The Storytellers: Nearly half a century of "passing on the torch" by Vietnam's only female archaeology professor.

Having dedicated nearly half a century to archaeology, she tirelessly worked on excavations and research projects on Vietnamese history and culture…

She also inspired generations of students and was a pioneer in bringing heritage beyond the pages of books to the wider community.

From a Vietnamese student in Bulgaria to a leading female archaeology professor in Vietnam, her journey is a story of passion, perseverance, and a deep love for her nation's history.

“I often think that the profession chooses the person, rather than the person choosing the profession. I came to archaeology by chance. In 1979, after passing the university entrance exam, I was sent to study history abroad. At the end of the first semester of my first year, I registered to major in archaeology, even though I had no prior knowledge of the field. At that time, the name of the field of archaeology evoked many fascinating things, and I had a feeling that it suited my personality. Archaeology would give me wings to travel to different lands and discover new things. I have been dedicated to and pursued a career in archaeology ever since… From that initial chance encounter when I chose the field, archaeology gradually became my passion without me even realizing it.”
When I'm passionately engaged in archaeological exploration, even a small discovery brings me endless joy. We archaeologists liken field trips to "free" vacations, where scientists exchange sweat and the relentless pursuit of research. Often, we sweat profusely without knowing whether we'll achieve any results… We just keep going, relentlessly…”

Professor Dr. Lam Thi My Dung and her passion for Vietnamese archaeology, history, and culture.

Vietnam Women's Newspaper: The Storytellers: Nearly half a century of "passing on the torch" by Vietnam's only female archaeology professor.