Over three decades of formation and development, the journey to the Ancestral Land has become a sacred tradition of Van Lang University (VLU). Since 1997, there have been 28 delegations of excellent students in turn travelling the long distance from the South to Nghia Linh Mountain to offer incense in gratitude to the Hung Kings. Each trip is a proud milestone, a journey made by excellent student representatives of thousands of Van Lang University students, carrying with them affection for their roots and the responsibility to continue the VLU legacy. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Van Lang University, we sincerely offer an invitation to look back on that journey: a journey of faith, gratitude, and connectedness across generations of learners.
The 1997 delegation consisted of 35 excellent students, led by Mr. Nguyen Cong Tru, Head of the Office of Student Affairs, as Head of Delegation, and Mr. Nguyen Tran Dung, Deputy Head of the General Administration Office, as Deputy Head of Delegation.The 1998 delegation consisted of 33 students, led by Mr. Nguyen Cong Tru, Head of the Office of Student Affairs, as Head of Delegation.The 1999 delegation of excellent students consisted of 32 students, led by Mr. Ly Khanh Tam, Chairman of the University Council, concurrently Head of the General Administration Office, as Head of Delegation, and Mr. Nguyen Van Duc Loi, Secretary of the University Youth Union, as Deputy Head of Delegation.In 2000, 32 excellent students set off for the Ancestral Land with Mr. Bach Thanh Son, Secretary of the University Youth Union, as Head of Delegation.The 2001 delegation of excellent students consisted of 31 students, led by Mr. Bach Thanh Son, Secretary of the University Youth Union, as Head of Delegation, and Ms. Tran Chi Hong Phuong, Lecturer, Faculty of Finance and Banking, as Deputy Head of Delegation.The 2002 delegation of excellent students had 13 members, with Mr. Bach Thanh Son, Secretary of the University Youth Union, serving as Deputy Head of Delegation.31 excellent students in 2003 joined the journey back to the roots, led by Mr. Tran Quoc Thinh, Deputy Secretary of the University Youth Union, as Head of Delegation.The 2004 delegation of excellent students consisted of 20 students, led by Mr. Nguyen Hoang Minh, Deputy Secretary of the University Youth Union, as Head of Delegation.In 2005, 24 excellent students represented Van Lang University on the journey to the Ancestral Land, led by Mr. Bach Thanh Son, Secretary of the University Youth Union, as Head of Delegation.The 2006 delegation consisted of 23 excellent students, led by Mr. Nguyen Binh Minh, from the Division of Intermediate Professional Education, as Head of Delegation.20 excellent students in 2007 were led by Mr. Tran Phuong Tung, in charge of Student Affairs, Department of Academic Affair, as Head of Delegation, and Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Student Affairs Officer, Faculty of Industrial Arts and Design, as Deputy Head of Delegation.The 2008 delegation of excellent students consisted of 22 students, led by Dr. Ho Tan Phong, Vice-President, as Head of Delegation; the Deputy Head of Delegation was Mr. Luong Hong Ha, Student Affairs Assistant, Faculty of Tourism.24 excellent students in 2009 represented VLU on the traditional journey to the Ancestral Land.The 2010 delegation of excellent students consisted of 24 students, led by Mr. Dinh Xuan Toa, Head of the Office of Student Affairs, as Head of Delegation, and Ms. Le Nguyen Phuong An, Lecturer of the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, as Deputy Head of Delegation.36 excellent students in 2011 made their journey to the Ancestral Land with Mr. Luong Ngoc Thang, Lecturer of the Faculty of Tourism, as Head of Delegation, and Ms. Phan Minh Nguyet, Lecturer of the Faculty of Accounting, as Deputy Head of Delegation.The 2012 delegation of excellent students consisted of 26 students, led by Mr. Pham Ngoc Duy, Lecturer of the Faculty of Information Technology, as Head of Delegation.24 excellent students in 2013 travelled to the Ancestral Land with Mr. Nguyen Huynh Lam, Head of the Department of English, as Head of Delegation, and Mr. Phan Nhat Linh, Staff member of the Department of Academic Affair, as Deputy Head of Delegation.The 2014 delegation of excellent students consisted of 22 students, led by Ms. Nguyen Thi Men, Assistant Director of the Information – Library Center, as Head of Delegation; the Deputy Head of Delegation was Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Diep, Lecturer of the Department of Basic Sciences.In 2015, 20 excellent students joined the journey, led by Mr. Do Lu Cong Minh, as Head of Delegation, and Ms. Tran Kim Chang, as Deputy Head of Delegation, from the Faculty of Basic Sciences.The 2016 delegation of excellent students consisted of 25 students, led by Mr. Bui Ta Thanh, Lecturer of the Faculty of Basic Sciences, as Head of Delegation; the Deputy Head of Delegation was Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Cuc, Secretary of the University Youth Union.24 excellent students in 2017 were led by Mr. Truong Nguyen Hong Quang, Lecturer of the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, as Head of Delegation, and Ms. Chau Thoai Ve, Staff member of the Student Affairs Office, as Deputy Head of Delegation.The 2018 delegation of excellent students consisted of 23 students, led by Ms. Pham Thi Nga, Staff member of the Faculty of Finance and Accounting, as Head of Delegation; the Deputy Head of Delegation was Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Diep, Lecturer of the Faculty of Basic Sciences.28 excellent students in 2019 joined the journey to the Ancestral Land, led by Mr. Mai Quoc Buu, Lecturer of the Faculty of Architecture, as Head of Delegation, and Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Phuong, Deputy Head of the Department of Admissions and Communication, as Deputy Head of Delegation.The 2020 delegation of excellent students consisted of 43 students, led by Mr. Pham Hong Thang, Deputy Director of the Student Support Center, as Head of Delegation, and Ms. Vo Thanh Giang, Staff member of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, as Deputy Head of Delegation.38 excellent students in 2021 were led by Mr. Nguyen Huu Binh, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law, as Head of Delegation, and Mr. Pham Thanh Phuoc, Specialist of the Student Support Center, as Deputy Head of Delegation.The 2022 delegation of excellent students consisted of 42 students, led by Mr. Nguyen Huu Binh, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law, as Head of Delegation, and Mr. Pham Thanh Phuoc, Specialist of the Student Support Center, as Deputy Head of Delegation.The 2023 delegation of excellent students consisted of 50 students, led by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Diep, Sports Center, as Head of Delegation; the Deputy Head of Delegation was Ms. Ngo Vuong Yen Nhi, Deputy Secretary of the University Youth Union.50 excellent students in 2024 represented VLU students, led by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ngoc Thach, Lecturer of the Faculty of Tourism, as Head of Delegation, and Mr. Pham Quoc Anh, Head of the Student Policies and Procedures Unit, Student Support Center, as Deputy Head of Delegation.
The 28 journeys to the Ancestral Land are more than just trips. This tradition has become a living source that connects past – present – future, nurturing the spirit of “remembering one’s roots” and enriching VLU’s identity among the younger generations. On the road ahead, this legacy will continue to accompany us, as a reminder that wherever they may be, VLU people always turn their hearts to their origins in order to stride confidently toward the future.
