Professor Pham Hong Tung: Proud to have grown up within the Department of History

Professor Pham Hong Tung is one of the few scientists to receive the title of professor and leave a distinct mark on contemporary Vietnamese historiography at a young age. After graduating from the Faculty of History, Hanoi University (now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), he was fortunate to be recruited by the university as a lecturer. He was then sent by the university to study and conduct research for nearly 10 consecutive years in the Federal Republic of Germany – one of the countries with the most advanced education and basic science in Europe. He completed his master's program with honors.mit Auszeichnung) in 1997 at the University of Passau and the doctoral training program with excellent results (magna cum laude)He graduated from Humboldt University in 2002. Returning to Vietnam with a wealth of in-depth, interdisciplinary knowledge of Vietnamese history and culture, along with a foundation in modern scientific research methods and theories, he continued to receive guidance from respected professors and was given opportunities by the Faculty of History and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to quickly integrate into the field of education and scientific research, making many important contributions.

Professor, Doctor Pham Hong Tung/Photo: Thanh Long

In the field of education, Professor Pham Hong Tung has been and is currently teaching many subjects/topics at training institutions under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, such as the subject of Modern Vietnamese History.,Professor Pham Hong Tung teaches specialized courses on the history of the August 1945 Revolution in Vietnam, and on political thought trends in modern Vietnamese history for students majoring in Vietnamese history; Vietnamese political culture, and on the history of Vietnamese politics for undergraduate and postgraduate students majoring in Political Science; and specialized courses on the cultural space of the Red River Delta, theoretical and methodological issues in regional studies, and Vietnamese studies in Vietnam and around the world for students and researchers of the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science. In addition, Professor Pham Hong Tung also teaches in English and German to international students and researchers in international training programs such as the CIEE (Council of International Education Exchange) program, the EAP (Education Abroad Program), and collaborative programs with Princeton University and the University of Connecticut in the United States. In 2007, he was invited to be a visiting professor at the University of Freiburg (Germany), one of the most prestigious universities in Europe. He was also assigned by Hanoi National University to deliver several online lectures for the University of Tokyo (Japan) and Seoul National University, etc.; Professor Pham Hong Tung has been involved in supervising doctoral and master's students, compiling textbooks and lectures. He is known as a teacher with a deep and up-to-date professional knowledge base, a captivating teaching style, strict with himself and his students, but also youthful, humorous, and charismatic. Perhaps all of Professor Pham Hong Tung's students feel that he not only imparts knowledge, but more importantly, teaches them how to think, especially critical scientific thinking, instilling in them a passion and courage to explore the "thorny" issues of history.

Professor Pham Hong Tung is always proud to have studied and grown up in the Department of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities - one of the cradles of modern Vietnamese historiography, where he was fortunate to be loved and guided by many talented and virtuous teachers, and to receive wholehearted support from many colleagues and friends. Thanks to the guidance of his teachers and the Department of History, he has diligently pursued his ambitions related to fundamental research directions in modern and contemporary Vietnamese history, such as the history of patriotic and revolutionary movements of the people in modern Vietnam, the August Revolution of 1945, some issues concerning the political history and political culture of modern and contemporary Vietnam, the international elements and aspects of the decolonization movement in Vietnam, etc. These are fundamental and important contents of modern and contemporary Vietnamese history, and also the field where the most lively debates take place among researchers. In every area of ​​research, Professor Pham Hong Tung has made unique contributions, adding historical information, perspectives, approaches, and fresh and insightful interpretations.

He is the Director of the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi / Photo: Thanh Long

In his research practice, Professor Pham Hong Tung always emphasized adherence to the fundamental principles of historiography: rigorous critical analysis of historical sources, honesty, objectivity, comprehensiveness, and specificity. He often shared with colleagues and students the principle of ensuring a multi-dimensional approach to the interpretation of historical events, figures, and processes. For him, historiography itself is an interdisciplinary science, and therefore, he was very interested in coordinating and applying various methods and approaches from historiography and other specialized sciences such as sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, economics, philosophy, political science, regional studies, etc., in his research. He also highly valued cooperation and dialogue in historical research. He participated in many research groups both in Vietnam and abroad to complete interdisciplinary research programs on the history, culture, and society of Vietnam and the Southeast Asian and East Asian regions. With a truly open-minded and serious scientific spirit, Professor Pham Hong Tung participated in numerous workshops, conferences, and scientific forums both domestically and internationally, where he was always ready to share his opinions, perspectives, methods, contribute information and materials, and did not hesitate to engage in fierce debates with colleagues to further clarify academic doubts.

Besides teaching and research, in recent years Professor Pham Hong Tung has also been involved in management and leadership, primarily in managing scientific and technological activities at Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Therefore, his management activities remain closely linked to his professional work, allowing him to interact and work with a large number of scientists from various professional fields. Through this, he has had the opportunity to learn more, broaden his horizons, and expand his knowledge.

Despite achieving some outstanding accomplishments in the study of modern and contemporary Vietnamese history, Professor Pham Hong Tung shared that these are only initial results; that the work and goals he aspires to are still ahead. Hopefully, with his ambition, talent, and dedication, he will continue to make even greater contributions to the country's education and scientific research.