His death was confirmed by Dr. Tran Dinh Ly, Vice Rector of the university, who described the loss as deeply felt by both colleagues and former students.

Born in 1950 in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, Phan Gia Tan served as a lecturer in the Department of Industrial and Medicinal Plants. Over a career spanning decades, he was known for his devotion to teaching and for advancing the technical foundations of agriculture, especially in the southern regions of Vietnam.

Beyond his lectures, Tan made lasting contributions through a number of specialized publications. Among the most influential were his books Sugarcane and Cultivation Techniques in Southern Vietnam and Pineapple and Cultivation Techniques in Southern Vietnam, both published over 40 years ago. These works became foundational texts for agricultural technicians, educators, students, and farmers alike - valuable reference materials during key stages of Vietnam’s agricultural development.

A quiet giant in agricultural science

Dr. Tran Dinh Ly described Tan as the embodiment of a scholar and educator, whose life revolved around books, learning, and quiet dedication.

“Even when his health declined, he never abandoned the simple yet precious habit of reading,” Ly recalled. “He would still frequent bookstores. That wasn’t just a personal hobby - it was part of a deeply ingrained academic lifestyle, as natural as breathing.”

Ly spoke of the teacher’s deep connection with books - not as mere tools of knowledge, but as companions in reflection and discovery. “I remember how he would hold a new book with quiet joy, turning each page slowly, with concentration - as though every page was a silent conversation with wisdom.”

For Tan, learning was never finished. His commitment to lifelong learning and humility in the face of knowledge left a profound impression on all who knew him.

A legacy of integrity and inspiration

Through his perseverance and humility, Phan Gia Tan helped shape not only meaningful research and textbooks, but also generations of students. His lectures were known for their clarity, his writings for their depth, and his character for its quiet strength.

“His love for books was inseparable from his responsibilities as a scientist and teacher,” Ly reflected. “And that quiet perseverance gave rise to impactful work, clear lectures, and a model of educational integrity - unassuming yet profound.”

Though he is gone, Tan’s image as a teacher who lived with books, studied until his last days, and inspired others through quiet example will remain vivid in the memory of his peers and students at Nong Lam University.

His life, in the words of his colleague, is a gentle yet powerful reminder of what it means to follow a scholarly path with dedication and grace.

 
Le Huyen