In 2026, Trần Hữu Huệ was recognised by the Vietnam Records Organisation (VietKings), which awarded him a national record in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Việt Nam's stamp-collecting movement. — VNA/VNS Photo

AN GIANG — Inside a modest home in Thoại Sơn Commune, the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, dozens of stamp albums are the treasured possessions of veteran philatelist Trần Hữu Huệ. To him, every postage stamp is a miniature page of history, preserving the nation's collective memory while connecting Vietnam with friends across the globe.

A passion that crosses borders

Huệ's lifelong fascination with stamps began when he was just 14 years old.

"Back then, money was scarce, and buying a new stamp was a luxury," he recalled. After school, he would often visit the Long Xuyên post office or the local People's Committee headquarters, waiting for used envelopes to be discarded so that he could carefully cut out and save the stamps.

He soon realised that building a meaningful collection required connections with fellow enthusiasts. At first, he exchanged stamps by post with collectors across Việt Nam. Later, a philatelist friend in HCM City introduced him to the Japan Philatelic Society, opening the door to an international community.

Joining the club was no simple task. Huệ had to submit a membership application together with 400 Vietnamese stamps to Japan. Every form had to be completed in English, forcing him to painstakingly look up each unfamiliar word in the dictionary, particularly specialist philatelic terminology.

Not long afterwards, an envelope arrived from Japan containing a selection of beautifully designed stamps, an official membership card and a letter confirming his admission to the club. From then on, he became part of an international network of collectors, regularly exchanging stamps with enthusiasts around the world.

More than 2,000 rare stamps featuring President Hồ Chí Minh

After more than six decades devoted to philately, Huệ has amassed around 10,000 Vietnamese stamps and more than 300,000 international stamps from 60 countries and territories.

Over the years, he has completed 24 thematic collections covering subjects such as President Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnamese women, folk culture, transport, the military, renowned historical figures and Việt Nam's landscapes.

According to the man, completing a thematic collection requires far more than years of searching for rare pieces. Each stamp, genuinely postmarked envelope and supporting document must be carefully selected and arranged to tell a coherent historical narrative.

In 1998, he entered his collection, Hồ Chí Minh Đẹp Nhất Tên Người (Hồ Chí Minh – the Most Beautiful Name), in the 2nd national postage stamp exhibition in HCM City, where it won a bronze medal. The award marked the first official recognition of his many years of dedication to stamp collecting.

Three years later, in Hà Nội, three of his collections on President Hồ Chí Minh’s life and revolutionary career, Vietnamese women, and aircraft as means of transport all received medals.

For Huệ, however, the greatest reward has never been the medals themselves, but the recognition of his efforts to preserve and share Việt Nam's historical heritage through postage stamps.

Following the reunification of Việt Nam in 1975, he began exchanging stamps featuring President Hồ Chí Minh with collectors in the northern region. Later, through his international network and the Japan Philatelic Society, his collection was enriched by stamps and first-day covers issued by the former Soviet Union, Germany, Cuba, India, Laos and many other countries.

Today, his collection includes more than 2,000 stamps and postal covers bearing images of the late President.

A stamp featuring President Hồ Chí Minh and Inter-zone V is among the prized items in Trần Hữu Huệ's thematic collection dedicated to the late leader. — VNA/VNS Photo

Stamps affirming Việt Nam's maritime sovereignty

Between 2010 and 2018, Huệ mailed around 200 envelopes bearing stamps depicting the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) and Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelagos to collectors in numerous countries.

In each letter, he asked recipients to affix additional Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa stamps to the envelope before sending it back to Việt Nam so that it would carry the postmark of the country of origin.

To date, around 100 of those envelopes have been returned, from which he selected 77 representative items to complete a specialised collection.

Through the project, he goes global with the message that "Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa belong to Việt Nam". When the envelopes return bearing postal marks from different countries, they gain additional philatelic value and spread awareness of Việt Nam's sovereignty over its seas and islands.

Over the years, Huệ has displayed his historically significant collections at numerous domestic and international stamp exhibitions, earning a wide range of medals and awards.

In early 2026, the Vietnam Records Organisation (VietKings) recognised Huệ and his wife, Vương Thị Mùi Em, for owning the largest collection of Vietnamese and international postage stamps covering cultural, historical and social themes that have participated in exhibitions and received numerous awards both in Việt Nam and abroad.

Later that year, VietKings also honoured Huệ for his 60-year journey of researching and collecting postage stamps, acknowledging his ownership of 24 thematic collections and his substantial contributions to the development of Việt Nam's philatelic movement.

Despite the accolades, Huệ remains committed to inspiring future generations. For many years, he has maintained local stamp clubs and regularly taken his albums into schools, where he introduces students to the stories behind each stamp. Through these tiny pieces of paper, he tells them about President Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam's national heroes, and places across the country and around the world.

He believes stamp collecting is far more than a hobby. It broadens knowledge, nurtures patience and meticulousness, and fosters a lasting appreciation of history. — VNA/VNS