Professor Trần Thanh Vân and his wife, Professor Lê Kim Ngọc, Dr. Espéran Padonou, Vice President and Director of the Vallet Foundation, France, and Attaché for Scientific and Higher Education Cooperation at the French Embassy in Việt Nam, Denis Fourmeau share the joy with some of the scholarship recipients on Sunday.

HÀ NỘI —Việt Nam is entering a new phase of development where science, technology, innovation, and high-quality human resources are increasingly becoming the decisive factors in national competitiveness. The country needs young people who are not only professionally skilled but also possess a profound desire to serve.

This was one of the core messages delivered by Minister of Science and Technology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Hải Quân, to 126 outstanding students from 16 universities, along with 41 fellows and researchers from seven postgraduate institutes, during the Vallet Scholarship award ceremony held at the Temple of Literature in Hà Nội on Sunday.

The Odon Vallet Scholarship was established through the voluntary contributions of Dr. Odon Vallet, a Professor of Religious History at Sorbonne University, France. In Việt Nam, Professor Vallet entrusted the organisation of the scholarship programme to the "Rencontres du Vietnam" (Meeting Vietnam), co-founded and managed by Professor Trần Thanh Vân and his wife, Professor Lê Kim Ngọc.

Starting with 800 spots in 2001, the Odon Vallet Scholarship, to date, awarded approximately 55,000 scholarships with a total value exceeding VNĐ600 billion (approximately US$23 million). Recipients are not only excellent students from major cities but also those facing difficult circumstances from remote areas, mountainous regions, ethnic minority communities, and SOS Children's Villages across the country.

The value of each scholarship has also increased over time: university students and researchers now receive VNĐ34 million ($1,300) each, while high school students receive VNĐ17 million ($650). The award ceremony for high school students will take place on the morning of August 24 at the Âu Cơ Theater in Hà Nội.

Minister of Science and Technology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Hải Quân, delivers remarks at the ceremony on Sunday.

“Professor Odon Vallet is a truly remarkable individual. He inherited a vast fortune, but his uniqueness lies not in the wealth itself, but in how he chose to use it,” said Minister Quân.

“Rather than spending it on his own life, he dedicated his resources to establishing scholarships for talented young people, starting in France, then expanding to Việt Nam and several other nations.”

“In Việt Nam, this story began with a meeting of two core convictions: the belief that knowledge can transform an individual's destiny, and the belief that investing in the youth is the ultimate investment in a nation's future," he added.

"If Odon Vallet offers us a story of generosity, Professor Trần Thanh Vân offers us a story of perseverance,” said Quân, recalling the fact that when Professor Vallet witnessed the educational missions of Rencontres du Vietnam, he proactively stepped in to contribute.

Professor Trần Thanh Vân greeting delegates attending the scholarship awarding ceremony on Sunday.

In 1993, Professor Vân returned to Việt Nam to organise the first 'Rencontres du Vietnam', bringing hundreds of world-renowned physicists, including Nobel laureates, to the country. From those scientific gatherings, a series of initiatives to train, connect, and support the young generation of Việt Nam took root.

Minister Quân said he found the name 'Rencontres du Vietnam' beautiful, “for science does not flourish in isolation. Science thrives on encounters: between individuals, between mentors and protégés, between Việt Nam and the world, and between ideas and opportunities. Professor Trần Thanh Vân has spent decades creating those very encounters.”

“From international conferences and physics schools to student workshops and scholarships, everything shares a single philosophy: identify talent, grant them opportunity, and help them surpass their own potential,” said the Minister of Science and Technology.

Dr. Espéran Padonou, Vice President and Director of the Vallet Foundation, France presents scholarships to young talent on Sunday. Photos courtey of the Rencontres du Vietnam.

Speaking at the ceremony, Attaché for Scientific and Higher Education Cooperation at the French Embassy in Việt Nam, Denis Fourmeau, emphasised that “Education offers a wonderful perspective on the world, and science provides the fundamental tools to understand it. View these scholarships as an opportunity to bring your ideas to fruition. “

“Today's scientific challenges are complex: climate change, the preservation of biodiversity, healthcare, and the energies of tomorrow require a combination of creativity, rigor, and scientific excellence.

“To meet the challenges of our century, you will need, more than ever, to reach out and work together. Today's sciences are indeed multidisciplinary and global, and curiosity will be essential. Education may take you beyond the borders of Việt Nam, and your scientific curiosity beyond the frontiers of knowledge,” said Fourmeau.

Beyond the scholarships, 'Rencontres du Vietnam' also focuses on cultivating high-caliber talent. Starting in 2007, the association began selecting students who excelled in the National Math and Physics Olympiads to pursue their studies in France.

From 2009 to 2025, the Vietnam-France engineering programme has sent 246 students abroad, resulting in 206 engineering graduates and 18 PhDs. These efforts do more than just provide education; they open doors to global research for the younger generation and bridge the gap between science, education, and international partnership. VNS