Professor Tran Thanh Van and Professor Le Kim Ngoc are pictured with the French President and his spouse at a reception in Ha Noi during the President’s visit to Viet Nam. Photo: ICISE.
The French Embassy announced that on October 3, it will host a ceremony to confer the Officer rank of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest distinction, upon two eminent French scientists of Vietnamese origin, both senior researchers at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS): Professor Jean Tran Thanh Van, PhD in Physics, and Professor Le Kim Ngoc, PhD in Biology.
Earlier, on July 11, to mark France’s National Day (July 14), the French president signed a decree last Friday promoting and appointing new ranks within the National Order of the Legion of Honour.
Among the honourees, Professors Tran Thanh Van and Le Kim Ngoc were awarded the Officer rank of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, a prestigious recognition by the French government.
On July 18, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang sent a congratulatory letter to Professors Tran Thanh Van and Le Kim Ngoc.
She emphasised that the promotion to this prestigious order is not only a well-deserved recognition of their tireless dedication to science and the younger generation, but also a source of pride for the Vietnamese community abroad and for their homeland.
Professors Tran Thanh Van and Le Kim Ngoc had previously been awarded the Legion of Honour at the rank of Knight (Chevalier – fifth class), in 2000 and 2016 respectively.
The Legion of Honour, established in 1802, consists of five ranks. It is France’s highest national distinction, awarded for military or civil merit.
The Embassy’s announcement on September 29 noted that Professors Tran Thanh Van and Le Kim Ngoc had devoted their lives, energy and personal resources to the advancement of science and to strengthening ties between France and Viet Nam, as well as between Viet Nam and the international scientific community.
