Some people pass through this life like a fleeting breeze, but others leave behind footprints so deep that time, no matter how much passes, can never erase them. The late Honorary Chairman Le Mong Dao (1919 - 2006) - a teacher, a dedicated Buddhist layperson, and the visionary who laid the ideological foundation for Hoa Binh Construction Group - was one such soul.

April 2026 marks exactly two decades since he gently let go of all earthly ties to return to the Buddha’s realm. Twenty years is long enough for a generation to come of age, yet also long enough for us to reflect on the invaluable spiritual legacy he left for posterity.

A Teacher of Souls and Structures

Born in Thừa Thiên Huế, the former imperial capital, into a family of patriotic intellectuals, the life of Le Mong Dao was a steadfast journey devoted to education and the Dharma. He is remembered not only as the Principal of Bồ Đề High School in Huế for 15 years (1952–1967) - where he transformed simple thatched classrooms into a solid reinforced-concrete institution - but also as a teacher who nurtured pure seeds of the soul, grounding his students in Buddhist culture and teaching them the values of being human.

Yet his life extended far beyond chalk and blackboard. It was the life of a courageous intellectual, a distinguished son of Hue who stood at the forefront of struggles for human rights and religious freedom. The image of him being arrested in 1963, stepping onto a Jeep with bare feet, and his steadfast refusal to compromise with wrongdoing despite facing an expulsion order from his homeland in 1967, remains the living lessons of the maxim he often taught his children: “Even when the paper is torn, one must preserve its margins” (Giấy rách phải giữ lấy lề).

Leaving Hue empty-handed with a brood of young children, he and his loyal life partner - Madam Tran Thi Tuyet - wrote a moving chapter of resilience. In the unfamiliar streets of Saigon, the former teacher did not shy away from any labor, from selling medicine to making jams and Tet gift boxes to raise his 11 children. He taught his children not through empty theories but through "teaching by example" - through his own sweat and the calloused hands from heavy deliveries on his bicycle. It was his faith in the law of cause and effect and his unwavering commitment to justice that helped him and his wife raise 11 children to become successful and influential figures in society.

"Hoa Binh" - A Legacy of Compassion

If Hoa Binh Construction Group is likened to a skyscraper, the teachings of the late Honorary Chairman Le Mong Dao are its firmest foundation. He did not directly guide technical matters, but he infused the company with a rare humanistic culture: “Do not be complacent in success, nor discouraged in failure,” and "Finding one's own happiness in the act of giving."

To him, business was not merely about profit but about contributing to the community. The Le Mong Dao Education Support Fund, established after his passing, continues his compassionate legacy, supporting thousands of underprivileged students in pursuing their dreams. In this way, he remains present - not in physical form, but in the kindness that continues to spread.

Twenty Years – A Heartfelt Tribute to the "Miraculous Butterfly"

There is a touching story often shared among members of the Hoa Binh family regarding the appearance of a blue butterfly on the anniversaries of his birth - a message of comfort and solace during difficult times. Whether a coincidence or a spiritual connection, it signifies that his presence still watches over every step of his descendants and the collective staff.

Twenty years since his passing, we do not call it a loss - we call it continuity. The most meaningful way to honor Late Honorary Chairman Le Mong Dao is for each of us - those who inherit his legacy - to live and work with open hearts, integrity of spirit, and an unwavering commitment to serve.

"As vast as the sky is, so too shall the heart be."

With deepest respect, we bow before a great character, a luminous example who will forever serve as a guiding compass for the future generations of the Le family and the Hoa Binh Construction Group.

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