A soldier with a spirit of service to the nation
Dr Le Thanh Binh is a former counsellor and deputy chief of the mission at the Vietnamese Embassy in Norway, and former head of the Department of International Communication and Cultural Diplomacy at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Whether in his role as a diplomat or as an educator, his dedication and passion have left a lasting impression on generations of students and colleagues.
In early 2024, a special musical event titled “Singing the song of life together” was organised by the Department of International Communication and Cultural Diplomacy at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. During the event, 12 songs — including 10 composed by Dr Le Thanh Binh — were performed, recounting stories of his life as a soldier and a teacher of cultural diplomacy. The event was an opportunity for colleagues and students to express their gratitude for his contributions to diplomacy and education.
At the event, Colonel Vu Ngoc Dieu, Hero of the People’s Armed Forces and a wartime comrade of Le Thanh Binh, shared: “The style and resilience of a soldier, along with the adaptability and agility of an air defence-air force warrior, remain deeply ingrained in the former soldier who is now a scientist and diplomat.”
Colonel Vu Ngoc Dieu also noted with pride: “After the war, when I reunited with comrades like Binh, who were then students in the Soviet Union or later held various positions, I saw the same unwavering qualities: excellence, determination to complete every mission, and a deep commitment to serving the nation.”
Before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Le Thanh Binh served in the Air Defence-Air Force. He was later sent to the Soviet Union to study journalism and communication. He successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Moscow State University (MGU), a prestigious institution.
During his nine years of study in the Soviet Union, from undergraduate to doctoral levels, he gained both theoretical and practical expertise in communication and journalism, while also embracing the warmth and humanity of his professors, friends, and the Russian people.
After returning to Vietnam, he worked in various government agencies, holding diverse professional roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government Office, and academic institutions. His contributions spanned numerous fields, including culture, sports, tourism, diplomacy, and journalism. He has published numerous books and scientific works in the field of international communication, promoting Vietnam’s image and culture globally.
A cultural diplomat and devoted lecturer
In 2008, Dr Le Thanh Binh became a trailblazer in establishing training programmes for international communication and cultural diplomacy — a field that was still unfamiliar in Vietnam at the time. He served as the first head of the Department of International Communication and Cultural Diplomacy at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
With the mission of training core human resources for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in international communication and cultural diplomacy, he approached cultural diplomacy as a scientific discipline. He creatively applied interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary methods to his teaching and research, providing students with systematic perspectives on journalism, international communication, and cultural diplomacy.
Thanks to his vision, the department has become a reputable institution for training in international communication and cultural diplomacy in Vietnam. Over the past 18 years, graduates of the department have become skilled professionals, effectively implementing cultural diplomacy as a vital soft-power tool for the nation.
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Assoc. Prof., Dr Le Thanh Binh and students of the Department of International Communication and Cultural Diplomacy |
He is admired by colleagues for his ability to handle large workloads with exceptional quality and efficiency. He is also a prominent researcher in international communication and cultural diplomacy, having authored and published nearly 30 books, including textbooks on international communication, external communication, and applied cultural diplomacy.
No matter the position, he has always worked with integrity and an extraordinary passion for his profession. Le Thanh Binh believes that “the heart must be upright, the mind sincere, the will steadfast, actions cautious, combined with knowledge and responsibility.” For him, dedication to his work is paramount, reflecting the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh: “Internal strength is a gong, diplomacy is the sound. Only when the gong is large can the sound be big.”
Reflecting on his teaching career, Le Thanh Binh shared: “Diplomats and educators in cultural diplomacy must possess excellent expertise, strong character, a deep understanding of tools, and a passion for their profession to inspire and unlock their students’ potential.”
A multitalented and romantic educator
Though retired, Le Thanh Binh was driven by his passion for Vietnam’s traditional martial arts to establish the “Viet Nam Lien hoa Le gia phai” (Vietnam Martial Arts School of Le Family Style) in June 2024. The school aims to preserve and promote the values and cultural heritage of traditional Vietnamese martial arts among younger generations.
According to Le Thanh Binh, the school emphasises martial ethics — learning martial arts not only for self-defence but also to cultivate discipline, perseverance, and comprehensive personal growth. This aligns with President Ho Chi Minh’s guidance: “Exercising to strengthen health is a duty of every patriotic citizen.”
Recently, his bilingual poetry collection “Three Clouds and a Mountain” (Vietnamese-English) was translated into Italian by writer Giovanna Ciraci and will be introduced to Italian readers at the end of November 2024. This is just one of his eight bilingual poetry collections published by Vietnamese and international publishers.
Le Thanh Binh’s journey embodies a harmonious blend of roles: an experienced diplomat, a dedicated educator, a seasoned researcher, a talented artist, and a martial arts master. His diverse yet unified character makes him a figure worthy of admiration and respect.
