There is an urgent need for a specialized field of study dedicated to Hanoi!

The international conference "Sustainable Development of Hanoi, a Capital City of Culture and Peace" will open this afternoon, October 7, 2010. This is an interdisciplinary scientific forum for domestic and international scientists to present and discuss the latest results from comprehensive research on Hanoi. On this occasion, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hai Ke, Head of the History Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, shared his thoughts on the future development of Hanoi studies. - Professor Nguyen Hai Ke, when did the concept of Hanoi Studies originate and how should it be understood?- Hanoi Studies is a term we commonly use informally. However, if it's considered the name of a scientific discipline dedicated to Hanoi, then like any other discipline, the very word "Hanoi" defines a specific area for research. Hanoi Studies examines all economic, geographical, geological, natural environmental, climatic, and weather factors, as well as social and historical issues, that have shaped, are shaping, and will shape all aspects of Hanoi's economic, political, and cultural life. These potential, visible or invisible, factors determine the formation and development, and the form of activity, of the Hanoi area as the administrative center of the country for not just one century, but many centuries – the capital of Dai Viet, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and now the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Historically, the administrative boundaries of Hanoi have fluctuated under specific circumstances. For example, in the 1830s, it expanded southward to Phu Ly, encompassing the entire present-day Ha Nam province. In 1978 and 1979, the capital expanded to include Me Linh, most of Son Tay, Thanh Tri, Gia Lam, Tu Liem, and Soc Son, but later Hanoi narrowed down to a few inner-city districts and some Dong Anh districts. On August 1, 2008, it expanded again to encompass the entire former Ha Tay province and extended to a district of Vinh Phuc province and a few communes of Hoa Binh, still under the name Hanoi. However, the core, the early and enduring foundation of Hanoi, must be said to be the natural and social foundation of the land along the To Lich and Red Rivers, on which a political and administrative center, the nerve center of the nation, was formed and affirmed.- So, Professor, how would you assess the achievements of research on Hanoi to date?Unlike other regions, this area is the political center, administrative hub, and cultural center of Vietnam. Therefore, from a certain perspective, the study of Hanoi as a constituent element of Hanoi studies has existed since very early times. All sciences, such as history, culture, and geology, in one way or another, generally consider the Hanoi area as a distinct element, even though there has never been an official scientific discipline called Hanoi studies in history. For example, as early as 1430-1434, Nguyen Trai wrote a section on the capital in his "Geography of Vietnam," discussing the rivers and topography of the capital city, which already contained the rudimentary elements of Hanoi studies. In 1960, after the liberation of the capital, Hanoi published the "History of Hanoi." These laid the foundation for building a perspective on Hanoi. In 1985, researcher Nguyen Vinh Phuc – a dedicated scholar deeply involved in studying Hanoi – was affectionately called a "Hanoi scholar" by Professor Tran Quoc Vuong and many other professors. From then on, the term "Hanoi studies" became more familiar and widely used. In the program leading up to the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long, the Hanoi Department of Culture, the Hanoi Department of Culture, and the Hanoi Department of Education designed a Hanoi studies curriculum and compiled a comprehensive history and geography textbook for secondary schools. The general knowledge compiled by the authors, who were Hanoi geography, history, and literature teachers, dates back to the early 1980s. At Hanoi Pedagogical University, I read and contributed to the draft textbook on Hanoi studies more than a year ago. Therefore, in reality, the geography and natural features of ancient Hanoi and Thang Long are the areas with the most research works. Hanoi itself is the subject of study for all disciplines, most strongly in the social sciences and humanities such as history, customs, traditions, literature, and culture. However, integrating these studies into a single academic discipline has yet to be achieved. But clearly, this is a ripe time to consider Hanoi as an academic discipline, with its many clear achievements.So, in the future, should Hanoi Studies be, and could be, a separate scientific discipline?- To establish a distinct field of study or research, we must base it on at least two factors: Firstly, the practical needs of socio-economic life today and tomorrow. Secondly, the team of scientists. These two factors, combined, create the fundamental conditions for the formation of a field of study. Regarding the team of scientists, we are confident that over the past half-century we have benefited from the achievements of pre-revolutionary researchers and foreign researchers from Japan, France, South Korea, and the United States who studied Hanoi. The Department of History's comprehensive collection of Hanoi studies comprises 5700 entries. Our comprehensive collection of research in the field of Hanoi's culture is even more impressive, with 3000 entries specifically on Hanoi's geography. Perhaps, in terms of localities, Hanoi is at the top; no other region or province in Vietnam, as a geographical area, has received as much attention and research in the past and present as Hanoi. If you ask whether this field of study is necessary, I, as a scientist, would say it is absolutely essential. Hanoi Studies is an interdisciplinary science that will help draw on experience, summarize practical knowledge, determine development directions, and contribute very positively and effectively to the development of the capital city. Clearly, the achievements in research on Hanoi themselves create an urgent need for a Hanoi Studies program to directly serve the sustainable development planning of the capital in the context of industrialization and modernization. However, the problem is that Hanoi Studies can only be effective when its research truly serves the policy decisions of the central government and the capital city. Do managers truly recognize this and apply these studies to their management policies? Only then should we establish a Hanoi Studies program.So, what difficulties and obstacles remain in developing Hanoi Studies into a specialized scientific discipline?As I told you, once a scientific field is established, its graduates must be put to use. Otherwise, it's an irresponsible decision towards those who have been trained.- But if we need a prediction for the formal formation of a fundamental science called Hanoi Studies, Professor?- Any incomplete understanding of management is only temporary, while the natural flow of science will inevitably penetrate the voluntaristic thinking of human beings. Because nothing can hinder science, nothing can hinder objective laws. For example, people once established high-level agricultural cooperatives, but ultimately had to revert to land allocation to the people, and this came at a very long and costly price. Or the development plan for Hanoi has had so many problems and inconsistencies, completed and then dismantled, filled in and then dug up again… This is because management does not go hand in hand with science. The difference between managers and scientists lies in the fact that managers easily lean towards voluntarism, unification, and simplification through administrative orders, while science is incredibly rich, multifaceted, and demands absolute creativity and freedom, transcending all boundaries of human will. Currently, scientists only research Hanoi when commissioned. The fact that the History Department, not other units, received these orders is because we had made prior preparations in terms of awareness and resources to seize these opportunities. This shows that science is also about foresight and a long-term investment.- Professor, how do you assess the significance of the international conference "Sustainable Development of Hanoi, a Capital City of Culture and Peace" for the development of Hanoi studies in particular and the development of the Capital City in general?- This is perhaps the largest conference and forum ever held, bringing together researchers related to Hanoi studies from both within Vietnam and internationally. This holds special significance, especially since it was organized by the Vietnam National University, Hanoi – a major multidisciplinary university in the country. It must be said that the reason our conference attracted so many researchers is because we already had the "resources," so this was an opportunity to summarize achievements and celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the capital city. But more importantly, this event demonstrated the significant impact and influence of science in general on the development of Hanoi. Society, and especially administrators, are increasingly recognizing the role of science in Hanoi's future development. The question is, what are the responsibilities of administrators after this conference? What is the ultimate understanding of the managers, and are they effectively utilizing the contributions of scientists for the sustainable development of Hanoi?Thank you, Associate Professor!