Assoc. Prof. Merited Artist Nguyen Thua Hy was born in 1937. His father came from Ha Dinh village (currently known as Thanh Xuan district) and his mother came from La Phu village (former Ha Tay). Perhaps the combination between the two ancient cultural regions formed his elegant quality and simple lifestyle. Graduating from Nguyen Trai High School, one of the three most prestigious high schools in Hanoi at that time, the young man Nguyen Thua Hy attended course I of Faculty of History, Hanoi University. After graduating, he was assigned to teach General History in Ly Nhan district, Ha Nam province. In 1990, as invited by Professor Phan Huy Le, the Head of Department – Faculty of History, Hanoi University (currently known as the University of Social Sciences and Humanities), he agreed to work at the Faculty as the teacher of History of Vietnam in the ancient and middle ages.
Since the ’80s, he has worked as both teacher and research student. He chose Hanoi, where he was born and grew up, as the subject of his research. In 1984, his thesis “Thang Long – Hanoi in the 17th-18th-19th century: The socio-economic structure of a medieval city” was defended as one of the few first PhD theses from the Faculty of History. In 1993, the thesis was published into a book and so far has become an indispensable book in research and teaching about Thang Long – Hanoi.
Spending most of the time writing, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Merited Artist Nguyen Thua Hy has produced more than 10 books with an in-depth understanding of Hanoi over centuries and in fields of the economy – society, history – culture, namely: “Socio-economic situation of Thang Long – Hanoi in the 17th-18th-19th centuries” (2010); “Civilization & history related documents of Thang Long – Hanoi: Collection of Western documents” (2010); “Traditional Vietnamese culture, a perspective” (2011); “Vietnam’s history and culture from an innovation perspective” (2018); “Thang Long – Hanoi in the eyes of a Hanoian” (2018). The work Socio-economic situation of Thang Long – Hanoi in the 17th-18th-19th centuries was awarded the State Science and Technology Prize in 2012. He also translated some famous works such as: “A Voyage to Cochinchina” (J. Barrow), “Europeans in An Nam” (Ch. Maybon), and so on.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi and Mr. Nguyen Duc Loi, the General Director of Vietnam News Agency are awarding the Grand Prize – For the love of Hanoi to Assoc. Prof. Dr, Merited Artist Nguyen Thua Hy (middle), at the 12th ceremony of Bui Xuan Phai Award – For the love of Hanoi 2019.
The books of Assoc. Prof. Dr, Merited Artist Nguyen Thua Hy describe, even in the scientific aspect, Hanoi to be close and true, and be an excellent place with many priceless values, nice folk culture, long-lasting history and tradition, and quality of Trang An people. The socio-economic researches in the works have also contributed to the urban development of Thang Long – Hanoi so far. On the other hand, the works show objective reasons of stagnation and backwardness and propose methods to develop Hanoi sustainably, synchronously to keep up with the urban areas in developed countries in the region and the world. All of that express the love for Hanoi of a Hanoian.
Being eighty-three years old with almost twenty years travelling by wheelchair, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Merited Artist Nguyen Thua Hy is still extremely lucid and enthusiastic. He can fluently use computers and smartphones to look up information on the internet. For many years, he has also instructed many graduate students to make theses. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Merited Artist Nguyen Thua Hy wishes to spread the love for Hanoi to the younger generation so that they will explore, preserve and foster cultural and historical values of Thang Long – Hanoi.
With his great contributions in education as well as historical and scientific research, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thua Hy was awarded the title of Outstanding Teacher, Third Class Labor Medal in 2003 and Certificate of Merit of the Prime Minister in 2011. He got the Grand Prize – For the love of Hanoi at the 12th ceremony of Bui Xuan Phai Award – For the love of Hanoi and the title of Excellent Citizen of the City in 2019.
Ngan Ha