Monograph "Van Don - Vietnam's international commercial port"

Monograph “Van Don - Vietnam's international commercial port” by Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim. (Photo: Thanh Long)

In recent years, the sea and islands have become a national concern. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities and its member units under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi have implemented a number of programs, projects, and research topics, including key topics on the sea, the process of establishing and fighting to protect sovereignty over seas and islands, maritime trade, and the activities of Asian and Vietnamese ports and commercial ports.

Along with these exciting scientific activities, the Faculty of History, the Department of World History and the Asian Trade Research Group, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities have organized many scientific seminars and research collaborations with domestic and international scientists. The results achieved are that a number of research works have been published and have become quite a wide source of teaching and reference materials in the academic world. Among them are:East Asia - Southeast Asia: Historical and Current Issues;Southeast Asia: Tradition and Integration;Some World History topics(2 episodes);Vietnam in the European trading systemAh,Four Centuries of Vietnam-Netherlands Relations, Vietnam in the East Asian World - An Interdisciplinary and Area Studies Approach; The Vietnamese with the Sea etc....

As Head of the Department of World History and Head of the Asian Trade Research Group, for two decades, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim has worked hard to conduct surveys, coordinate with Vietnamese and Japanese scientists and a number of Dutch, German and international experts to conduct archaeological exploration and excavations, search for domestic documents as well as foreign archives to write and complete the monograph:Van Don - Vietnam's international commercial port.The published work is an affirmation of the author's and the entire Group's long-term and correct research direction. Under the guidance and direction of Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim, a number of graduate students, researchers and students have also developed theses and dissertations in the direction of research on diplomatic relations, the history of Asian maritime trade and East-West economic exchanges.

With a tight and concise structure of 5 chapters, the monograph focuses on clarifying the process of formation, development and continuous development of Van Don in 7 centuries from the dynasties: Ly, Tran, Le So, Mac to Le Trung Hung. The content of the book also contributes to clarifying the potential, tradition of exploiting the sea, the sea-oriented thinking and the policies of the Vietnamese monarchies in protecting sovereignty in the Northeast sea and islands, in the constant response to regional powers. In the monograph, the author focuses on analyzing the foreign economic position of Van Don commercial port, the political, economic and cultural role of the Northeast sea and islands in the trade routes and systems, and diplomatic relations in the East Asia region.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim. (Photo: Thanh Long)

From the research and analysis results, the monograph also affirmed the important economic and political role of Van Don and a number of other gateways and international exchange centers in the development of Dai Viet nation. During the development process, Van Don was not a collection of a number of separate ports but actually developed into a system, with operating areas and areas of influence, including central areas, playing a nuclear role, coordinating the activities of the commercial port. The clarification and successful demonstration of the early, long-term and continuous formation and development process as well as the systematic nature of Van Don commercial port are new and outstanding contributions of the monograph.

Applying the theory of systems research, combined with methods and perspectives of regional and interdisciplinary research, the author believes that, although built in an island area relatively far from the capital Thang Long, Van Don has soon become a destination, a place where domestic and international goods are concentrated. With a systematic view, the author is right to believe that the real strength of Van Don is integrated from four elements: First,Convenient traffic location; Monday,A safe stop on the East Asian trade route; Tuesday,A place where goods from Dai Viet and the region are concentrated.; Wednesday,Van Don is an island region rich in resources.. Historically, Van Don was not only a seaport but also a region rich in natural resources, with high commercial value and favored by international traders. Along with the impacts, regional and international conditions, clarifying the natural resources, the internal strength of Van Don is one of the remarkable contributions of the research project.

Considering and analyzing the diverse economic and diplomatic activities of Van Don, looking at the activities of the commercial port in a comprehensive way, as well as placing the Northeast island port area on the time axis, in a close relationship with the Asian trading system in both traditional and current aspects, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Kim always directs the research issue to a comprehensive approach, an overview of the tradition of exploiting the sea, thinking towards the sea and the marine economic activities of many communities living on the territory of Vietnam. An interdisciplinary research perspective, combining the basic research methods of Historical Science with Archeology, Sociology, Anthropology... has been promoted and effectively applied in the research work. Thanks to that, the work not only clearly presents domestic and international trading activities but also clarifies the outpost and strategic position of the Northeast gateway region in protecting the security, sovereignty and economic interests of our country.

Historically, the Northeast has always been one of the key regions in foreign economic development and at the same time, it is the place that is most frequently and strongly affected by political trends, cultural movements and military challenges from external forces. The book focuses on analyzing the role of authorities at all levels in perceiving the position and resources of the sea, establishing diplomatic relations at sea as well as methods of protecting security and sovereignty of the sea and islands, thereby achieving a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of foreign thinking and the mettle of our nation in the face of political challenges from regional forces.

As a meticulous, in-depth, and serious research work with many outstanding scientific contributions, this monograph isVan Don – Vietnam's international commercial portnot only helps us understand more about the formation and development process of a commercial port, foreign economic thinking, the tradition of exploiting and developing the marine economy of our nation in history, but also contributes to affirming the potential, position, scientific basis, and belief in the development prospects of the current marine economy. The project becomes even more meaningful when Vietnam has been advocating strengthening and expanding international cooperation relations, promoting exchanges with East Asian countries, and at the same time building the Northeast sea and island region into a key economic region, a special economic zone, and Quang Ninh has been chosen as the driving force in implementing this.Vietnam's maritime strategy.

I would like to respectfully introduce this monograph to researchers and readers.