Asian History and Trade Relations Research Group

1.1. List of key members
 

Established in 1999, the Group of Asian Commercial Studies (USSH, VNU) is a continuation of the tradition and academic foundation of the Faculty of History, Hanoi National University, now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The Group was established on the basis of a number of members of the Department of World History, Faculty of History. During the development process, the Group's members have always expanded but are mainly graduates from the Department and Faculty of History.

The “Asian History and Trade Relations Research Group” (NCLS & QHTMCA Group) was recognized as one of the 16 Strong Research Groups at the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, batch 1 in 2014. Based on the Group's activities and research achievements, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU established the Center for Seas and Islands (CSIS) in July 2016 with the core being members of the Asian History and Trade Relations Research Group.*. Up to now, after 20 years of construction and development, the Group has achieved certain achievements in the fields of research, training and international cooperation.

1.3. Research orientation

Since 1990, the domestic and international situation has changed a lot. Faced with new historical conditions and requirements for researchers, for the development of the country and the inherent requirements of the fields of study, many scientists and university lecturers, including the team of staff teaching and researching World History, realized that they had to innovate in thinking and action. In our perception, we believe that we must quickly adapt and integrate with the regional and international academic environment and at the same time boldly delve into new research areas, contributing to clarifying the typical characteristics and position of Vietnam as a member of the world community.

Pursuing the motto: Research on World History must start from the position of Vietnam, placed in the relationship and for the benefit of Vietnam, the NCLS & QHTMCA Group has determined the fundamental and in-depth research direction on trade, especially Vietnam's maritime trade with East Asian countries and the world. That research direction not only contributes to clarifying the tradition of sea exploitation, development of the marine economy, and maritime trade relations in Vietnam's history, but also contributes to a comprehensive view of Vietnam's history and culture. From focusing on researching maritime trade, the Group is also interested in researching the process of exploring, establishing, and protecting Vietnam's sovereignty over the sea and islands. During the training and research process, the Group always attaches importance to acquiring and developing a system of theories and methods and always links theory, theory, and research methods with practice to build and consolidate the fundamental foundations towards the long-term development of the Group and of a new field of research.

In recent times, members of the Department of World History and the Research and International Cooperation Group of the Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities have made many efforts in training, research and international cooperation activities.

Regarding research, the Group focuses on the following issues: 1. The tradition of exploiting the sea of ​​Vietnam and the communities of residents in the region; 2. The consciousness and thinking towards the sea of ​​Vietnamese people and the communities of residents living in Vietnam; 3. Cultures, sea cultural spaces, characteristics and roles of sea cultural spaces; 4. The formation, operation and role of ports, island ports and their relationship with river ports, economic and political centers in the country and internationally; 5. Sea institutions and their relationship with agricultural institutions, forestry institutions; 6. The relationship between the sea and the continent, the formation of trade routes, sources of commodities; 7. Sea trading activities of Vietnamese people and the relationship between Vietnamese people and Asian-European merchant communities; 8. The process of social and cultural communication, dissemination and response; 9. Establish and fight to protect our nation's sovereignty over the sea and islands through historical periods; 10. Build sources of documents and information about the sea and islands and foreign trade economic activities of Vietnam as well as regional countries and countries with traditional relations with Vietnam...

The above research orientations contribute to a more complete and comprehensive understanding of Vietnam's history as well as Vietnam's position and role in international relations. These research orientations will also clarify the potential of Vietnam's marine economy, prepare arguments and scientific bases for the development of policies and strategies for marine economic development, exploitation and promotion of marine resources, protection of sea and island sovereignty and the successful implementation of the Vietnam Marine Sustainable Development Strategy.

1.4. Main research directions
Asia is a vast world, so in the past 20 years, the Group's main research orientation has been on the East Asia region, with a focus on clarifying the maritime tradition, the ability to exploit the sea and the maritime trade relations of Vietnam as well as regional countries. Up to now, the members of the Group have had many research projects on the Northern, Central and Southern regions of Vietnam. In addition, many members of the Group have had interdisciplinary research projects and recognized the traditions and trade relations of Vietnam in the regional trade system.

In recent years, the NCLS&QHTMCA Group has received attention and investment from Hanoi National University in research on Van Don Commercial Port and the northeastern seaport system. In the coming time, the Group will focus on research on commercial ports in the Central region, with the goal of clarifying the cultural infrastructure, the successive development and transformation from Champa port to Dai Viet port, and at the same time clarifying the relationship between seaports, river mouths with regions/centers supplying raw materials and goods deep in the mainland, the relationship between seaports and the ruling polity with the leaders of the Truong Son - Tay Nguyen region, with neighboring countries in the region, the formation of domestic and international trade routes as well as the role of merchant communities (especially China, India, Southeast Asia, the West...) in economic activities and social life. After completing the research program on the Central region, the group will implement a research plan on the South with typical trading ports such as Oc Eo, Dong Nai, Saigon, Ha Tien...
In the past 3 years, the Research Group has compiled and published a number of research works, including:

1.6. Facilities, equipment and related conditions
Most of the members of the Group are currently lecturers at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. In its activities, the Group has always received many favorable conditions from the University. The Group has used digital learning resources, organized seminars, workshops, and discussions... in the multimedia room; had access to artifacts of the Museum of Anthropology, archival sources at the Faculty of History, the Library of VNU, and regularly had the opportunity to communicate with domestic and international researchers. In recent years, 100% of the members of the Group have had the opportunity to study, exchange, and research at international universities and research institutes. Due to its serious scientific activities, the Group has received the attention and support of many international scientists in finding scholarships (Master's, PhD, internships...), being introduced to participate in training courses and scientific seminars and discussions, and support in international research projects.

2. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS
Over the past 20 years, many members of the Group have truly matured. Many have made remarkable progress. Up to now, all official members of the Group (aged 30 to 45) have obtained Associate Professor, PhD and Master degrees and many of them are doing research. In the past 10 years and the coming years, most members will have PhD degrees and some will have Associate Professor degrees. Some members of the Group have received and will receive PhD and Master degrees abroad.

During the training and self-training process, many members of the Group can use 2 or 3 foreign languages ​​in communication and research. All key members have had the opportunity to study (Master's, PhD) or exchange science, research, and teaching abroad: Netherlands, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, etc.

In coordination and with the support of the School and the Faculty of History, the Group has organized and participated in many scientific seminars and conferences. Among them, the most typical are the seminars: Vietnam in the Asian trade system, Van Don Port - History, economic potential and cultural exchanges, and Four centuries of Vietnam - Netherlands relations... The research results and scientific seminars are highly socialized and are cited in many research works, scientific management, and policy making.

By early 2019, key members of the Group had published over 500 works including books and research articles published in domestic and international scientific journals. Some members of the Group are currently lecturers and researchers at universities and research institutes. During their activities, all members of the Group regularly have the opportunity to participate in domestic and international scientific activities. Many members have graduated and studied at Leiden University (Netherlands), Taipei University (Taiwan), National University of Singapore, Hunan Normal University (China), Inha University (Korea)... In the past 10 years, 7 PhD students have successfully defended their doctoral theses, 3 members of the Group were awarded the title of Associate Professor (01 in 2012 and 02 in 2017).

Over the years, 100% of the Group's members have had the opportunity to participate in scientific research projects at all levels. All members have demonstrated a high sense of responsibility when participating in the Group's research projects and topics, and a number of other scientists as leaders. The trend of specialized training, demonstrating professionalism to become experts in academic fields is the training goal, associated with the Group's research.

With the support and encouragement of the Faculty of History, the Board of Directors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi and many domestic and international experts... The Asian History and Trade Relations Research Group is making efforts to study, research, teach and integrate internationally to contribute its small part to the overall development of the country and the field of study.
In the field of training: The group has successfully guided 8 PhD students (6 main guides, 2 secondary guides); is training 8 PhD students; Number of masters trained: 40; Number of masters currently training: 05.
           
3. GROUP TOPICS PARTICIPATED IN AS CHAIRMAN, MEMBER (in the past 3 years)
3.1. Project leader[1]
- The colonial struggle between the Netherlands and Britain in Southeast Asia: A case study of Sumatra (Indonesia), 1824-1914. Scientific topic of the Asian Research Support Fund - VNU, Hanoi, Decision No. 65/QD-NCCA, Contract No. 13/2014/HDDT. (2014-2016).
- The Role of Vietnam and Indonesia in Japan's Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere: A Comparative Study of the Japanese Economic Policies in Vietnam and Indonesia during the World War II. Project sponsored by Sumitomo Foundation (2015-2016).
- Economic models in colonial Southeast Asia: a comparative study of the cases of Vietnam and Indonesia. Hanoi National University level project, code QG.16. 38 (2016-2018).
- Current status of human resources in Social Sciences and Humanities. Scientific topic Group A (Key topic), VNU. Code: QGTĐ 13.18, VNU., Hanoi, 2013-2015.
- Quang Ninh with the implementation of Vietnam's Marine Strategy. Scientific topic of the Asian Research Support Fund - VNU Hanoi. Decision No. 66/QD-NCCA, Contract No. 14/2014/HDDT (Principal, accepted).
- History of Vietnam, Volume 3 (179-905). Scientific topic under the National Project "Research and compilation of the Vietnamese History Collection" (Chief, co-Chief Editor), Ministry of Science and Technology, 2015-2018. Decision No. 197/QD-HDQL-NAFOSTED dated November 6, 2015 of the Management Board of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development.
- Ensnared in War: The Koreans and Vietnamese in World War II. Korea Foundation for Academic Research (2017-2018).
- The process of spreading Islam into Southeast Asia, 13th-17th centuries. University of Social Sciences and Humanities level thesis (2018-2019).
- Research on solutions to preserve and promote the value of Dam San epic. Science and technology project at VNU Hanoi level in 2017. Code: QG 17.58, VNU Hanoi, 2017-2019.
- The issue of crowd effect in social development management in Vietnam today. Belonging to the National Key Science and Technology Program for the period 2016-2020: "Research on important issues in social sciences and humanities serving socio-economic development" (code KX.01/16-20) (2019-2020).
3.2. Participate, topic member[2]:
- History of Vietnam (Dang Ngoai, 1593-1771), volume X. State-level topic KHXH-LSVN.10/14-18 (2014-2018).
- History of Vietnam (Dang Ngoai, 1593-1771), volume XII. State-level topic KHXH-LSVN.12/14-18 (2014-2018).
- History of Vietnam (1802-1858), volume XIII. State-level topic KHXH-LSVN.13/14-18 (2014-2018).
- Vietnamese Encyclopedia: History of Vietnam - Volume 21. Project to Compile the Vietnamese Encyclopedia (established by the Prime Minister) - Steering Council for Compiling the Vietnamese Encyclopedia (2016-2023).
- Vietnam National Geographic - Fields and Territories. Special National-level tasks (2019-2022).
- Vietnam National Geographic - Administrative Field. Special National Tasks (2019-2022).

See the Group's achievements here

V. PRIZES

- Outstanding Science and Technology Project Award of Hanoi National University in 2014 for the project: "Van Don - Vietnam's international commercial port". Decision No. 4675QD-DHQG HN dated December 11, 2014 of the Director of Hanoi National University. Good Book Award of Vietnam Publishing Association in 2015.
- Tran Van Giau Science Award for the collective authors of the work "Southern Region - Formation and Development Process", (Prof. People's Teacher Phan Huy Le Cb.); 2 Volumes, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2016; Decision No. 07-17/GTTVG Tran Van Giau Science Award Committee, 8th time, 2017.                                                                                                          

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