This major allows students to explore how Vietnamese identity has been shaped by both internal forces and external influences over time; helps students understand how geography, culture, power, and people have shaped the Vietnamese experience, and why the Vietnamese story is essential to understanding Southeast Asian and global history.
1. Excellent academic quality
As a leading historical research center in Vietnam, the Faculty of History is proud to have an excellent faculty, including leading experts in history in general and Vietnamese history in particular. The major of Vietnamese History was established in 1956 at the same time as the Faculty of History and Hanoi University of Science (now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU) with two departments of Ancient and Medieval Vietnamese History and Modern Vietnamese History. The major was opened by Professors and Scientists ofEnlightenment Generationsuch as Professor, People's Teacher, Labor Hero Tran Van Giau, Professor Dao Duy Anh, were developed into the leading national center for Vietnamese historical research and reached international level by the generation "Four pillars” Dinh Xuan Lam, Phan Huy Le, Ha Van Tan, Tran Quoc Vuong and the following generations until now. From here, the major of Vietnamese History of the University of General Sciences - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi has trained and contributed to the country many great scientists in the field, leaders of the Party and State, managers of the industry, central and city, of the National University as well as the University. Such as Prof. Dr. of Science, People's Teacher Vu Minh Giang - former Vice President of the National University, Hanoi, former Head of the Department of Ancient and Medieval Vietnamese History, currently Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, Chairman of the Science and Training Council of VNU; Prof. Dr. People's Teacher Nguyen Quang Ngoc - former Director of the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science (VNU), former Head of the History Department, currently Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association; Prof. Dr. People's Teacher Nguyen Van Khanh - former Secretary of the Party Committee, former Rector and Chairman of the Science and Training Council Created by: University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU)…
With nearly 70 years of development, the major has taught and guided hundreds of students nationwide, as well as many domestic and international graduate and doctoral students. Many major national research programs and projects, many state-level topics, many international scientific cooperation projects, and national and international scientific conferences have been implemented and completed. From here, many great scientific works have been born, winning Ho Chi Minh Awards (such as Professors Tran Van Giau, Dao Duy Anh, Phan Huy Le, Ha Van Tan, Tran Quoc Vuong), State Awards (such as Professors Dinh Xuan Lam, Phan Dai Doan), Hanoi National University Science and Technology Awards (such as Professor Ha Van Tan and Associate Professor Pham Thi Tam), City Awards including Bui Xuan Phai Award and Outstanding Capital Citizens (such as Professor Phan Huy Le, Associate Professor, Doctor of Merit Nguyen Thua Hy), along with National Book Awards, Pham Than Duat Awards, Dinh Xuan Lam History Awards, etc.
The "Four Pillars" Professors: Dinh Xuan Lam - Phan Huy Le - Ha Van Tan - Tran Quoc Vuong with Professor and Labor Hero Tran Van Giau and his wife. Photo: History Faculty Archives
Professors, Scientists, Lecturers, and Experts in Modern and Contemporary Vietnamese History. Photo: Faculty of History
The current teaching staff of the Vietnamese History major includes 07 permanent staff, including 02 Associate Professors, 04 PhDs and 01 Master who is a PhD student. These are all experienced scientists, professional managers, leading experts in the country in specific research fields of Vietnamese history, who have been contributing to science and education in the country with pioneering academic orientations, quality research achievements and great social contributions. In addition to the permanent staff, the major has an extensive network of veteran teachers, lecturers, and scholars in other majors in the Faculty, other majors in the School, schools, and research institutes inside and outside the National University, as well as domestically and internationally.
Teachers and students of QH-2021-X-LS (K66 History) at the graduation thesis defense ceremony, majoring in Vietnamese History, June 2, 2025. Photo: Department of Vietnamese History
2. Access to rich resources
Students benefit from the system of learning and research documents, rare document collections, specialized books and magazines of the Faculty Library, the Hanoi National University Library Information Center, the University's History and Culture Museum, the Nishimura Bookcases, and the High-Quality Bookcases.
Outside the classroom, students benefit from professional internships, field trips and collaboration with museums, research institutes and international research networks of the School, Faculty and Lecturers, scientists of the specialized field. From basic science support resources of the State budget to domestic and foreign networks of each Lecturer, all are dedicated to supporting students.
Lecturers and students of course QH-2015-X-LS (K60 History), majoring in Vietnamese History, interview historical witnesses on the topic of the Border War, Ha Giang, December 2017. Photo: Truong Thi Bich Hanh
3. Dynamic learning environmentIn addition to lectures, students also participate in seminars, field research, academic writing training and interdisciplinary dialogues. Every year, in addition to the Student Scientific Conference, as well as national and international scientific conferences held at the Faculty of History and the School, students enjoy the academic atmosphere by meeting and exchanging with domestic and international scholars. The Faculty of History is always the destination of domestic and foreign specialized and interdisciplinary experts, especially in the field of Vietnamese History.
Scientific Workshop “Research on Vietnam’s Highlands: History and Interdisciplinary Approaches”, December 30, 2020.Photo: Do Thi Thuy Lan
4. Core areas of research and teaching
- The formation of the state and monarchy (for example: Ly, Tran, Le, Nguyen, Champa, Phu Nam)
- Expanding territory and identity
- Economic history and urbanization
- Social history and rural social change
- Religion, belief systems and cultural change
- Colonialism, Resistance and Revolution
- War, Peace and Modern Nation Building
- History of the Highlands and its Ethnic Groups: From Zomia to the Northern Border and Central Highlands
- History of environment and space
5. Learning outcomes and skills
Graduates of the History training program, specializing in Vietnamese History, will:
- Deep understanding of Vietnam's historical development and cultural complexity.
- Develop skills in historical research, source analysis, critical thinking and academic writing.
- Prepare for careers in teaching, research, heritage and museum work, journalism, publishing, public service, or further study.
6. Career opportunities
A major in Vietnamese History opens up a variety of career paths, including:
- Academics and research: Universities, research institutes and think tanks
- About education: Teaching at secondary and university levels
- About cultural heritage: Museums, archives, cultural centers
- About media and publishing: Editing, journalism, historical documentaries
- On public policy and administration: Government agencies, historical consulting
- About tourism and interpretation: Cultural tourism, historical relic management
