ULAW NEWS | Issue No. 33 ULAW Cohort 14 reunion honours teachers: “Friendship Forever”

On the afternoon of 14 November 2026, nearly 100 alumni of Cohort 14 (1989–1994) returned to Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (ULAW) for the 2026 Reunion and Tribute to Teachers, held in Hall A.1002 at the Nguyễn Tất Thành Campus. Under the theme “Cohort 14 (1989–1994) – Ho Chi Minh City University of Law: Friendship Forever”, the gathering brought former classmates together with their teachers to revisit cherished memories of university life and reflect on more than three decades of personal and professional growth.

An overview of the 2026 Reunion and Tribute to Teachers for Cohort 14 alumni, held in Hall A.1002 at the Nguyễn Tất Thành Campus

Cohort 14 alumni reunite with their former teachers in a warm and convivial atmosphere

The reunion was honoured by the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu, alongside numerous Cohort 14 alumni and teachers who had taught and mentored the cohort. Representing Ho Chi Minh City University of Law were Dr. Lê Trường Sơn, Rector of the University; Associate Professor Dr. Vũ Văn Nhiêm, Vice Rector; and Associate Professor Dr. Trần Việt Dũng, Vice Rector.

Addressing the gathering on behalf of the Cohort 14 Liaison Committee, Dr. Lê Trường Sơn, Rector of ULAW and himself an alumnus of the cohort, expressed his delight at welcoming his former teachers and classmates back to their alma mater. For him, the opportunity to continue working at the institution from which he graduated has been a particularly meaningful privilege. The reunion rekindled treasured memories of youth and the familiar sense of closeness that comes from meeting old friends after many years apart.

Reflecting on the more than three decades since graduation, Rector Lê Trường Sơn observed that his own experience as a lecturer had deepened his understanding of the dedication and devotion of earlier generations of teachers. Having moved from the lecture hall as a student to the lectern as an educator, he has come to appreciate all the more the lessons and guidance that equipped students for life beyond university. He expressed both pleasure and pride in seeing his former classmates flourish, each making a contribution to society in their own field. He also voiced the hope that members of Cohort 14 would continue to nurture their friendships, remain in touch and sustain their enduring connection with the university that shaped their formative years.

Turning to ULAW’s future development, Dr. Lê Trường Sơn emphasised the importance of continuing engagement with successive generations of alumni, particularly through opportunities for graduates to return and share the professional insights that enrich teaching and learning. The Rector also introduced the ULAW Digital Heritage Space Project, an initiative intended to bring together photographs, artefacts, personal accounts and archival materials documenting the University’s establishment and development. He expressed the hope that memories preserved across generations of alumni would find a shared home, connecting the institution’s past and present with those who will carry its legacy forward.

Dr. Lê Trường Sơn, Rector of ULAW, reflects on cherished memories and the joy of reuniting with teachers and friends

Taking the floor next, Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu, also a Cohort 14 alumnus, reflected on the distinct emotions that accompany each return to Ho Chi Minh City University of Law. What has remained unchanged, he noted, is the sense of nostalgia and affection evoked by memories of studying and spending time alongside teachers and friends. To him, the university years were among the most rewarding periods of life, shaped by learning, personal growth and the guidance of devoted teachers. The happiness and pride associated with those years, he added, are shared not only by those present at the reunion but also by classmates who were unable to attend.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the bonds among ULAW’s Cohort 14 alumni transcend differences in profession, public office and geographical distance. In returning to their alma mater, they do so not in the capacities associated with their present-day positions, but as the students of their former teachers and as friends united by the experience of a shared youth.

The presence of so many former teachers made the occasion especially moving for him. On the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers’ Day on 20 November, he conveyed his profound gratitude for their years of dedicated teaching, the knowledge they imparted and the care with which they guided successive generations of students. The Deputy Prime Minister also acknowledged the efforts of Cohort 14 as a whole: although its members have followed different paths, they have remained conscious of the responsibility to live and work in a manner worthy of the institution that educated them. He expressed the hope that the bonds between teachers and students, and the enduring fellowship among former classmates, would continue to be cherished and sustained.

Referring to the ULAW Digital Heritage Space Project proposed by Rector Lê Trường Sơn, the Deputy Prime Minister described it as a meaningful initiative to preserve the University’s collective memory and the milestones of its development. He expressed his support and encouraged fellow Cohort 14 alumni to take part in ways suited to their individual circumstances, whether by sharing old photographs, memorabilia, documents and personal recollections or by contributing to the initiative’s realisation. Such memories, he observed, would not only allow former students to revisit their formative years whenever they return, but also help preserve and pass on a common heritage to future generations of learners. Concluding his remarks, he extended his wishes for health, peace and happiness to his former teachers, and for continued wellbeing and friendship to his fellow alumni.

Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu, a Cohort 14 alumnus, addresses the reunion

Among the most moving moments of the programme was the tribute to teachers, during which Cohort 14 representatives presented flowers and gifts to those who had taught and guided them. The University, in turn, presented congratulatory bouquets to members of the cohort who now work and teach at ULAW, recognising their continued commitment and contributions to their alma mater. On this occasion, Cohort 14 representatives also presented a ceremonial board acknowledging the cohort’s contribution to the ULAW Digital Heritage Space Project, a gesture reflecting their commitment to accompanying the University in this endeavour. Informal conversations, exchanges and a birthday celebration for members born in November brought further warmth and camaraderie to the gathering.

Conversations between Cohort 14 alumni and their former teachers unfold in a lively and welcoming atmosphere

Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu and Dr. Lê Trường Sơn, Rector of ULAW, present gifts of appreciation to the teachers who taught Cohort 14

Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu, representing Cohort 14 alumni, presents a ceremonial board marking the cohort’s contribution to the ULAW Digital Heritage Space Project

Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu presents commemorative gifts to the ULAW Executive Leadership Board

Associate Professor Dr. Vũ Văn Nhiêm and Associate Professor Dr. Trần Việt Dũng, Vice Rectors of ULAW, present flowers to Cohort 14 alumni who have pursued careers in teaching at the University

Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu presents a commemorative gift to Mr. Lic Vu Tha, a fellow alumnus who travelled from Cambodia to attend the reunion

Cohort 14 alumni celebrating birthdays in November gather to blow out the candles and cut the birthday cake

The programme drew to a close with conversations, informal exchanges and commemorative photographs capturing the joy of reunion. More than 35 years after they first entered the lecture halls of the former Ho Chi Minh City Branch of the University of Law, members of Cohort 14 have each followed their own path. Yet memories of their teachers, friends and alma mater remain an enduring bond. Ultimately, “Friendship Forever” is more than the theme of a reunion: it expresses a lasting sentiment that generations of alumni continue to cherish, preserve and carry forward.