Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim – the pioneer of new research directions on Asian Sea and Trade

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim was born in Thanh Hoa city, but in his memories and nostalgia, he always thinks about the coastal homeland of Thach Ha (Ha Tinh) and the land rich in cultural traditions: Dinh Ca, Noi Due (Bac Ninh). The influence of cultural traditions, the historical depth of Kinh Bac culture and the Lam and Ma rivers... have nurtured and forged the qualities of a person, a teacher, a scientist who is very emotional but extremely careful, serious, even strict in science.
As a student of the 26th course of History, majoring in World History, Hanoi National University, after graduating in 1985, Mr. Nguyen Van Kim was retained at the university to teach, research and work at Hanoi National University, then the University of Social Sciences and Humanities from 1986 to present.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim has held many important positions: Former Standing Member of the Party Committee of Hanoi National University, Party Secretary, Vice Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Currently, Professor is: Chairman of the Council of Social and Behavioral Sciences, VNU; Head of the Department of Global History, Faculty of History; Director of the Center for Seas and Islands, University of Social Sciences and Humanities; Vice Chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council; Deputy Secretary General, Head of the International Cooperation Department - Vietnam Historical Science Association, the person who plays the role of connecting international cooperation activities of the Vietnam Historical Science Association with the World Historical Association and domestic and international experts from 2010 to present.

Initiative to establish “Asian Trade Research” group

In the late 90s of the last century, when he was assigned to be in charge of the Department of World History, he realized that there needed to be fundamental changes in the direction of research and training to adapt and integrate with the general trend of the academic environment in the region and the world. With a country still facing many difficulties like Vietnam, with extremely limited human and material resources, as Deputy Head and then Head of the Department, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim boldly proposed a number of new directions and research areas and quickly built a research and training plan focused on all three levels: bachelor, master and doctorate. The main viewpoint stated and determined is: "Research on World History must start from the position of Vietnam, placed in the relationship and for the benefit of Vietnam".
With his knowledge and professional sensitivity, Mr. Nguyen Van Kim always thinks, explores and constantly encourages students, graduate students, and PhD students to choose and delve into issues that are still obscure and gaps in the awareness of domestic and international researchers and are of international interest. Recognizing the outstanding achievements that researchers have made in the study of the history of resistance against foreign invaders and the fields of rural - agricultural - peasants, he has advocated building a research group consisting of lecturers, young staff, students and determined to pursue a new research direction on the East Sea, especially the issue of trade relations and maritime diplomacy between Vietnam and Asian countries. That decision shows the vision and deep sensitivity of a teacher and a professional researcher.
In 1999, on the basis of some members of the Department of World History, Faculty of History,Asian Trade Research Group(Group of Asian Commerce Studies) was established by Dr. Nguyen Van Kim. After 15 years of development, in 2014, the research group was one of the first 14 "Strong Research Groups" to be honored to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. In 2015, the Group continued to be recognized as one of the 21 "Strong Research Groups" of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
The group regularly receives enthusiastic advice, assistance and effective support from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, many prestigious scientists from universities and major academic centers in the country and internationally. That research orientation is increasingly affirming its correctness when contributing to clarifying the typical characteristics of the history, culture and position of Vietnam as a coastal country. Vietnam has an early tradition of maritime culture, maritime thinking, and the capacity to exploit the sea, and ancient communities also soon reached out to conquer and master coastal seas, islands and even oceanic archipelagos such as Hoang Sa, Truong Sa...
Up to now, after nearly 25 years, the Asia Maritime and Trade Research Group under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim - Group Leader has achieved many important achievements in the fields of research, training support, international cooperation and in early 2023 continued to be recognized as a strong research group of Hanoi National University.

A passionate scientist, extremely careful and serious in his work.

1. Over the years, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim has chaired, directed, and participated in many scientific projects at the national, ministerial, and Hanoi National University levels, many international cooperation projects, and cooperation with provinces and cities of Vietnam.

Professor Nguyen Van Kim proposed and chaired the development of a national science and technology project: Comprehensive investigation and assessment of the characteristics of Vietnam's marine ecological civilization to serve the sustainable development of the marine economy, environmental protection, natural disaster prevention, and climate change response (Project under the Key Program: Basic investigation of marine and island resources and environment by 2030) with implementation period of 2022-2025; Chief and Co-editor of the national science and technology project: Southern Vietnam from the 7th to the 16th century under the project "The process of formation and development of the Southern region"; History of Vietnam, Volume 3 (179-905) (KHXH-LSVN.03/14-18); National Geographic of Vietnam, Outline Volume, Volume 4: Sea and Islands (National Special Project)...
The professor is also the head of scientific topics at the Ministry and National University levels: Vietnam - Japan trade relations in the 16th - 17th centuries; The formation and development of ancient Southeast Asian countries and regional relations; Van Don - Vietnam's international trading port; The impact of cultural acculturation on development in Vietnam today; History of the Vietnamese Government (1945-2015), Volume 4 (In charge of the field of Ethnicity and Religion); Compiling the Vietnamese Encyclopedia, Volume 28 (participating in compiling the sections: Politics, Diplomacy, Organization)...
In addition, the Professor is also the Head of international science and technology cooperation projects: Vietnam - Japan: Traditional trading relations (Sumitomo Foundation); “Ensnared in War: The Koreans and Vietnamese in World War II” (in cooperation with the Korean Academic Research Foundation); “Bridging the Isolated Gulf: A Study of the Japanese-Spanish Alliance to Establish the Tonkin - Manila Trade Route in the Middle of the Seventeenth Century” (International project funded by the Sumitomo Foundation, Japan).
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim is also the editor, co-editor and author of many valuable policy consulting works applied to Party Committees, State agencies and People's Committees of provinces and cities:
- The monograph Van Don - Vietnam's international commercial port (Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2014, 2016, Outstanding Science and Technology Work Award of Hanoi National University in 2014, Good Book Award of Vietnam Publishing Association in 2015) by the Team Leader is a typical S&T product. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee also issued Document No. 7103/UBND-VX dated December 12, 2014 to Hanoi National University, University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the author to acknowledge the value and contribution of the work. Recently, the work has been proposed as a scientific basis for building a dossier to propose ranking the Van Don Commercial Port Historical Relic Complex as a Special National Monument.
- The work Vietnam - Potential and position (Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2021) has recently been proposed by the Ministry of Information and Communications to be digitized for widespread dissemination in society, in order to improve understanding of the potential and position of regions and localities, contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of regions and localities in the process of international economic integration.
- Some other works such as: Vietnamese with the sea (Cb, World Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011); Vietnam - Tradition of maritime economy and culture (Cb, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015), Cultural adaptation and integration in Vietnam (Cb, National University Publishing House, Hanoi, 2016), Sea with the continent - Role and network of exchange in the Central River basins (Cb, National University Publishing House, Hanoi, 2018), Legend of a land - Cultural space of the Central Highlands through the Ede epic (Social Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021) have been nominated, received awards as well as made important contributions in consulting and solving socio-economic issues for the Party, State and localities.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim is also the Head of a component topic in the Project "Southern Land - Formation and Development Process" chaired by Prof. Dr. Phan Huy Le. The results of the Project were published in books. In 2018 and 2020, he was awarded the Tran Van Giau Award (Decision No. 06-20/GT, dated August 18, 2020 of the Tran Van Giau Award Committee). In 2019, the National Book Award Council awarded the A Prize to the book series "Southern Land - Formation and Development Process"; the Good Book Award of the Vietnam Publishing Association; The work: "Van Don - Vietnam's International Commercial Port" also received the Outstanding Science and Technology Work Award of VNU, Hanoi. The work Legend of a Land - Cultural Space of the Central Highlands through the Ede Epic (Social Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021) was awarded the 2022 National Book Award,...

Over the years, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim has published many scientific works (in English and international languages) on the history of diplomatic relations, maritime trade, marine ecological civilization, sustainable development of the marine economy... out of a total of over 300 published works. Many books and monographs have been published in prestigious domestic and international specialized scientific journals.

1. Vietnamese Dictionary (Prof. Dr. Sakurai Yumio - Prof. Dr. Momoki Shiro Cb., Japanese). Dohosha Publishing House, Tokyo, 1999.
2. Japan - Vietnam historical exchange in modern times: Japanese streets and ceramic exchange (Prof. Dr. Sakurai Kiyohiko - Prof. Dr. Kikuchi Seiichi, Editors, in Japanese). Dohosa Publishing House, Tokyo, 2002.
3. “Ho Dynasty Citadel and the Ho Dynasty Era in Vietnamese History”, in Research on Ho Dynasty Citadel in Vietnam, (Prof. Dr. Osawa Masumi - Prof. Dr. Kikuchi Seiichi, Cb., in Japanese); Volume 1, published by Showa University, Tokyo, Japan, 2005.
4. “Foreign Trade in Tonkin and Regional Relations during XVIIth-XVIIIth Centuries”. The Journal of Historical Studies, Vol.1, Number 1, 2006.
5. Lion and Dragon: Four centuries of Dutch - Vietnamese Relations (Co-author). Amsterdam: Boom (in Dutch, English,... ), 2007.
6. “Vietnam in the XXth Century: From Confrontation to Cooperation - An Approach from A Cultural Historical View”, Southeast Asian Studies, Institute for Southeast Asian Studies, 2007.
7. “Some general features of coinage and currency use in Vietnamese history”; (co-authored by Prof. Dr. Kikuchi Seiichi - Prof. Dr. Sakuraki Shinichi, Cb.), (in Japanese), Showa Women's University, Tokyo, Vol.12, 2008.
8. “Vietnam - Motives and Process of National Unification”, The International Conference Proceedings Political Unification and History Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, 2008, pp.221-240. Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences - Institute for Southeast Asian Studies: Vietnam - Motives and Process of National Unification, Southeast Asian Studies, 2008.
9. “Formation of the “Oceanic Network” in East Asia before the Opening of Ports and Subsequent Developments: Focusing on Hoi An”, (Special article), The Journal of Korean Studies, Inha University, May 2009.
10. “Vietnamese Society in XVIth-XVIIIth Centuries and Ceramic Exchanges between Vietnam and Japan”, Proceedings of The First KASEAS-CSEAS Joint International Symposium: Interdependency of Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia - The Migration, Investment and Cultural Flow, Korea, 2009.
11. East Asia - The Third Eye on Port Opening (Co-Author). Inha University Press, Korea, 2010.
12. “A Study on the Development Precesses of East Asian Countries Shown by Civilizations and Empires”, in Asian Comparative Folklore, Asian Comparative Folklore Society, Seoul, Korea, No.46, 2011.
13. Les apports des sciences humaines et sociales - Au développement socio -esconomique, Textes resunis sous la direction de Agnès Florin - Sylvie Guionnet et Trinh Van Tung, Imprimerie Centrale & Service PAO, Université de Nantes, Juin 2012.
14. Capital de connaissances et desveloppement socio-esconomique; Les apports des sciences humaines et sociales au desveloppement socio-économique, Imprimerie Centrale & Service PAO, Université de Nantes, Juin 2012.
15. “Commercial Economy of Vietnam under Le - Trinh Era from the Perspective of some Western Historical Documents” (Co-author, Asso.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Dung). Vietnam Social Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Bimonthly Review, No. 3 (149), 2012.
16. Research on the History of Modern Korean-Asian Civilization Exchange (Dong Cb., Korean), Sungkyunkwan University, Imagine Publishing House, Seoul, Korea, 2013.
17. “Tradition and Trade Activities of Vietnamese - Historical Fact and Understandings”, (Co-author, Asso.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Dung). The World of The Orient, Ukraine, No.4-2013.
18. “Vietnamese Society in XIIIth-XVth and Ceramic Trade in East Asia”. International Proceedings “Distribution of Vietnamese Ceramics in Asian Maritime Trade, XIVth-XVth Centuries: Vietnam, Ryukyu and Majapahit” (in Japanese), Showa Women's University, Tokyo, Japan, Vol.21, 2014.
19. Research on the Red Seal Ship Trade Picture (Prof. Dr. Kikuchi Seiichi Cb., in Japanese), Shibunkaku Publishing House, Tokyo, 2014.
20. “Vietnam - Japan Relations: A View from the Sea Space”. Vietnam Social Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Bimonthly Review, No. 3 (161), 2014.
21. “Status of Archives and Research on Vietnam - Japan Relationship during World War II”, in: Indochina, Thailand, Japan and France during World War II - Overview of Existing Literature and Related Documents for the Future Development of Research (Co-Author, Dr. Vo Minh Vu), Edited by Masaya Shiraishi, Waseda University Institute of Asia-Pacific (WIAPS), March, 2015.
22. “Vietnamese Society in the XIIIth - XVth Centuries and Porcelain Trade Exchange in East Asia”. Vietnam Social Sciences, No. 1(165), 2015, p.42-52.
23. “Some Thoughts on Asian Cultural Values ​​and the Role of Universities in Buiding a Cultural Environment and Regional Research Cooperation”. Vietnam Review of Northeast Asian Studies, No. 6, 2015.
24. “Mongol - Yuan invations and trasformationon of Dai Viet's society and history”. The Journal of Historical Studies, Vol. 4, No. 4, 2016.
25. Early Modern Southeast Asia, 1350-1800 (Ooi Keat Gin and Hoang Anh Tuan, Ed.), Routledge Press, London and New York, 2016.
26. “Vietnamese trade of the fifteenth century Le government recovering through ancient records”, East Asian Studies, The Journal of Institute for East Asian Studies, Sogang University, Vol.25, No.2, 2016.
27. “A Perspective from the Historical and Political Context of East Asia (1939-1945)”, in: Vietnam - Indochina - Japan Relations during the Second World War: Documents and Interpretations, Waseda University Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies (WIAPS), Tokyo, February, 2017.
28. “Dai Co Viet State in East Asian Hisorical and Political Context during the Tenth Century”, Vietnam Social Sciences, No.1 (189), 2019.
29. “Port System in the Central Vietnam in Champa Era: A View from the Viet - Cham Relation”, Journal of Global and Area Studies, Pukyong National University, Korea, Vol.3(1), 2019.
30. “Humans and humanitarian values ​​in Ho Chi Minh's Testament”, in Evgeny Kobelev - Pham Quoc Thanh (Compiler and Editors): Ho Chi Minh's Heritage in Vietnam and Abroad, Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University – VNU - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Moscow University Press, 2020.
31. “Cham Islands in Champa Maritime Space from XIth to XVth century, Journal of Vietnam Social Sciences, No.01, 2020.
32. “Strategic Position of Co To Island in Northeast Sea of ​​Vietnam”, Vietnam Social Sciences, No.2 (208), 2022.
33. “Indian Merchants in Ancient Southeast Asia: The Case of Oc Eo – Funan”, Journal of Global and Area Studies, Korea, Vol.6, No.1, 2022.

1. Japan's closed-door policy during the Tokugawa period - Causes and consequences. The Gioi Publishing House, H., 2000.
2. Japan's relations with Southeast Asia in the 15th and 17th centuries. Publishing House of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, H., 2003.
3. Japan and Asia - Historical relations and socio-economic changes. Publishing House of Hanoi National University, H., 2003.
4. Vietnam in the East Asian World - An Interdisciplinary and Area Studies Approach. National Political Publishing House, H., 2011.
5. Van Don - Vietnam's international commercial port, Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2014, 2016.
6. Vietnam's sea and maritime trade, Publishing House of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 1/2019, 6/2019.
7. Vietnam in regional and international relations, Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2019.
8. Legend of a land - Cultural space of the Central Highlands through the Ede epic, Social Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021.
9. Vietnam - Potential and position, Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2021.

10. Some topics on world history, Volume 2, (Prof. Vu Duong Ninh - Nguyen Van Kim, Cb.), Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2007, 2008.
11. Vietnamese with the sea (Cb.). The Gioi Publishing House, H., 2011.
12. Youn Dae Yeong - Nguyen Van Kim - Nguyen Manh Dung: History of Vietnam - Korea relations (1862-1945), Labor Publishing House, Hanoi, 2014.
13. Vietnam - Traditional maritime economy and culture (Nguyen Van Kim - Nguyen Manh Dung, Cb.), National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015.
14. Some topics on world history, Volume 3 (Prof. Vu Duong Ninh - Nguyen Van Kim, Cb.), Publishing House of Hanoi National University, H., 2015.
15. Cultural adaptation and integration in Vietnam (Cb.), Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2016.
16. The Southern Region - From the 7th to the 16th century (Cb.), Volume 3 (10 volumes), National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2017.
17. History and culture: Multidimensional, interdisciplinary approach (Nguyen Van Kim - Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Tung), Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2017.
18. Sea and continent - Role and exchange network in the Central river basins (Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc - Nguyen Van Kim, Editors), Publishing House of Hanoi National University, H., 2018.
19. Meiji Restoration in Japan - 150 years in retrospect, (Prof. Dr. Tran Van Tho - Nguyen Van Kim - Nguyen Anh Thu, Editors), Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2020.
20. History of traditional culture of Cam Khe district (Nguyen Van Kim - Dr. Dinh Tien Hieu, Editor), Social Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 2020.

21. Japan today (general translation). Publishing House of Theoretical Information, H., 1991.
22. South Pacific countries (Prof. Vu Duong Ninh, Cb.). Truth Publishing House, Hanoi, 1992.
23. Studying experiences in organizing rural management in some East Asia - Southeast Asia regions (Prof. Phan Dai Doan - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tri Dinh, Editors). National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 1995.
24. Some topics on world history, Volume 1 (Prof. Vu Duong Ninh, Cb.). Publishing House. Hanoi National University, H., 2001, 2002, 2008.
25. East Asia - Southeast Asia: Historical and current issues. World Publishing House, 2004.
26. Faculty of History - Half a century of construction and development. World Publishing House, H., 2006.
27. History of Japan (Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Editor). World Publishing House, H., 2006, 2012.
28. Reform movements in some East Asian countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Prof. Vu Duong Ninh, Cb.). Publishing House of Hanoi National University, H., 2006.
29. Vietnamese Village - Pluralism and Concentration, Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2006.
30. Hanoi National University - A century of development and growth, Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2006.
31. Southeast Asia - Tradition and Integration (Prof. Vu Duong Ninh, Cb.). World Publishing House, H., 2007.
32. Vietnam in the Asian trade system in the 16th-17th centuries. World Publishing House, H., 2007.
33. Southern Social Sciences (Prof. Dr. Bui The Cuong, Editor), Southern Institute of Social Sciences. Social Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 2007.
34. Sustainable development of the capital Hanoi, civilized, heroic, for peace, Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2010.
35. Thang Long - Hanoi Education: Process, historical experience and development orientation (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hai Ke, Editor). Hanoi Publishing House, H., 2010.
36. Foreign affairs activities in Thang Long - Hanoi (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Xuan Hang, Editor), Hanoi Publishing House, H., 2010.
37. Lord Trinh Cuong - Life and career, Culture - Information Publishing House, Hanoi, 2010.
38. Ly Dynasty (1009-1226) (Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Editor). Hanoi Publishing House, H., 2010.
39. Ho Chi Minh City towards 1,000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House, 2010.
40. Historical - Cultural Relics of Van Don Commercial Port, Social Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 2010.
41. Some issues of historical and social progress (Professor Phan Huy Le, Editor), Project "The process of formation and development of the Southern region", World Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011.
42. History of Southeast Asia, Volume 4, (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Khanh, Editor), Social Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 2012.
43. Japan in the Asian era, World Publishing House, H., 2014.
44. Mac Dynasty and the cause of national modernization (Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Editor), National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015.
45. Vietnam's seas and islands: History, sovereignty, economy, culture, Culture - Literature Publishing House, Ho Chi Minh City, H., 2016.
46. ​​Southern Region - Formation and Development Process (Prof. Phan Huy Le, Cb.), Volume 1, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2016.
47. Vietnam in a changing world (Prof. Vu Duong Ninh, Editor), Hanoi National University Publishing House, H., 2017.
48. Vietnam's marine archaeology (Prof. Dr. Lam Thi My Dung - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hong Son, Editor-in-Chief), Hanoi National University Publishing House, Hanoi, 2017.
49. The development of Vietnamese studies in some countries in the 20th century (Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang, Editor), Hanoi National University Publishing House, 2018.
50. The resistance war against the French-Spanish coalition in Da Nang (1858-1860), Da Nang Publishing House, 2019.
51. Central Vietnam Cultural Studies, Hue University Publishing House, 2019.
52. Central coastal culture in contemporary society, World Publishing House, H., 2019.
53. Central Vietnam Cultural Studies, Hue University Publishing House, 2021.
 

With extensive experience, many years of research achievements and high scientific reputation, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim is invited by universities, research institutes, agencies and organizations at home and abroad to attend and write articles for many national and international conferences as a leading expert.      

3. An exemplary teacher, full of love for his students

Passionate and devoted to science, Professor, Doctor, and Meritorious Student Nguyen Van Kim is also appreciated by many generations of students as a teacher who is devoted to the cause of educating people. He always has the most loving feelings for his students. Many students were "discovered" by him when they were in their first or second year, and under his guidance and mentorship, they have gradually grown up, become lecturers at universities, researchers at institutes, scientific and management agencies nationwide, leading experts in many fields, actively contributing to the cause of education, scientific research, building and defending the country.
During his career of cultivating people, he has trained and directly guided: 15 PhDs; 35 Masters and many PhD students and Masters who are preparing to defend.
During his 35-year career, there were times when he was extremely busy with management work, but Professor, Dr., Meritorious Artist Nguyen Van Kim always took the time to research and analyze sources of documents, complete articles, works, and research topics. He always believed that only research could lead to good and in-depth lectures. And only in-depth research could "pass on the fire", enthusiasm, and scientific thinking to generations of students.
With his tenacious work, creative ability, serious working spirit and high responsibility, he not only regularly publishes scientific works, but also actively participates in teaching and guiding graduate and doctoral students. For scientist and teacher Nguyen Van Kim, his love for teaching, scientific research, passion for creativity and high sense of responsibility in training and fostering staff remain intact as when he first started his career.