Talented Sinologist

In 1955, he was sent by the State to study History at Beijing University (China). After 6 years of studying hard in a foreign land, he returned to Vietnam and became a lecturer in World History at Hanoi University.

Associate Professor, People's Teacher Nguyen Van Hong/Photo: Thanh Long

As a specialist in history, Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong's main research direction isWorld History, specializing in Chinese history and culture. With a passion for science, sharp thinking, and extensive knowledge, his research works for many years have left deep impressions on many readers and many generations of students. In decades of research and teaching, with a deep understanding of Eastern culture and languages, especially China and Japan, Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong, although not having many books, has been reprinted many times and is a bedside book for students majoring in World History. His typical works are:Modern world history(Hanoi University, 1973),Modern Chinese History(Ho Chi Minh City University of Science, 1979),Modern world historyVolume 1 (University of Technology and Education Publishing House, 1986),Modern world historyVolume 3 (Professional University and College Publishing House, 1987),Vietnam - ASEAN(National Political Publishing House 1996),Meiji Education – Duy Tan (Japan)(Education Publishing House, 1996),Some issues on Asian-Vietnamese history: a perspective(Theoretical Information Publishing House, 2001),China's reform and opening up - lessons learned(The World Publishing House, 2003),Nguyen Truong To and the country's renewal(HCM Institute of Social Sciences 1993),August Revolution 1945 in Southeast Asia – challenges and changes(Journal of Historical Research No. 7,8 1990)…

Although not his forte, he still has a special passion for Vietnamese history. He often confided to his colleagues and students: “If you don’t know Vietnamese history but study world history, it’s like a tree without roots. If you only study Vietnamese history but separate it from the perspective and vision of the region and the world, you cannot have a comprehensive and profound view.” Thanks to that, his research works on issues of Asian and Vietnamese history, on cultural exchange, on Confucianism, and more narrowly, his research works on Vietnamese historical figures such as Ho Chi Minh, Phan Chau Trinh, Ton Trung Son, Nguyen Truong To, etc., are always profound and very impressive.

He was the first Head of the Department of Chinese Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies/Photo: Jackie Chan

Many generations of students of the Faculty of History and later Oriental Studies often tell each other: listening to Mr. Hong lecture is very "interesting" - that is when the broad perspective of a world history expert blends with the profound thinking of an Oriental culture researcher. "I like to use Literature to teach History" - he often shares this with his colleagues and students. Mr. Ly Gia Trung, former Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, who studied Vietnamese with Mr. Hong when he was an international student in China, recounted: "It seems that he wanted to arouse in me an interest in learning Vietnamese, so right from the first tutoring session, Mr. Hong read me some verses fromThe Tale of Kieu. Although I did not understand anything, I felt that Vietnamese was as beautiful and moving as French. Since then, decades have passed, comrade Nguyen Van Hong has always been my teacher and close friend."

Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong's tireless work ethic and seriousness in science are remembered by many students. Dr. Nguyen Tho Duc - Head of the Department of Chinese Studies - often compares his teacher to the image of a "silkworm spinning silk" in the poemAcephalousby Chinese poet Li Shangyin. He was deeply impressed and admired the philosophy of life of Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong: “The life of a scholar is like a silkworm in spring, having to work hard until death. Research and teaching must be like a silkworm spinning out shimmering golden threads for the world.”

Sometimes, comparing himself to a teacher - a Confucian scholar from Thanh Hoa: a little "crazy", a little "arrogant", a little "difficult", but Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong was also satisfied that his whole life had been lived honestly, loving life and respecting people. Not competing or rushing, he believed in fate. In addition to teaching and researching, a large part of his love and life was put into poetry. Poems about his homeland, country, poems dedicated to famous people, friends, comrades... or sometimes just fleeting emotions and thoughts. He wrote poems in Chinese characters, transcribed and translated poems himself. Filled with emotions and contemplation, his Chinese poems were born one after another, remaining in the collectionWild grass, surprising even the most critical critics. Poetry has also helped him make many friends and left a deep impression on them. Professor Van Trang at Beijing Foreign Studies University (China) had the opportunity to read the poetry collectionWild grasshas a dedication: "Wild GrassIn the South/Autumn and winter do not dry up/Thousand years still keep the tradition/Thousand miles of pink birds/Vietnamese and Chinese enjoy together/Mountains and rivers sing together/Why not hum?/Uncle Ho has students”.

Another colleague in the same history field as the teacher, Associate Professor Chuong Thau, also commented on Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong with respectful words: "The remaining representative of a period of indistinguishable Literature - History - Philosophy of the old General University is Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong". Many generations of students loved him, finding in him an interesting and skillful blend of the character of a profound Confucian scholar with the enthusiastic, extroverted personality of a modern scientific researcher.

Associate Professor Dr. Vu Van Quan (Head of the History Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) once shared his deep impressions about Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong: “Talking about Mr. Hong is talking about his erudition in knowledge and his profoundness in his personal interpretations..His fascinating lectures on the history of Japan, Indonesia and Southeast Asian countries… were unforgettable impressions on us students at that time.What is special about Mr. Hong's teaching style is "History teacher is very soulful". He also loves literature and poetry, and enjoys writing Chinese poems, and it is his love for poetry that makes his history teaching more interesting.

As a classmate, Professor Phan Huy Le has many memories attached to Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong during the time they worked together at the Faculty of History and the Faculty of Oriental Studies.My deepest impression of Mr. Hong is that he is a Sinologist.very talented. In addition to his profound research on Chinese history and culture, Mr. Hong also loved poetry and composed many poems in Chinese characters. To this day, he is still a leading expert on Chinese studies." - Professor Phan Huy Le shared.

From a human perspective, Professor Phan Huy Le said he most appreciated his peer's calmness and generosity towards those around him. Even when debating the most difficult professional issues, Professor Hong was always gentle and never raised his voice or used harsh words towards anyone.

From a management perspective, Associate Professor, People's Teacher Nguyen Van Hong made great contributions to the early development of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, especially the opening of the Chinese Studies major at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. In 1993, the Department of Chinese Studies under the Faculty of Oriental Studies was established and Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong became the first Head of the Department. With many years of teaching experience in the profession and extensive international relations, he was the one who contributed to laying the first foundations for the construction and development of the Department. From building the staff, the system of lectures, learning materials, laying the foundation for scientific research directions to the major development directions of the Department... all had the mark and efforts of Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong. From 2001-2007, he was appointed to hold the position of Director of the Center for Chinese Studies. From an initially young major, up to now, the Chinese Studies major has become a brand of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Until now, although he has been retired for a long time, Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong is still one of the teachers who opened the major and has a great academic influence on generations of young staff and students in the Department.

In 2014, on the occasion of the 80th birthdays of Associate Professor, People's Teacher Nguyen Van Hong and Associate Professor, Luong Ninh (the first Head of the Department of Indology), the Faculty of Oriental Studies organized a close meeting between many generations of staff and students to celebrate with the two teachers. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, many memories were shared, and the feelings of friends, colleagues and students were sent to Mr. Hong with all respect, admiration and love.

In response to the sharing and congratulations of colleagues and students, Associate Professor Nguyen Van Hong was moved to confide: “The teaching and research profession is hard, even bitter. But all positions will eventually pass away, only the title of teacher will never change. It is a noble profession.”!”. Committing himself to the research and teaching profession, experiencing all the sweetness and bitterness of the profession, he contemplated: the more he researched, the more he deeply realized that life and this world are so vast, there are so many unknown things and human understanding is limited. Therefore, he always kept in mind: “Always seek new things and never be satisfied, do not let compliments and applause dampen your efforts and struggles.”.That is the thought of the talented teacher to help him achieve many achievements in research and teaching.