As the author of more than 170 scientific papers published on international mathematical journals, the recently departed Prof. Hoang Tuy is recognized as the foundfather of Global Optimization Theory and inventor of the Tuy’s Cut method.
Professor Hoang Tuy was looked up to by many, including his secondary school student from 50 years ago, Professor Tran Van Nhung, former Secretary General of the State Professor Council.
Prof. Nhung recalled the time he was taught by Prof. Hoang Tuy in the A0 math major class (1965-1967), on the first ever theories of mathematical logic, finite math and graph theory during the war, in between evacuations. “He paid much attention to help students understand the nature and relevancy of problems; his teaching was unique and captivating to say the least”, Prof. Nhung reminisced.
Many new generation eggheads recognized Professor Hoang Tuy as one of the most outstanding mathematicians and educators, demonstrated by his scientific researches, teachings, lectures, books as well as his various proposals for the reform and development of Vietnam’s mathematics, science and education.
In 1984, Prof. Hoang Tuy was invited by Professor D.Hinrichsen to provide a report on his mathematical optimization in a seminar at the University of Bremen (Germany). His lecture saw the admiration from international attendees for its mathematical content and high pedagogical qualities.
II. Prof. Hoang Tuy, former Head of the Mathematics Department at Hanoi University at the time, was the first to propose the idea of opening class A0, taking examples from Soviet and Hungarian mathematicians. His proposal was strongly supported by Prof. Le Van Thiem, Prof. Nguy Nhu Kon Tum, Prof. Ta Quang Buu - then Minister of Education, and by Prime Minister Pham Van Dong.
In 1974, thanks to Prof. Hoang Tuy’s proposition, for the first time ever Vietnam sent 5 students to the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 1974) in Germany. They won a gold medal, a silver medal, and two bronze medals.
Prof. Hoang Tuy spent his whole life on Global Optimization Theory which is highly systematic. In 1983, Prof. Hoang Tuy and Prof. Nguyen Khoa Son built the Center for System Analysis at the Central Institute for Economic Management.
Since the late 1960s, Prof. Hoang Tuy and other leading mathematicians, including Prof. Ta Quang Buu, Prof. Le Van Thiem, Prof. Nguyen Canh Toan, Prof. Phan Dinh Dieu, among others, have developed a strategy to improve Vietnamese mathematics for 1970-1990. Thus, within only 10 or 20 years, Vietnamese mathematics has made significant progress and gained prestige internationally. The key program for Mathematics development for the period of 2010-2020 and the Institute for Advanced Research in Mathematics has been approved by the Government.
