Going to Nghe An

Ta Quang Ngoc - Cool water from the source

Anh Dao - KT: Hong Toai • August 14, 2025 8:00

Born into an intellectual family with a rich tradition of scholarship, renowned not only in Nam Dan but throughout Nghe An province, whether as a teacher, Minister of Fisheries, working at the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association, or even after retirement, Dr. Ta Quang Ngoc remains a pure, compassionate, and loyal Nghe An native, bringing honor to his homeland and family.

Author:Cherry Blossom /Technique:Hong ToaiAugust 13, 2025

Dr. Ta Quang Ngoc was born into a long-standing intellectual family in Khanh Son commune, formerly Nam Dan district, now Thien Nhan commune, Nghe An province. His family in Khanh Son had a long history of academic excellence and successful examinations, earning the respect and trust of the local people. According to old stories, his grandfather's house once had a horizontal plaque inscribed "Father teaches son to pass the examinations," and another "Graduates residing in the village," highlighting the tradition: fathers taught their sons to pass the examinations continuously for generations, and each generation earned a bachelor's degree and then stayed in the village teaching and farming instead of pursuing official positions. He is proud of this tradition, as well as other beautiful aspects of his family lineage, and considers everything he has achieved today to be a result of that noble heritage.

His grandfather was Mr. Ta Quang Diem, who passed the Bachelor's degree examination in the year Ky Dau (1909), during the reign of Emperor Duy Tan. (In the book)Dictionary of People from Nghe An ProvinceHe is mentioned as a renowned scholar and folk artist, famous for his literary talent.

His grandmother was Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dao - the female writer of Sam Pho, granddaughter of Tham Hoa Nguyen Duc Dat - one of the two most outstanding educators in Nghe An province at the end of the 19th century. The combination of the two families' finest talents gave birth to his uncle, the renowned scientist Ta Quang Buu, and his father, Mr. Ta Quang De - the journalist Quang Dam, a towering figure of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism.

At the end of 1996, he became Minister of Fisheries. At this time, our country had completed the first 10 years of the Doi Moi (Renovation) period, and the process of international economic integration was entering a new phase towards globalization.

This was an opportunity for him to strive for success, but it also placed a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. How could he make the fisheries sector a key economic sector of the country, contributing to making Vietnam a strong maritime economic nation? How could he improve the lives of fishermen and ensure their safety while working at sea? And above all, he had to possess a pure heart and unwavering integrity.

He recounted the memory of the day before the National Assembly voted to approve the new government members presented by the Prime Minister:On the morning of November 5, 1996, I had a meeting in Hoa Binh. That early morning, along with several other officials, we were traveling by car from Hanoi. As the car crossed a ford before reaching the Hydropower Expert Area for the meeting, it was swept into a fast-flowing stream. We narrowly escaped death, but we were all wet and cold. For me, the most important thing was getting a refreshing wash. The next day, the National Assembly voted to approve my appointment as Minister of Fisheries, and from that moment on, I carried that "cleanliness and the ability to bathe in the stream" trait with me into my 11 years of work."

Around this time, a reputable newspaper published a series of articles with the same headline:Ministers during the period of economic opening.There was an article about him. He was happy to hold the newspaper article about him in his hands, but he was even more worried about how he could have the heart and the ability to keep up with and surpass himself as the country was undergoing profound changes.

He shared:At that time, I thought that my team and I would focus on two things: Firstly, we had to take good care of the industry's infrastructure, upgrading and innovating production capacity; secondly, we are building a socialist rule of law state, and in an integrated world, the law becomes a crucial issue, serving as the basis for the industry's development and enabling us to sign many documents in the context of integration, including trade agreements.”

Ordinance Protecting and developing aquatic resourcesIssued by the State Council in 1989, it was the highest legal document of the fisheries sector in the early 1990s. Responding to the new demands of industry development, upon assuming the position of Minister, Dr. Ta Quang Ngoc immediately considered drafting and submitting the Fisheries Law of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

He considered this a matter of great importance. Therefore, he prioritized the early establishment and strengthening of the Ministry's Legal Department, and then sought support and cooperation from relevant ministries, countries, and international organizations with many leading experts in oceanography and fisheries worldwide.

The Fisheries Law, therefore, was meticulously prepared and passed by the National Assembly in 2003, becoming a reliable and effective legal framework for Vietnam's fisheries sector to enter a new phase of development.

During this period, the port and fisheries logistics system was also built and upgraded, and offshore vessels were newly built and modified to encourage further fishing. Aquaculture and seafood processing developed strongly, and export products were accepted by demanding markets such as the United States and Europe. These were also pivotal years for the industry to adapt to the requirements and conditions of globalization, and to integrate more deeply with regional and global fisheries.

Throughout his 11 years as Minister, Dr. Ta Quang Ngoc was deeply connected to and had a strong affection for the fishermen. His wife, Luong Thanh Chau, recounted: "Every time there was news of a storm, he would become distraught and worried. He worried that the fishermen wouldn't have enough time to get the news back to shore, and that the small boats wouldn't be able to withstand the rough seas. After the storm, the more information he received about the damage, the more heartbroken he became…"

Right up until his retirement in 2007, his greatest concern upon leaving office was the lives of the fishermen. Although the fisheries industry had developed and the country's economy had improved, the lives of the fishermen remained poor and difficult; their economies were still small-scale and lacked sustainable linkages.

He himself was still moved when talking about this story:In my work, there are times when I succeed, but there are also many things I've thought about but still can't accomplish. Especially the safety of fishermen when they go out to sea, during natural disasters, storms, and floods – these are things that fill me with immense worry and heartache whenever I think about them."

With unwavering dedication, he continued to learn, research, and seek out scientific data, updating himself with information from practical experience to write articles for newspapers.

He devoted much thought to the development of the fishing industry, the protection of maritime sovereignty, and the lives of fishermen. His writings from over a decade of retirement were compiled into the book "Reflections and Thoughts," published in 2020.

Articles such as “"Thoughts on developing a fisheries strategy," "Fishery and fishermen as the main actors and cultural traditions," "Our country's seas and islands in the struggle to protect sovereignty and integration – from a fisheries perspective"...They are all very thoughtful and have many suggestions for the development of current fisheries policies.

Reading the book, the reader recognizes in each line a soul deeply concerned with the times and dedicated to serving society, just like his father, uncles, and ancestors of the Ta Quang family.

As a native of Nghe An, born and raised in the traditional tradition of "father's education, son's academic achievement," and having been a teacher himself, he always maintained a calm, exemplary demeanor in his daily life and work, living a simple life, and showing love and respect for everyone.

Family traditions and values ​​have always been a refreshing stream that nurtured his character and intellect. Even in his eighties, he remains deeply concerned about rivers, fish, fishermen, and the sacred sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands, just as he himself has acknowledged as a man of deep anguish.

Since retiring in 2007, he has continued to hold various positions, including: Vice President of the Vietnam Ornamental Plants Association (2008-2017); President of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association (2003-2022); and President of the Vietnam Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Science and Technology (1998-present).

In 2005, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand awarded him the prestigious Order of the White Elephant, First Class, and bestowed upon him the title of Knight of the Grand Cross of the Kingdom of Thailand. In 2017, he was honored by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) as an outstanding intellectual in science and technology. In 2006, the Plovdiv University of Food Industry in Bulgaria, where he conducted his research and successfully defended his doctoral thesis, awarded him the title of Honorary Doctor (Hnorris Causa).