Many colleagues at Hoang Van Thu Political School are familiar with the image of female lecturers busy in many roles as Party Committee members, Party cell secretaries, Heads of Faculties of Grassroots Theory, and Chairmen of Grassroots Trade Unions.
Ms. Gam shared: "Being a political theory lecturer, if you don't study on your own, don't innovate, the lecture is very easy to be dry and stiff.
In the period 2021 - 2025, the Faculty of Basic Theory under her charge continuously exceeded the standard teaching hours; some years reaching 270%, especially in 2025 reaching 331%. Scientific research work is also a bright spot when the faculty implemented 8 school-level projects, participated in provincial-level and ministerial-level projects. Following that were many evenings of preparing lesson plans, many professional exchanges, and many times assigning lectures to suit the capacity of each lecturer.
Being a department manager, the important thing is to create consensus. Each person has their own strengths, if they know how to listen and share, the collective will move forward together," she shared.
Not only busy with expertise, Ms. Gam has also been associated with trade union activities for many years. From 2010 to 2025, she participated in the Executive Committee of the grassroots Trade Union, once holding the position of Vice Chairman, now Chairman of the grassroots Trade Union. For her, trade union officials must not only launch movements but also be close to union members, understand their lives and thoughts.
There are very small trade union events, like a timely inquiry, an encouragement when union members encounter difficulties. But it is these small things that make the collective warmer," Ms. Gam confided.
In 5 years, she has exceeded the norm for teaching hours and scientific research hours; participated in writing 5 published monographs, and was a key member of 3 school-level scientific topics and 2 provincial-level scientific topics. In 2025, she conducted 1,359 hours of scientific research, exceeding the norm by 1,200 hours.
Busy as she is, but when mentioning her family, her voice slows down. Her husband, Mr. Tran Thanh Tinh, is currently the Vice Principal of Loc Binh High School. Since 2019, he has been working more than 20km from home. Both husband and wife's jobs are stressful, there are many days of going early and returning late, but the family still maintains warmth because of sharing.
My husband is also an educator, so he understands and sympathizes with his wife's work. In the house, whoever has time takes the initiative to do it, not putting too much emphasis on that it is the woman's own business," she recounted.
Their two daughters also grew up in that tradition. The eldest daughter, Tran Hong Diep, used to be a student at Chu Van An High School for the Gifted, graduated from Hanoi University of Pharmacy with honors, currently working at Daiichi Sankyo Vietnam Co., Ltd.
Second daughter Tran Ngoc Diem, a student of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, in the 2024-2025 academic year, achieved the title of Excellent Student, 5 Good Typical Student.
What makes me happiest is not only that my children study and work well, but that they know how to live independently, know how to care about their families, grandparents, and parents," the female head of the department mentioned her family with a proud voice.
Leaders of the Lang Son Provincial Labor Federation said that in the past 5 years, Ms. Dong Huong Gam has always been awarded the title of Advanced Laborer, 3 years achieved the title of Grassroots Emulation Soldier; received 7 certificates of merit and 1 certificate of merit from the Lang Son Provincial People's Committee.
In particular, recently, her family was commended by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor as a typical family of workers and employees nationwide.
Amidst the busyness of work, that home still shines with perseverance, responsibility and love. As Mrs. Gam said, a peaceful family is the fulcrum for each person to do their part better.
