Opening address By Dr. Nguyen Nhi Dien, Vice-President, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM), Ministry of Science & Technology of Vietnam Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my great honor, on behalf of Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM) to welcome all participants of the International Symposium on Physics of Unstable Nuclei 2014 in Ho Chi Minh City. I am very pleased to note that it is the fourth meeting of the ISPUN series hosted by the Institute for Nuclear Science & Technology of VINATOM, from ISPUN02 meeting at Halong Bay in 2002 to ISPUN07 in Hoi An and ISPUN11 in Hanoi. At ISPUN14 Symposium, we are very glad to welcome more than 120 participants from 20 countries, representing nearly 60 international institutions and including many world leading experts in modern nuclear physics. I sincerely hope that this Symposium would significantly promote international cooperation in this very important field of basic science, and encourage young Vietnamese scientists to contribute their talent and efforts to the development of the nuclear physics research in Vietnam, to strengthen the role of the nuclear science in our country. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the French partners in the LIA project between CNRS and CEA of France and Ministry of Science & Technology of Vietnam, the Helmholtz International Center for FAIR, the Asian Nuclear Physics Association (ANPhA), and the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development of Vietnam for their endorsement and support of this Symposium. Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, In the national plan for Science and Technology of the country towards 2020, and in the mid-term plan for research and development of VINATOM, the role of basic nuclear physics research has been emphasized as vital for the development of nuclear science and technology in Vietnam. In this regard, I highly appreciate the contribution by the participants to this Symposium, and VINATOM will make every effort to promote the international cooperation for our common benefits. We know well that training of scientists and experts of high qualification is one of the main tasks of science and technology development. Therefore, we are so happy to see today many young Vietnamese researchers along side with the world experts. We hope that this meeting would strongly enrich their knowledge and scientific experience, and encourage them to go ahead to the new frontiers of research. Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Finally, I would like to thank Prof. Dao Tien Khoa, Symposium’s chairman, the Organizing Committee, the members of the International Advisory Board and all invited speakers and participants for their efforts in making this important international symposium a success. It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to declare open the International Symposium on Physics of Unstable Nuclei 2014. Thank you for your kind attention.