At the age of 75, when many people have chosen a peaceful life with their children and grandchildren, Dr. Doan Hoang Hai still leaves in the hearts of students and colleagues the image of a devoted, calm, and highly responsible teacher. His journey is a beautiful story of resilience, lifelong learning, and quiet dedication to education.
More than 50 years ago, Mr. Doan Hoang Hai served in the battlefields of the Southwestern region, the Southeastern region, and Sai Gon - Gia Dinh. The traces of war left on his body include a 76% disability rating, classification as a wounded veteran of level 2/4, and the loss of sight in one eye. Yet from those losses, his willpower, composure, and courage as a man who never surrendered to circumstances shone even more brightly. After the war, he continued to work in the postal and telecommunications sector, eventually serving as Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Post Office before retiring in 2011.
At that time, he had already been injured and therefore had to wear dark glasses. During the years 1971–1972, he was assigned to take charge of training two telegraphy classes of the Sai Gon - Gia Dinh Regional Party Committee. He was a teacher even in those years.
During his time working at Ho Chi Minh City Post Office, Mr. Hai is the third person from the right in the ceremony celebrating the unit’s receipt of the title Hero of Labor.
For many people, retirement is the end of the road. For Mr. Hai, however, it became another beginning. After leaving his management position, he continued studying and conducting research, eventually completing his doctoral program in Business Administration at Tra Vinh University. At an age when most people choose to rest, he still devoted himself to books, knowledge, and the aspiration for self-improvement. The way he continued on the academic path makes those around him clearly feel one simple yet profound truth: learning has never had an age limit.
Since 2024, Mr. Doan Hoang Hai has begun teaching at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, where he has been responsible for courses such as Human Resource Management, Management, Quality Management, and Sales Management. Although his time at HUIT has not been long, he has still left a deep impression thanks to his approachable teaching style, serious manner, and wholehearted dedication to students. In every class, he always observes, listens, and reminds students with the calmness and tolerance of an experienced teacher. Some students, overwhelmed by study pressure and the burden of making a living, sometimes doze off in class; he would simply wake them gently and encourage them kindly, because he understands that behind each of them are hopes and the expectations of their families on their journey to adulthood.
What moves many students is his simple lifestyle and disciplined spirit. Living in District 8, every day he wakes up at around 5:30 a.m. to go to the bus stop and travel to school. The image of a 75-year-old teacher diligently taking the early bus, carrying carefully prepared lecture notes, has become a beautiful memory for many generations of students. From that quiet figure, he conveys a lesson greater than any textbook: responsibility to one’s profession is built from very small, very consistent, and very persistent things.
The affection he has for learners is also clearly shown in the way he accompanies them in study and research. Ms. Bui Thi Hoai Ngoc, a Master of Business Administration graduate who attended her graduation ceremony yesterday, shared: “What made me trust and respect him from the very beginning was that when he agreed to supervise me, he asked very carefully about my topic and scientific viewpoint. To me, that was the sign of a teacher who truly respects scholarship and values the learner’s own perspective. Throughout the supervision process, he was so enthusiastic that I was genuinely surprised. There were times when, close to midnight, he was still awake revising my work, contacting me, and giving very detailed feedback. According to Ms. Hoai Ngoc, that dedication is extremely precious and deeply admirable.”
Ms. Bui Thi Hoai Ngoc, Master of Business Administration, takes a commemorative photo with Mr. Hai on her graduation day.
In Mr. Hai’s eyes, HUIT students are hardworking, affectionate young people with a strong learning spirit who are always striving to rise higher. He used to advise them to study well, not to leave their results unfinished, and to graduate and work honorably in order to preserve the reputation of both themselves and the university that educated them. Perhaps the most profound message he leaves behind lies in his deeply moving words: “In the past, what I carried on my shoulders was a backpack and a rifle; now, what you must carry on your shoulders is knowledge to build the country.”
A photo of Mr. Hai and students posing together for a commemorative picture.
After a period of teaching, Mr. Hai returned to his hometown to participate in social activities. Although he no longer appears regularly in the classroom, the image of a 75-year-old teacher with a spirit of lifelong learning, a devoted heart, and deep love for students still retains its full value. It is a beautiful journey, quiet yet profound, leaving its mark through the character, knowledge, and perseverance of an educator who has passed through the years while the flame of dedication within him has never gone out.