Vietnam's maritime cultural knowledge system: Heritage and value promotion

The Urgency of Comprehensive Marine Knowledge Research
With the theme "Vietnam's maritime cultural knowledge system: Heritage and value promotion", the conference attracted the participation and received 37 reports with high scientific content from prestigious scientists at universities and research institutes nationwide such as: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Vietnam Historical Science Association, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Hoi An Cultural Heritage Conservation Management Board, Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science (VNU); School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts (VNU); Hanoi National University of Education, Center for Training and Fostering of Coast Guard Professional Skills, Hanoi University of Culture, Dai Nam University, Ho Chi Minh City Central Pedagogical College, ...
As an East Asian country, bordering the West Pacific Ocean, Vietnam has a long coastline and a large sea space. Thousands of years ago, the sea was a living environment, a living space, a rich resource area and a gateway to Vietnam's economy and culture. Vietnamese coastal residents have early integrated a diverse and rich knowledge system about the sea.
The Vietnamese maritime knowledge system has been clearly demonstrated in ancient cultures, from Dong Son culture in the North, to Sa Huynh - Champa culture (Central region), Oc Eo - Phu Nam culture in the Mekong Delta. Throughout historical periods, coastal communities have created, inherited, and promoted marine knowledge resources to sustain life, develop socio-economics, culture, and expand relations and diplomacy.
However, up to now, research on the marine knowledge system is still quite modest and has not been systematized. On the other hand, many values ​​in the marine knowledge system of the nation have not been preserved and are increasingly being lost due to social and natural factors, so it is necessary to have comprehensive research on the marine knowledge system soon to propose solutions to preserve and promote values.

Emphasizing the significance of the conference, Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong - Vice President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, believes that the conference is not only an in-depth academic forum for scholars, experts, and researchers, but also distills valuable information, provides important arguments and interpretations, contributes advice, and serves the policy-making process of the Party, State, and related parties.

According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim - Vice Chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council, Head of the Asian Sea and Trade Research Group, with the presence of many leading experts, with a specialized approach combined with interdisciplinary, we will continue to clarify the distribution space, initially assess the reserves, characteristics and values ​​of the Vietnamese Marine Cultural Knowledge System; the advantages and challenges that have been and are being posed to the conservation of Marine Cultural Heritage, including the Marine Cultural Knowledge System, and the ability to mobilize and promote those resources for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. Highly appreciating the scientific values ​​of the conference, Prof. Dr. People's Teacher Vu Duong Ninh - former Vice Head of the History Department, Hanoi National University (1992-1995), former Head of the International Studies Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities affirmed that the conference has contributed to clarifying and enhancing the importance of the sea from many perspectives. Researchers with rich scientific knowledge have contributed to enhancing the vision of the role of the sea in the sustainable development of the country.
Marine cultural knowledge system from many scientific perspectives
The workshop was divided into 03 sessions in live and online formats, including (1) Vietnamese marine cultural knowledge system: general issues; (2) Vietnamese marine cultural knowledge: A complex system; (3) Vietnamese marine knowledge: Era and Characters.
Marine knowledge issues have been comprehensively discussed by scientists in the following areas: Perception of marine spaces, characteristics of natural conditions, monsoon regimes, ocean currents; knowledge of marine resources, fishing grounds, sea trade routes, economic activities, and marine livelihoods. In addition, there is knowledge of shipbuilding techniques, boats and seafaring means; knowledge of protecting sovereignty, maritime security, and marine economic resources; marine knowledge expressed in festivals, cultural activities, and spiritual lives of marine communities; knowledge of rescue and relief at sea and the ability to recognize and prevent unusual disasters of the sea and the natural world, etc. From the above studies, scientists have proposed recommendations and solutions to preserve and promote the value of the Vietnamese marine cultural knowledge system.
According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim, the research results show that in all 04 sea spaces and in the communities, there is still a reserve of unique marine cultural heritage. That is the knowledge system of strong people, rich in compassion and creative spirit. Sea residents, especially old fishermen, are always people who: "Know the sky - know the earth - know the river - know the sea". Those communities of residents and talented individuals are always conscious of preserving cultural gene sources and they are the ones who keep the rare and precious cultural genetic code of the nation. In his presentation on the topic “Going to sea under the stars: Indigenous knowledge of Vietnamese fishermen”, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thieu said that the local knowledge of fishermen is an endless treasure with intangible cultural values ​​that contribute to the cultural identity of each community. Presenting at the workshop, the speaker provided abundant information about indigenous knowledge groups such as: Indigenous knowledge group on spatial perception, knowledge group established according to time frames, knowledge group recognizing the habits of fishing objects; predicting natural disasters; adapting to nature, storm prevention of the Bo Lo people; community health care.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thieu affirmed that, in addition to its practical significance in daily life, folk knowledge has become a part of the identity of each specific community. Even when people are forced to relocate to resettle on the mainland and worse, they are forced to change their traditional occupations and have to distance themselves from the knowledge left by their ancestors, the social responsibility of organizations and individuals involved in cultural research and management also needs to have a strategy to research, collect, and document their rich local knowledge treasure to preserve that precious knowledge for future generations. Researching on the new resources and vitality in the homeland of Trang Trinh in the 16th century, Prof. Dr. People's Teacher Nguyen Quang Ngoc - Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association said that Trang Trinh's homeland in Trung Am commune, Vinh Bao district (paternal hometown) and Kien Thiet commune, Tien Lang district, Hai Phong city (maternal hometown) were the largest and most important gateways of Dai Viet nation in the 16th century, and also the place that promoted the outstanding development of talents and intelligence from the East.
Trang Trinh Nguyen Binh Khiem was a sage who was knowledgeable about the past and present, the most outstanding representative of Vietnamese intelligence during the Mac Dynasty, and also the one who left a deep mark in the historical and cultural process of Vietnam from the beginning of the 16th century until now. The most outstanding and comprehensive mark he left was that he was a genius strategist, overcoming all the complexities and dangers of a chaotic time with all his heart for the country and the people. Understanding the abundant energy source from the East Sea and the sea-oriented vision of the Mac Dynasty, he pondered the world day and night and summarized it into the survival principle of the Vietnamese nation and people: "The East Sea is thousands of miles wide open to protect/ The Vietnamese land will forever be stable and peaceful". If the East Sea can be kept, Vietnam will forever be stable, peaceful and prosperous. If the East Sea is lost, Vietnam will lose everything. Prof. Dr. People's Teacher. Nguyen Quang Ngoc emphasized that these are considered great contributions of the intelligence and wisdom of Trang Trinh to the country and people, not only in the 16th century, but also forever after. Analyzing Vietnamese marine folk knowledge from a cultural perspective, especially in culinary culture, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Lan Oanh mentioned the role of folk knowledge in techniques of exploiting, preserving, and processing seafood, and the close connection between cuisine and religious rituals and cultural practices. The speaker emphasized the regional cultural diversity in marine cuisine, compared it with other countries in the region, and pointed out challenges such as environmental pollution and loss of knowledge in the context of globalization.
Maritime folk knowledge, especially in culinary culture, is a clear demonstration of the interaction between humans and nature, and reflects the cultural depth of Vietnamese coastal communities. From the perspective of cultural studies, studying this knowledge not only helps to systematize maritime cultural values ​​but also opens up new approaches to cultural conservation and development, opening up opportunities for sustainable development of traditional cuisine in the current context. The workshop received many lively exchanges of opinions, rich in scientific and practical values ​​from many scientists of different generations, demonstrating the attraction, transmission and continuity in scientific research on the marine cultural knowledge system in Vietnam. Many presentations demonstrated specialized and interdisciplinary thinking, bringing new progress in research on scientific issues of current interest.
After the workshop, the Asia Maritime and Trade Research Group will provide policy advice to Party and State agencies on preserving marine cultural heritage as well as mobilizing and promoting these resources for the cause of national construction and defense.
The conference proceedings are expected to be published as a research work, attracting the attention of scientists and relevant agencies, affirming the prestige, academic level and depth of research of Vietnamese scientists in general and scientists of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU in this field.
Some images at the Workshop "Vietnam's Marine Cultural Knowledge System: Heritage and Promotion of Values" on December 19, 2024: Asian Maritime and Trade Research Group(Group of Maritime and Asian Commercial Studies, VNU) has a history since 1999 (then called Group of Asian Commercial Studies, VNU-USSH, established on the basis of some members of the Department of World History (now the Department of Global History), Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities. During the development process, the members of the Group have expanded. After nearly 25 years of development, the Group has achieved a number of achievements in the fields of research, training and international cooperation.
In 2015, the Asian History and Trade Relations Research Group was officially recognized as one of the 21 Strong Research Groups of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. With its achievements, the Group has affirmed its leading position in the field of research and combined research, training with publication of research results. In 2023, it was renamed the Asian Maritime and Trade Research Group and was continued to be recognized by Vietnam National University, Hanoi as a Strong Research Group of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
In recent decades, research on seas and islands, marine culture, economic exchange activities, marine environmental protection, etc. by domestic and foreign scientists has achieved important achievements. With the goal of promoting research activities on the sea, clarifying economic traditions, culture, maritime relations, etc., the Center for Seas and Islands (CSIS), the Asia Maritime and Trade Research Group, has identified a number of basic research directions, including focusing on studying the formation, operation and economic and social role of marine spaces and the system of Vietnamese commercial ports.
In cooperation with universities, professional agencies and localities, the Research Group has organized workshops on commercial ports in the Northeast; North Central; the commercial port system in the South Central and Southern regions. In 2023, the Group successfully organized a scientific workshop: "Types of boats and methods of using boats in Vietnamese history".
Along with organizing scientific seminars, many members of the Research Group have actively participated in professional activities at home and abroad, directly preparing consulting reports for central agencies and many localities. In 2024, the Research Group will continue to organize the Workshop on "Vietnam's Marine Cultural Knowledge System - Heritage and Value Promotion". According to the Organizing Committee, the workshop will continue to be a new step forward for the Research Group and the Center on the journey of research and academic growth; practically contributing to the cause of marine and island research; preserving and promoting marine cultural values ​​and successfully implementing the Vietnam Marine Strategy.
Contact information:
Center for Sea and Islands, University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Room 205 and 206, Building B, 336 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi

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