VNU-USSH scientists and their academic contributions at the International Conference "Vietnamese Anthropology: A Global Approach"

Within the framework of the conference, delegates participated in 9 thematic discussion sessions with 34 presentations, focusing on various fields of contemporary anthropology such as: knowledge construction, ecology and environment, cultural contact, economic transition, identity and human life, rituals and cultural heritage, global life and international migration.

Bringing together 121 official delegates, experts, and scientists from numerous domestic and international training and research institutions, with 34 presentations, 6 exhibition posters, and over 80 instances of discussion and debate, the workshop created a multi-faceted academic forum, contributing to the identification of new issues in Vietnamese anthropology in the context of globalization.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Truong Giang – Head of the Department of Anthropology and Religious Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, chaired two discussion sessions of the conference.

The participation of scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, further affirms the university's role in training, research, and academic networking in Anthropology, Religious Studies, and interdisciplinary social sciences. In particular, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Truong Giang – Head of the Department of Anthropology and Religious Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi – chaired the discussion session, contributing to guiding academic exchange and connecting theoretical approaches and contemporary research practices.

The presentations by speakers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, clearly showed the presence of new research topics, rich in reflection and connected to current social issues, such as the topic "Practicing Beyond Boundaries: A Common Reflection on 'Doing' Interdisciplinary Qualitative Research" by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, and "Bong Sisters and the Rejection of Erasure: Transgender Female Artists in Vietnamese Lottery Troupes" by speaker Duong Tran.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong presented a paper titled "Practicing Beyond Boundaries: A Common Reflection on 'Doing' Interdisciplinary Qualitative Research".

Through 9 minutesThrough discussions and workshops, five pivotal professional messages were formulated:

+ Innovation in methodological research approaches, including the co-participation of research subjects in knowledge construction in anthropology concerning/in Vietnam.

Anthropologists need to increase investment in community experiences and learn local languages ​​to conduct more in-depth research on ethnic communities in Vietnam and other parts of the world.

+ From a theoretical standpoint, Western concepts need to be re-examined and/or replaced with concepts and perspectives from the community in order to generalize in a way that best suits research practice.

+ The problem of translating and interpreting cultural practices into other languages, especially into Vietnamese as an intermediary, will encounter insurmountable difficulties and limitations, requiring researchers to continue the tradition of anthropological research, which is to study the language of the community so as "not to feel alone," as Condominas said.

+ In terms of the practical significance of anthropological research, it is necessary to consider the contribution that the research brings to the community being studied. The purpose of the research, who it is for, and the ethics of research as well as the reflective nature of the research process should be emphasized.

According to the Organizing Committee, the conference is not only a place to summarize existing research directions, but also to open up new connections between domestic and international scientists. Since the first International Anthropology Conference in 2007, the field of Anthropology in Vietnam has undergone significant changes. The Organizing Committee hopes that this academic forum will continue to be held every five years, and that selected papers will be published in both Vietnamese and English, contributing to the dissemination of Vietnamese anthropological knowledge in the regional and global academic space.

Related articles:

University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City: Concluding the International Conference "Vietnamese Anthropology: A Global Approach": Shaping New Thoughts on Humanity and the Times