On March 26, 2025, the online community buzzed with nostalgia as they celebrated the 25th anniversary of Pham Kim Long's groundbreaking Vietnamese typing software, Unikey. Long, a prominent figure in the tech world, officially released the first version of Unikey on his personal website back in 2000. His decision to make the software free for all Vietnamese users, despite receiving numerous purchase offers, has had a lasting impact on the way people type in Vietnamese.
Pham Kim Long, an alumnus of the prestigious Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), has been a key player in the tech industry. HUST, established on March 6, 1956, is renowned for producing successful entrepreneurs and influential figures, including Bui Quang Ngoc, Vice Chairman of FPT Corporation, and Pham Dinh Doan, Chairman of Phu Thai Group. The university's rigorous admission process reflects its high standards, with the highest admission score in 2024 for computer science reaching 28.53.
Graduating from HUST is no small feat. In 2023, the highest admission score for the university's computer science program was an astonishing 29.42, a score so high that even the national top scorers could not gain entry. This level of competition underscores the quality of education at HUST, which boasts an impressive employment rate for graduates. According to the university's 2024 admissions plan, 92% of students who graduated in 2023 found employment within 12 months, a testament to the institution's commitment to preparing students for the workforce.
In 2022, over 90% of HUST graduates secured jobs shortly after graduation, with many finding opportunities abroad in countries like the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea. This international reach highlights the university's reputation for high-quality education and training.
HUST is also known for its expansive campus, featuring four gates, two streets, and five surrounding roads. The Parabol Gate, located on Giai Phong Street, is humorously referred to as a "century project" due to the challenging entrance exams associated with the university. The campus is equipped with modern facilities, including numerous high-rise buildings, and ongoing upgrades to classrooms and laboratories ensure that students have access to the latest technology.
In celebration of its 65th anniversary, HUST has received substantial donations from various organizations and companies, totaling nearly 14 billion VND for the enhancement of its facilities. One of the standout projects is the Ta Quang Buu Library, which commemorates the university's 50th anniversary. With an investment of over 200 billion VND, the library is one of the largest in Vietnam's higher education system, featuring a ten-story building and housing over 600,000 books along with more than 130,000 e-books.
Meanwhile, in a separate but equally significant development, Lam Quang Minh, the creator of another popular Vietnamese typing software called EVKey, announced on March 27, 2025, that he would cease development of the project. EVKey, which was built on the open-source foundation of Unikey, gained popularity particularly among programmers and office workers for its compatibility with modern applications like Chrome, Microsoft Excel, and Visual Studio Code.
In a heartfelt message shared on Facebook, Minh expressed gratitude to the community that supported EVKey throughout its years of operation. He noted that the software had not received updates or bug fixes for some time, and he encouraged users facing issues to explore alternative solutions. The last version of EVKey for Windows, 5.0.1, was released on March 13, 2022, while the final Mac version, 3.3.8, was launched in mid-2021.
Despite its discontinuation, EVKey remains functional on Windows 11, allowing users to continue utilizing the software. However, the decision to stop development has raised questions about the software's transparency, given its closed-source nature despite its open-source roots. Concerns about security were also voiced in tech forums, as some antivirus programs flagged EVKey's installation files, though these alerts were generally considered false positives.
Furthermore, there were claims that EVKey's use of Unikey's GPLv3 licensed code without public disclosure of its source code could violate open-source software regulations. However, the developers of EVKey have not publicly addressed these allegations. The end of EVKey marks a significant shift in the landscape of Vietnamese typing software, as it was once seen as a viable alternative to Unikey in many scenarios.
As the tech community reflects on the contributions of both Pham Kim Long and Lam Quang Minh, it is evident that their efforts have shaped the way Vietnamese is typed and communicated in the digital age. The legacy of Unikey continues to thrive, while EVKey's departure highlights the challenges of maintaining software in an ever-evolving technological environment.
