noble profession, one that is respected by society, and many families and clans in Nghe An have passed it down and entrusted it to their descendants to continue. Associate Professor Dr. Vu Hong Son - a lecturer at the University of Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City - has continued this fine family tradition, becoming an exemplary "Nghe An scholar" in terms of moral character and a pioneer in researching and applying highly practical works in the city named after President Ho Chi Minh.

In 2015, after completing his doctoral dissertation, Pham Vu Hong Son was invited to stay at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology to continue developing his research. Staying at the university meant he would have an ideal research environment, access to the most advanced science and technology, and the opportunity to fulfill his youthful ambitions. However, the anxieties of a generation born in independence and peace, with a desire to serve the nation, led him to decide to "return," to continue teaching and contributing science to his country. To this day, he still considers it the best decision.

Upon returning to Vietnam, Pham Vu Hong Son became a lecturer in the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. While teaching, he also developed research projects in four main areas: Applying artificial intelligence in construction management; Blockchain technology in smart contract management; Decision support in uncertain conditions; and Sustainable development and green buildings. These works are not only significant theoretically but also highly applicable in practice.

The Manaworker software (using artificial intelligence for construction safety management) developed by Pham Vu Hong Son and his colleagues is available on both web and mobile apps for Android and iOS operating systems. It connects with GPS to monitor and warn workers on construction sites about safety. Workers receive timely warnings via loudspeakers and vibrations when approaching hazardous areas such as pits or areas with electrical wiring. In low-light conditions, flooded roads, or when warning signs are damaged by rain and wind, the mobile app provides practical and safe working conditions for each worker. As a result, the application of this software has led to a 20-30% reduction in workplace accidents at many construction sites in Ho Chi Minh City. Furthermore, it allows managers to monitor workers' working hours and safety equipment directly through the mobile app.

During the two-year research process for the Manaworker software, his colleagues often felt discouraged and wanted to give up. There were days when the research team worked over 12 hours a day, still struggling to find a solution. However, with determination and a passion for science, Hong Son persuaded others and explored different approaches using foreign literature. His learning, true to the nature of people from Nghe An, reached a level of philosophy – learning anytime, anywhere, overcoming all difficulties to reach the ultimate goal. He was the soul of the project, leading ideas, connecting different parts, and helping the IT and construction teams work together and support each other. While guiding the technology, he also led his colleagues in field surveys, gradually bringing the project to a practical operational state.

Another work that left a lasting impression on Associate Professor Pham Vu Hong Son was "A Game Theory Model to Improve Negotiation Efficiency in Construction Material Procurement," one of his first studies on artificial intelligence and game theory.

Several sectors have begun to change their operating methods, and online bidding is becoming increasingly widespread. With aggregated historical and current data, the model helps bidders predict the strategies and pricing of multiple competitors simultaneously, thereby enabling them to develop optimal pricing strategies with a higher chance of winning bids.

This project was also the topic of Pham Vu Hong Son's doctoral dissertation. It was a completely new topic, with no existing reference system. The construction industry has a long history, but exploiting new values ​​requires researchers to gather a large database and possess the courage to "experiment and fail." There were times when he spent nearly a year on a research direction without finding a solution. Traditionally, people would continue down the beaten path, creating pressure to find something new. But Hong Son bravely stepped back, boldly discarding a year's worth of research to pursue a different direction. He believes that: "Scientific research isn't about blindly following a path, but about daring to experiment and correct mistakes, so it always requires courage and creativity."

In May 2022, seven years after returning to Vietnam, Dr. Pham Vu Hong Son was honored as the youngest associate professor at the University of Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. He completed a teaching training program in English at Griffith University in Australia. To date, he is the author of over 170 scientific research papers published in prestigious domestic and international journals, and holds three copyrights and two patents related to artificial intelligence models in construction management, blockchain technology in smart contracts, and the application of artificial intelligence to automate the management and monitoring of road infrastructure damage.

Associate Professor Pham Vu Hong Son was awarded the Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Scientific Publication in 2023 by the Director of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, recognizing his outstanding contributions to international research, with numerous publications in Q1 journals (top 25% of the world's most prestigious journals in each field), including many articles in the top 20 Q1 journals in the fields of construction and artificial intelligence. He is also recognized as one of Vietnam's leading experts in AI-based optimization, project management, and infrastructure construction.

Perhaps it was from this observation and curiosity that new scientific ideas suddenly came to him, fueling his creativity and leading to many projects with dual benefits from practical application. For example, starting from observing dashcam footage recording all images during travel, this data was stored and uploaded to a central memory, creating a huge data warehouse. Unintentionally, this data warehouse had been underutilized for a long time. By analyzing and evaluating this data, Pham Vu Hong Son was able to provide accurate and timely assessments of the condition of the transportation system, predict areas of road deterioration, and thus develop preventative maintenance plans instead of reactive problem-solving.

The benefits of this invention are clear. People enjoy a safer traffic environment, reducing the risk of accidents caused by potholes and minimizing vehicle damage. Authorities save manpower, time spent on manual inspections, and maintenance costs thanks to focused repairs. Globally, this invention has been implemented in Jamaica – an island nation in the Caribbean Sea – and has received much positive feedback.

The 21st century is like a digital book, where each day brings a new chapter, marked by new technological advancements. Therefore, constantly updating with new technological trends is a major challenge for young scientists. For Hong Son, his main research focus is currently on digital transformation and sustainable development in the construction sector in Vietnam. He has also been entrusted by the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam National University, to lead a PhD program in Construction Management, as well as lead the research group on “AI and Digital Applications in the Construction Environment”.,Focus on:

Perhaps, the blend of two cultural regions—the straightforwardness and loyalty of the people of Nghe Tinh, and the respect for righteousness and affection of the people of Southern Vietnam—means that for this young Associate Professor, scientific research achievements are not everything. More importantly, he aims to ignite passion and inspire the next generation, helping them climb new heights of knowledge with enthusiasm and passion. He believes that this is his true happiness.

Despite 10 years of teaching experience, Associate Professor Pham Vu Hong Son's lectures remain fresh and engaging for students. Many students, even after completing their studies, return to listen and learn. This is because each lecture from this young associate professor is never repetitive. He consistently updates his lectures with the latest professional knowledge from around the world and incorporates inspiring stories in a simple and approachable teaching style.

In addition to mentoring domestic students, Pham Vu Hong Son also directly teaches and guides international students from countries within and outside the region such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Jamaica, Ghana, etc. Whether in person in the lecture hall, via email, or staying up late into the night, he is always there to support them in their research projects.

The two textbooks "Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Construction" (Part 1, Part 2) by Pham Vu Hong Son are among the best-selling textbooks of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City over the past 20 years. As one of the first lecturers to teach and research the application of AI in construction, he has compiled his experience combining optimization algorithms and artificial intelligence, synthesizing them into new applications suitable for each stage. The book has overcome the difficulties faced by construction students in applying optimization algorithms to solve complex engineering problems. To complete the two substantial textbooks (Part 1: 700 pages; Part 2: 500 pages plus 500 pages of practical applications scanned via QR code), Hong Son worked continuously from 2019 until 2025. In addition to teaching and supervising research, he sleeps very little at night, dedicating his time to perfecting textbooks and creating materials for students and those conducting in-depth research.

Pham Vu Hong Son was born into a family with a rich Confucian tradition in Do Luong (Nghe An). His grandfather, Pham Cong Thuong, was a prominent party member in the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, active at the same time as Nguyen Thi Hong Thai, Nguyen Si Doan, Nguyen Huu Ngoan, etc. He was imprisoned in Vinh Prison, and after his release, he opened a phosphate mining company in Trang Son (Do Luong), providing funds for secret revolutionary organizations in the area. As a Western-educated intellectual, Pham Cong Thuong was trained at the Hanoi School of Public Works and Transportation and had previously overseen the Do Luong irrigation canal, contracted for Route 7, and many other important projects in the early 20th century.

Pham Vu Hong Son's father, Pham Hong Te, was also known for his intelligence as a child. He was a lecturer at the Engineering Officer School, and with a passion for science, he harbored many plans for the path of imparting and discovering knowledge. However, when the school sent him to study at the Political Academy, he... refused. Partly because Hong Minh (Hong Son's older sister) was only 2 years old, Hong Son was only 1 year old, and the family lived in a small 9-square-meter apartment.²Out of love for his wife and children, he transferred to another field, leaving a journey and an aspiration unfulfilled…

Therefore, Mr. Pham Hong Te always reminded his son, growing up in Nghe An province, carrying within him the blood and character of the people of Nghe An: studious, hardworking, valuing loyalty and integrity. He urged his son to maintain the spirit of the people of Nghe An, overcome difficulties, and use practical experience as the standard for the value of his research. He was secretly proud that his son, a young scientist, had continued his father's cherished aspirations in a generous and worthy manner, affirming the intellectual prowess of young Vietnamese people on the world map.

Pham Vu Hong Son has continued the tradition of his family and hometown. He has been taking firm steps on the path of scientific research and teaching, affirming and spreading the flame of knowledge, passion, and kindness of the people of Nghe An in the city named after President Ho Chi Minh.