The first National Conference on History was successfully held at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

The issue of history has received attention from a large number of scientists and administrators nationwide.
The conference was attended by representatives from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Central Propaganda Department, the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Commander of the Vietnam People's Navy, the National Border Committee - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Coast Guard Command, and others.
Representing the training and research institutions were leaders from the Vietnam National University, Hanoi; the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; the Hanoi Institute for Economic and Social Development Research; the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations; the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi; the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City; the University of Education - Da Nang University… along with many scientists, lecturers, and students.
The conference also attracted the participation of numerous news agencies and interested individuals. Independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity are sacred and essential for the survival of every nation and people. Throughout thousands of years of ups and downs in the process of building, preserving, and developing the country, the communities living in Vietnam today understand and cherish the value of independence, peace, national unity, and territorial integrity. In recent years, the regional and global situation has become increasingly complex, including territorial disputes, posing potential risks of conflict and instability. Therefore, actively researching and developing sound scientific arguments and proposing practical solutions is all the more important as a crucial measure to contribute to protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Recalling Professor Phan Huy Le, People's Teacher and Chairman of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, who launched a nationwide campaign to promote research on Vietnam's national sovereignty over its territory and maritime areas exactly 10 years ago (April 2014), Professor Hoang Anh Tuan stated that over the past 10 years, this topic has been the focus of research by historians nationwide and has achieved many outstanding results.
The First National Historical Conference was organized to summarize the achievements of 10 studies on national territorial sovereignty using a holistic and comprehensive approach to Vietnamese history, contributing to serving strategies for national construction and defense in the new context. In his introductory report to the Conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Duc Cuong - President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association - emphasized: Along with social science researchers nationwide, historians have consistently upheld their professional mission of contributing to the study and clarification of fundamental issues concerning Vietnamese history in all fields: economics, politics, culture, society, national defense, and security. From this, they have drawn valuable lessons and historical legacies that need to be inherited, contributing to the formulation of national development policies in the present and the construction of projects for the future.
The First National Historical Painting Conference serves as an academic exchange forum for researchers, scholars, and experts in the fields of history and other areas such as law, culture, defense, security, foreign affairs, and research findings from the past period. It facilitates the exchange of collected materials from within the country and from other countries, as well as discussions on approaches and in-depth analysis of arguments aimed at affirming and protecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. This is also an opportunity to strengthen connections and cooperation between research and teaching institutions in history and in the dissemination of information about Vietnam's national sovereignty and territorial integrity both domestically and internationally. A significant contribution to the study of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, following a holistic and comprehensive approach to Vietnamese history.
Concluding the thematic discussion session on the topic "Some General Issues Regarding Territorial Sovereignty and Land Borders," Associate Professor Dr. Tong Trung Tin - President of the Vietnam Archaeological Association - stated that the subcommittee had received 74 summary reports, 65 full reports, and 10 reports presented at the conference. The discussion covered a comprehensive range of issues related to territorial sovereignty and land borders, such as the origins and boundaries of early states (Van Lang, Au Lac) and the Funan state, issues concerning Vietnamese territory throughout various periods (Dai Ngu, Dai Viet, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, etc.), and territorial sovereignty in relation to international issues (East Asia, globalization, etc.).
At this thematic session, scientists put forward many recommendations, including suggesting that relevant agencies should organize one or more research topics on Vietnam's comprehensive territorial sovereignty; that there should be a research program on Vietnam-Cambodia sovereignty; and that they should actively contribute to promoting the protection of national border sovereignty. During the thematic discussion on the topic "The East Sea - a living space for communities residing in Vietnamese territory," Professor Nguyen Van Kim, former Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Vice Chairman of the National Heritage Council, highly appreciated the outstanding aspects of the presentations, which demonstrated interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary thinking, with the participation of many disciplines: history, archaeology, anthropology, ethnology, etc.
The subcommittee received 48 papers, covering prehistory, early history, and history from ancient to modern times; and studying three maritime regions: North, Central, and South Vietnam… The papers affirmed that the East Sea is a vital space for the survival of ethnic communities in Vietnam. The cultures deeply reflect the maritime element, vividly demonstrating the vitality of ethnic communities in Vietnam.
The discussions revealed that maritime traditions have been a crucial factor throughout the history of nation-building and national defense. Early communities had an awareness of the sea, exploited its resources, established and protected sovereignty over the sea, demonstrating the spirit and wisdom of the Vietnamese people.  Professor Nguyen Van Kim - Former Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vice Chairman of the National Heritage Council, summarized the second thematic discussion session.
The thematic discussion session on the topic "Vietnam's Sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagos" received 42 papers, focusing on issues such as: providing new documents on Truong Sa and Hoang Sa, including the legal basis for sovereignty, state policies, activities and methods of defending sovereignty over Truong Sa and Hoang Sa, and the history of defending sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. Concluding the discussion session, Associate Professor Dr. Do Bang - Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association - emphasized that the seven presentations provided new documents, increasing the legal basis for protecting maritime sovereignty; affirming Vietnam's continuous sovereignty over the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa islands.
Scientists recommend internationalizing research findings and incorporating some research content on maritime and island issues into the general education curriculum. They also suggest organizing regular workshops and conferences on maritime and island issues, as well as commemorating the 220th anniversary of King Gia Long's expedition to the Paracel Islands to establish sovereignty over them (in 2026). Summarizing the content of the First National Historical Conference, Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc – Former Head of the Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, shared that the First National Historical Conference received 164 papers, with 2 plenary and concluding sessions, and 3 subcommittees for thematic discussions. The conference was conducted scientifically and efficiently, summarizing research achievements over the past 10 years (2014-2024) and suggesting many research directions for the future.
The organizing committee has summarized 12 important points inSummary Report of the First National Conference on HistoryFollowing the conference, the authors continued to research, supplement, revise, and refine the full reports so that we could edit and publish the official proceedings with high professional quality.           The First National Historical Conference was organized to summarize the achievements of research on national territorial sovereignty using a holistic and comprehensive approach to Vietnamese history, contributing to serving strategies for national construction and defense in the new context.
The organization of the first National Historical Conference will establish a precedent for periodically rotating the conference with different themes at major historical training and research institutions across the country, meeting the requirements of science and social practice in Vietnam.

Related articles:
Summary Report of the First National Historical Conference: Research on National Sovereignty and Territory in the Orientation of a Holistic and Comprehensive Approach to Vietnamese History
Researching national and territorial sovereignty from a comprehensive historical perspective of Vietnam.