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Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc in memory of the leader of Hoan Kiem Lake turtle towing team

Bùi Đăng Minh•Friday, August 7, 2026•11 min read
Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc in memory of the leader of Hoan Kiem Lake turtle towing team

Surprised to hear the news of Associate Professor Dr. Ha Dinh Duc's death, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, leader of Hoan Kiem Lake turtle towing team, member of the Treatment Council and directly participating in the plan to protect and care for Hoan Kiem Lake turtles in 2011, said "had a lot of time to work and research with Associate Professor Duc".

He said, in 2011, when the Hanoi People's Committee decided to establish the Ho Guom Turtle Treatment and Care Council, Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc was one of the active members.

"Every day, the scientist goes to the lake. In the afternoon, he calls me and invites me to go to Hoan Kiem Lake to see where the turtles are floating and check the water condition," Mr. Khoi said, adding that Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc is a person with in-depth knowledge about turtles. He has researched and studied up to 167 different species of turtles in the world.

According to Mr. Khoi, it is that attachment that makes the image of Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc familiar to people living around Hoan Kiem Lake. Not only fellow researchers, but journalists, people and people living around this area all know Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc's attachment and love for Hoan Kiem Lake turtles.

Since then, people have called Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc "the turtle scientist". According to Mr. Khoi, "that title is completely deserved".

Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Dinh Duc (third person from the right) sat in a boat with experts towing turtles on Hoan Kiem Lake, March 2011. Photo: Ngoc Thanh
Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Dinh Duc (third from right) sits on a boat with turtle towing experts on Hoan Kiem Lake, March 2011. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Sharing about the colleague who worked side by side, the leader of the Hoan Kiem Lake turtle tow team said that Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc not only did research but also directly participated in the treatment process for Hoan Kiem Lake turtles.

Every time a floating turtle is discovered, Associate Professor Duc proactively contacts the working group to monitor it together. Catching turtles after netting depends on judgment, experience and luck, but the scientist always shares his knowledge with the participants.

From his comments, the authorities organized to catch turtles on Thap Rua mound for treatment in 2011. "He was very enthusiastic and contributed many ideas on how to treat turtles, how to raise turtles as well as plans on how to catch turtles," Mr. Khoi recalled.

Not only researching turtles, Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc has repeatedly spoken out about the risks affecting the Hoan Kiem Lake ecosystem, including water pollution, deterioration of living environment quality and the impact of urbanization.

The Hoan Kiem Lake turtle died in January 2016. In April of the same year, two German experts came to Vietnam to assist in restoring the turtle's body. The plastination method was chosen to help preserve the specimen's original state, from form and color to even difficult parts such as eyes and carapace. In the picture is the final Hoan Kiem Lake turtle specimen that was handed over to the Ngoc Son temple exhibition house. Photo: Ngoc Thanh
The Hoan Kiem Lake turtle died in January 2016. In April of the same year, two German experts came to Vietnam to assist in restoring the turtle's body. The plastination method was chosen to help preserve the specimen's original state, from form and color to even difficult parts such as eyes and carapace. In the picture is the final Hoan Kiem Lake turtle specimen that was handed over to the Ngoc Son temple exhibition house. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Dinh Duc passed away on the morning of August 7, at the age of 87. His scientific legacy is 200 articles and 6 national-level research projects on Hoan Kiem Lake. The research of Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Dinh Duc has contributed to adding many important scientific data about individual Hoan Kiem turtles, contributing to attracting community attention to the conservation of this rare turtle species.

In 2011, Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Dinh Duc and a group of scientists and managers participating in the care and treatment of Hoan Kiem Lake turtles were awarded the "Bui Xuan Phai - For the love of Hanoi" Award.

According to information from the family, the memorial service for the late Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Dinh Duc began at 8:15 a.m. on August 11 at the City Funeral Home (125 Phung Hung, Hanoi). The memorial service was held at 9:15 a.m. on the same day, followed by cremation at the Hoan Vu Incarnation Station (Van Dien) and burial at Da Ca Cemetery, Tho Xuan commune, Thanh Hoa province.

Trong Dat

Nguồn / Original source: VnExpress