New information and scientific knowledge about boats and how boats were used in Vietnamese history

Scientific issues attract the attention of many prestigious researchers
Speaking at the conference, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Duc Cuong - President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association emphasized that boats have marked many aspects of history, played an important role in the economic and social development of Vietnam, and attracted the research attention of many scientists. With such meaning, the Vietnam Historical Science Association cooperated with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, and directly the Asia Sea and Trade Research Group to organize a scientific conference with the theme "Types of boats and methods of using boats in Vietnamese history".

In his opening speech at the Workshop, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim - Head of the Asia Maritime and Trade Research Group said: As a strong research group at the Hanoi National University, the Group has successfully organized 4 scientific workshops on Vietnam's marine spaces. The results of the workshops have made many scientific contributions to the role and position of Vietnam's sea, especially in terms of diplomacy and trade relations. The research results have also made many practical contributions to ministries and localities in preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritages. Following those achievements, the Workshop on boats and the use of boats in Vietnam's history aims to bring about new, interdisciplinary approaches to the premise and development context of means of transport on rivers and seas; types and characteristics of boats; the role of boats in political, economic, diplomatic and cultural life, etc.
The conference received 23 reports with high scientific content from prestigious scientists at universities and research institutes nationwide such as: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Vietnam Historical Science Association, Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Hoi An Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation Center, Hanoi University, Dai Nam University, Dong A University, etc.

Highly appreciating the value of the workshop, Prof. Dr. Vu Duong Ninh - Former Head of the Faculty of International Studies, President of the Association of Former Teachers of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, said that the workshop was carefully prepared, with many approaches and new academic points. The opinions raised about the role and function of boats; the development process of boats through historical periods; and knowledge about boat building techniques were deeply expressed in the articles and opinions presented at the workshop. These are perspectives of current events and high scientific value. Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Mai Hung - Vice President of Vietnam Historical Science Association

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Mai Hung - Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association expressed: “Vietnam has a dense river system from North to South, with a long coastline and a dense seaport system. From that, it can be seen that the position of boats is very important not only in building and developing the national economy but also in protecting the country. Through the content of the workshop, from the perspective of preserving cultural heritage, we consider Vietnamese boats to be a type of heritage, with special value in terms of both tangible and intangible aspects. Through the scientific values ​​that the workshop brings, the public will understand more about the role of this heritage in the history of economic, social, cultural development and protection of the country's sovereignty”.
From research issues, scientists have the basis to propose to relevant agencies solutions to preserve, organize specialized exhibitions on boats, build specialized museums on boats and the history of boat development in Vietnam, which have both great conservation and educational value. Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Minh - Coast Guard Command

Brings new scientific perspectives on boats and boat usage in Vietnamese history
The workshop was divided into 3 sessions: Boats and types of boats in Vietnamese history; Boats and types of boats in space and time; Boats and types of boats: Regional cultural, economic and political issues. Scientists brought to the workshop diverse and new perspectives on boats in the history of the nation in many different aspects.
In the central report with the theme "Boats and the role of boats in Vietnamese history", Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim - Head of the Asian Maritime and Trade Research Group focused on analyzing the characteristics of natural conditions in Vietnam - Southeast Asia that have affected the lives of residential communities and explained why, since ancient times, many Vietnamese ethnic communities have chosen boats as a main means of transport. Boat making activities, using different types of boats in all three spaces: delta, mountains and rivers, seas, etc. have contributed to forming and defining the traditions, cultural identities, economic foundations, thinking, and lifestyles of generations of Vietnamese people. From rafts made from reeds, bamboo, and light woods, to dugout canoes, plank boats, etc., people have created river boats, sea boats, and even river-sea boats, and transoceanic boats. The boat has been used for many different purposes, in many different natural and social spaces. The Vietnamese have created important inventions about boats from rudder techniques, talent in controlling the Xiem tree and the mechanism of using and controlling the sails, bringing many ethnic groups to distant sea spaces to conduct diplomatic activities, economic exchanges, knowledge, technology and culture transmission.
According to the Professor, boats and types of boats are divided into: Boats that travel in rivers and lakes (freshwater boats), boats that travel on the sea (saltwater boats) and boats that mix rivers and seas (brackish water boats, suitable for both ecosystems). They can also be divided into: Small boats, medium boats and large boats, depending on the concepts and specifications of each country and dynasty. They can also be divided into: Public boats, private boats. And there are also: Traffic and transport boats that specialize in serving ferries along and across the sea; warships, boats that protect sovereignty over islands and seas, diplomatic boats (envoy boats), etc. In terms of culture, there are also sacred boats, boats that specialize in rituals, royal boats and boats of the middle class, commoners, racing boats, and boats for love affairs during festivals. In the spiritual world of river and sea societies, there are real boats and many virtual boats. Boats are symbolic of the spirit world (tomb houses, boat-shaped houses on the Highlands) in the ancient memories of many communities about their origins linked to the water world, rising from water. Boats also help people communicate with the world of water gods and also the boats that carry human souls from the shore of delusion to the shore of enlightenment and further to the Pure Land.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim affirmed that, from the perspective of cultural history, the presence of boats and water vehicles can be considered the most vivid symbol of the creative spirit of traditional culture. “Since ancient times, many human communities must have been familiar with the marine and river environment to have enough courage to cross rivers and go to the ocean. They also made transoceanic voyages. That is also the process of overcoming oneself to reach the horizons of freedom, peace and wisdom” – Professor Nguyen Van Kim emphasized.

Reporting at the conference, Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son - Dong A University presented an in-depth discussion on the shipbuilding industry and vessels in Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1883). The author emphasized that the image of the boat has been closely associated with the material and spiritual life of Vietnam for many generations and has become an important and attractive research topic, attracting the attention of many scholars in and outside Vietnam. The shipbuilding industry and the development of boats in Vietnam during the 17th - 19th centuries achieved significant achievements thanks to the preferential policies of the Nguyen Lords, the Tay Son Dynasty and the Nguyen Dynasty kings, especially the Gia Long and Minh Mang Kings. However, when Western countries with superior technology and the invention of more modern types of boats entered Vietnam through many different channels, the Nguyen Dynasty's shipbuilding industry stagnated and fell into decline.From historical evidence in the report titled “Boats and the seafaring tradition of the Hoang Sa - Bac Hai archipelago”, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Duc Cuong - Chairman of the Vietnam Historical Science Association emphasized that Vietnam not only has a dense river system and seas but also islands and island clusters. Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos are long-standing territories of Vietnam. Since ancient times, Vietnamese people have built boats of various sizes, very rich and sturdy and qualified as means of transportation, serving the needs of livelihood, trade and providing armed forces with means to fight against invading forces on rivers, lakes and seas.

Approaching from a military perspective, Dr. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Minh, Deputy Director of the Coast Guard Training and Professional Development Center, affirmed: The naval force plays a key role in the struggle to protect the Fatherland throughout history, especially in protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands. I hope that the Research Group will have more in-depth studies and expand the research time on the issue of training in shipbuilding techniques, especially ships in the modern history of Vietnam.