Fifty-five years is short in the vast expanse of a nation's history, but it is not short in the 66-year journey of the new Vietnam. During those 55 years, generations of faculty and students of the History Department of Hanoi University (now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi) have continuously studied, trained, and strived to become one of the leading centers for historical education and research in Vietnam, aiming for deep integration and cooperation with the international community.
Pioneering a new form of historiography.
Just over a month after I read it
Declaration of IndependenceOn October 10, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 45/SL establishing the Hanoi University of Literature, marking the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. However, the return of French colonialists interrupted the construction of the new Vietnam and affected the organization of the higher education system under the new regime. After the glorious victory at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the North was liberated and began building socialism, preparing human and material resources for the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. In the atmosphere of enthusiasm for building the new regime, recognizing the important role of higher education, the Prime Minister issued Decision 2138/TC on June 4, 1956, establishing the Hanoi University of General Studies with its initial two departments: the Department of Science and the Department of Literature. The Faculty of Literature, headed by Professor Tran Duc Thao, consisted of two relatively independent departments: History and Literature. Not long after, the Faculty of Literature was separated to form two independent faculties: the Faculty of History and the Faculty of Literature. Despite many difficulties regarding facilities and staff, the Faculty of History experienced rapid development from its early days. From its initial location on Hai Ba Trung Street, along with renowned scholars (Tran Duc Thao, Dao Duy Anh, Tran Van Giau), the first generation of teachers (Dinh Xuan Lam, Phan Huy Le, Tran Quoc Vuong, Vuong Hoang Tuyen…), and researchers and translators with profound knowledge of Chinese and French (Tran Le Nhan, Doan Thang, Ngo Lap Chi, Kieu Huu Hi, Tran Le Huu…), they wholeheartedly laid the foundation for building the Faculty of History into a leading center for historical training and research in the new Vietnam. A year after its establishment, the Faculty was supplemented with new teachers (Dang Huy Van, Ha Van Tan, Kieu Xuan Ba, etc.). The departments were also gradually established: Ancient Vietnamese History, Modern Vietnamese History, Contemporary Vietnamese History, World History, etc. In the summer of 1959, 80 students from the first cohort of the History Faculty graduated, 17 of whom were retained as teaching staff, many of whom later became famous historians (Vu Duong Ninh, Le Mau Han, Phan Dai Doan, Pham Thi Tam, etc.). At the same time, some faculty members transferred to new units as directed by higher authorities (Teachers Tran Duc Thao, Dao Duy Anh, Tran Van Giau). Besides traditional subjects, in the early years of its development, the History Faculty took advantage of support from international experts to develop new subjects and specialized topics. In the 1960s, the Department of History was home to many renowned teachers and researchers from the Soviet Union and China, such as P.I. Boriskovski, P.E. Bushin, Eliseva, and Dai Yi. These international scientists participated in teaching, research, and fieldwork in ethnology and archaeology, contributing to the discovery of new scientific issues. Two new disciplines, Ethnology and Archaeology, were established based on cooperation between the Department and international scientists, contributing to the development of the scale and specialization of historical training and research in our country. Determined to promote research to improve the quality of teaching and overcome the difficulties and shortages of the early period, the Department of History made efforts to organize many scientific activities. Many famous scientific works (monographs and textbooks) were completed during this challenging period, marking the rapid maturation of Marxist historiography.
Resistance against invasion,
Vietnamese working class,
The crisis of the Nguyen dynasty's feudal regime before 1858(Tran Van Giau);
History of Vietnam from its origins to the end of the 19th century,
The origins of the Vietnamese people(Dao Duy Anh);
History of Vietnam during the period 1897-1914;
Modern history of Vietnam[4 volumes] (Tran Van Giau, Dinh Xuan Lam, Dang Huy Van…);
Land ownership system and agricultural economy during the early Le Dynasty(Phan Huy Lê);
History of the Feudal System in Vietnam[3 volumes] (Phan Huy Lê, Trần Quốc Vượng, Hà Văn Tấn, Đinh Xuân Lâm, Chu Thiên, Vương Hoàng Tuyên)
History of the primitive communist regime in Vietnam(Tran Quoc Vuong, Ha Van Tan);
A brief overview of prehistoric archaeology in Vietnam.(Tran Quoc Vuong, Ha Van Tan);
Those Nguyen Truong To's reform proposals(Dang Huy Van, Chuong Thau)... In addition, translation activities have also been promoted to provide teaching and research materials. Typical translation works include:
Local history(Ha Van Tan);
Military Orders Collection(Phan Huy Lê);
A Brief History of Vietnam(Tran Quoc Vuong);
History of Vietnam's Loss of Independence(Chapter Thâu, Zhou Tian);
World history[10 volumes] (Department of World History)… It can be said that the first nearly ten years of building the new historiography of the Faculty of History took place amidst countless difficulties and challenges, but achieved many great accomplishments. The staff was strengthened in both quantity and quality (although some took on other positions, the number of permanent staff remained at around 30). The number of students enrolling and graduating remained stable over the years. The system of subjects and specialized topics was developed and continuously updated. Scientific research, conferences, and specialized translation were emphasized and developed…
The Faculty of History quickly became a leading unit in historical training and research within the new Vietnamese education and science system, a strong and pioneering center of history in modern Vietnamese historiography.These are the solid foundations to ensure the Faculty's development in the challenging stages ahead: joining the whole country in the task of defeating the American invaders.
The glorious years with the nation.
Having failed to control the South, from the latter half of 1965, the US imperialists launched bombing campaigns against North Vietnam. In the context of war, to minimize casualties and property damage caused by American bombs, the faculty and students of the History Department, along with the university, quickly evacuated to Van Tho commune, Dai Tu district (Thai Nguyen province), and later several more times to villages along the Nhue River (Ha Dong), Van Thang (Ba Vi), and villages along the Cau River in Yen Phong district (Bac Ninh province)... The relentless bombing by the US Air Force did not dampen the spirits of the faculty and students of the History Department: teaching programs continued to be organized systematically (including supervising entrance exams in Nghe An while American planes were heavily bombing...); scientific research activities were maintained, and even developed strongly (publishing books, organizing scientific conferences...); and civilian outreach and participation in production were intensified (transporting rice from Yen Vien - building dikes in Que Vo...). During that challenging time, the faculty members of the Department persevered in their teaching and research careers, not only inspiring generations of students with scientific knowledge but also enthusiastically presenting to the people the patriotic spirit and indomitable will of their ancestors in resisting foreign invaders, thereby strengthening the long-term resistance struggle to protect national independence and unify the country. It was during that fierce period that a series of outstanding works by the faculty members of the History Department were successively published:
The Lam Son Uprising and the national liberation movement in the early 15th century(Phan Huy Lê, Phan Đại Doãn)
The resistance war against the Mongol invasion in the 13th century(Ha Van Tan, Pham Thi Tam)
Historical stories,
The glorious history of ethnic minorities(Dinh Xuan Lam, Tran Quoc Vuong)
The distribution of ethnic groups and populations in Northern Vietnam(Vuong Hoang Tuyen)… What is particularly noteworthy is that some books were completed by teachers at a very young age, around 30 years old (Phan Huy Le, Tran Quoc Vuong, Ha Van Tan, Pham Thi Tam…), and were praised and commended by President Ho Chi Minh (Teacher Ha Van Tan - Teacher Pham Thi Tam). Scientific activities were also regularly maintained with staff participating in or organizing scientific conferences such as:
Methodology of historiography(1967)
100 years since the Paris Commune(1971)
Southeast Asia(1973)… During the heroic years of fighting the Americans alongside the whole country, the teachers and students of the History Department not only contributed their efforts on the scientific front and participated in local production, but also directly took up arms and fought on battlefields from North to South. Following in the footsteps of teacher-soldiers like Le Anh Xuan, Ngo Van So… during the fierce years of 1971-1972, dozens of cadres and students of the Department have
put away the writing brush and ink.“Joining the army – students from Hanoi University and young people from all over the country – they set out to support the southern front: serving as news agency reporters, armed people's police, soldiers, and frontline propagandists… The historical knowledge learned from Hanoi University, blended with the enthusiasm of youth and the fervent patriotism forged since time immemorial, propelled the generations of teachers, students, and soldiers of the History Department to bravely venture onto the battlefield. Many of them heroically sacrificed their lives: Teacher, poet, and martyr Ca Lê Hiến (Lê Anh Xuân) fell heroically during the Tet Offensive of 1968, leaving behind for generations to come a legacy of…”
The Vietnamese stance etched into the century.Students like Duong Tan Nhuong, Le Van Tron, Tran Van Tuan, Le Van Doan, Pham Van Tai, Nguyen Xuan Toan, Nguyen Van Tam… bravely fought and heroically sacrificed themselves for the reunification of the country and the independence of the nation. During those unforgettable years, whether in the difficult days under simple thatched roofs in the evacuation areas (from Dai Tu, Song Cau to Ba Vi, Song Nhue) or when transferred to the center in Me Tri - Thuong Dinh, generations of teachers and students of the History Department never forgot their professional duties. Enrollment periods were ensured, and student cohorts regularly enrolled and graduated each year. In particular, amidst bombing, school evacuation, and extreme material shortages, many foreign experts and students (from the Soviet Union, China, Poland, North Korea, Indonesia…) followed the Department and the University to the evacuation areas to teach and study. Professional internships, surveys, and fieldwork on Vietnamese history, archaeology, and ethnography were also conducted. Ethnology studies were still held regularly. After liberation, the number of students in the Faculty increased rapidly, including a significant number of students returning from the front lines. Facing new opportunities for development, the faculty staff was also strengthened to better meet the teaching and scientific research tasks of the Faculty. In addition to the departments that existed from the early years of the Faculty's establishment, several new departments were established:
History of the Communist Party of Vietnam(1974)
Museum studies,
Library Studies(has transferred to Hanoi University of Culture)
Methodology of historiography(1983)… From 1980, the Department of History began conducting postgraduate training and was one of the first departments of the then Hanoi University to have doctoral candidates successfully defend their doctoral dissertations. Scientific activities continued to be promoted: many scientific conferences were organized:
50th anniversary of the Party's founding,
600th anniversary of Nguyen Trai's birth(1980)
Hanoi,
30 years since the victory at Dien Bien Phu.(1984)
40 years since the victory over Fascism(1985)...; the compilation of textbooks and lectures was intensified, especially in newly established departments; foreign scientific activities were also strongly promoted: along with the increasing number of international scientists (from the Soviet Union, the German Democratic Republic, the Netherlands...) coming to work at the Faculty, the number of faculty members going abroad as experts, for professional training, as interns, and as postgraduate students (from France, Madagascar, the Netherlands, the German Democratic Republic, the Soviet Union...) also increased rapidly, creating a source of highly qualified personnel with good foreign language skills for new developments as the country transformed. It can be said that during the heroic years of the nationwide war against America, the Faculty of History made a worthy contribution, with the blood and sacrifices of many teachers and students on the battlefields, and with the determination of those who remained to overcome difficulties, endure bombs and storms to stay at the school, organize training and scientific research, and prepare human resources for the mission of restoring and developing the country.
Innovation, integration, and continued development.
In the early 1980s, our country's economy faced numerous difficulties. Together with the people of the whole nation, overcoming common challenges, the faculty and students of the History Department steadfastly pursued the goal of improving the quality of teaching and research, continuing to develop the Department to new heights: training programs (especially the newly established postgraduate training program) were ensured; new research directions were proposed; scientific conferences were regularly organized; international relations were rapidly expanded, serving both the training and research development of the Department... Particularly, in the context of the country's Doi Moi (Renovation) process, the History Department organized many conferences to discuss directions for advancing the unit's training and research goals in line with innovative and integrated thinking. During the 1980s and 1990s, due to general difficulties, the number of teaching staff in the Department remained almost unchanged. Meanwhile, some lecturers were assigned to form the core of the newly established Faculties of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Oriental Studies, International Studies, Tourism Studies, Archival Studies, and Office Management...). However, the quality of lecturers during this period was rapidly strengthened: many completed doctoral and Doctor of Science programs both domestically and internationally, were awarded the titles of Professor and Associate Professor, People's Teacher, and Excellent Teacher. The teaching staff possessed high professional qualifications and the tradition of solidarity and overcoming difficulties among generations of teachers and students of the Faculty of History was the foundation for the Faculty to achieve great achievements in the early period of Renovation. Overcoming the legacy of the long period of the centrally planned economy, the Faculty of History was a pioneering unit in the country's higher education renovation: perfecting training programs in the direction of innovation, linkage, and integration; organizing the compilation and updating of new textbooks.
The Historical Process of Vietnam,
General Overview of Vietnamese History,
World History,
History of World Civilization,
History of the Communist Party of Vietnam,
Ho Chi Minh Thought...) and a series of monographs, reference books...; carried out many state-level scientific projects (
Traditional values and the Vietnamese people todaywith Professor Phan Huy Le as the Head of the Department.
Socio-political institutions in rural Vietnamwith Professor Phan Dai Doan as the head,
Ho Chi Minh's ideology of national unitywith Professor Dr. Phung Huu Phu as the head,
History and current state of the political system in Vietnamwith Professor Vu Minh Giang as the Head of the Department.
The history of Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands.with Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc as the Head of the Department,
The historical Southern Territory and Southwestern Border(chaired by Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang), and projects at the ministerial, provincial/city level; organizing international conferences (
Hoi An Ancient Town1990
Pho Hien1992
Vietnamese Studies(the first time in 1998…); promoting international cooperation to develop the staff (many faculty members of the Department continue to participate in expert, internship, and postgraduate programs abroad; the number of international scientists coming to teach and conduct research at the Department is also increasing)… Recognizing the outstanding achievements of generations of teachers and students of the Department in the field of training and scientific research, at the beginning of the 21st century, on November 13, 2000, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam awarded the Department of History a prestigious title.
Labor Hero period of RenovationThe achievements of the early stages of the Doi Moi (Renovation) period laid a solid foundation for the Faculty of History to enter the 21st century with the goal of continuing to develop its training, scientific research, and deep international integration into regional and world historiography. Currently, the Faculty of History has more than 60 teaching staff (both full-time and part-time), and 7 departments.
Ancient and Medieval History of Vietnam,
Modern and Contemporary Vietnamese History,
World History,
History of the Communist Party of Vietnam,
Archeology,
Historical theory,
Cultural studies), 02 research centers (
Intercultural,
Rural research and development), 01 Office - Documentation team; 05 bachelor's degree training programs (
History of Vietnam,
World History,
History of the Communist Party of Vietnam,
Archeology,
Cultural studies) with an annual enrollment of 100 to 150 students; 06 master's degree programs (
History of Vietnam,
World History,
History of the Communist Party of Vietnam,
Archeology,
Ethnology,
History of historiography and historiography- and is preparing to launch a master's program.
Vietnamese Cultural Studies and Cultural Historysince 2012); 08 doctoral training programs (
Ancient and Medieval History of Vietnam,
Modern and Contemporary Vietnamese History,
World HistoryNeck- medieval,
Modern and Contemporary World History,
History of the Communist Party of Vietnam,
Archeology,
Ethnology,
History of historiography and historiography), in which Master's and Doctoral degrees in Ancient and Medieval Vietnamese History are being offered within the framework of the Strategic Mission of Hanoi National University; cooperative relationships with approximately 50 international universities, institutes and research centers and about 100 specialized units nationwide; scientific cooperation with universities worldwide to organize international conferences:
East Asia – Southeast Asia: Historical and Current Issues(3/2004)
Vietnam in the Asian trade system of the 16th-17th centuries(3/2007)
Nation-Building and National Unification in Vietnam (1500-2000): A Comparative Approach(December 2009)
Vietnamese historiography in the context of integration and globalization: Theoretical issues and methodological approaches.(3/2011)
Between Classical and Modern: Southeast Asia in the Early Modern Period, ca. late 14th to late 18th century(November 2011);
Future Directions in Southeast Asian Studies(3/2012)… Many state-level scientific research projects are led by faculty members of the Department:
History of Vietnamby Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc,
History of the Vietnamese Governmentwith Associate Professor Le Mau Han as the Head of Department
,State-level Social Science Project
The process of formation and development of the Southern region of Vietnam.The project was chaired by Professor Phan Huy Le, with Professor Vu Minh Giang, Professor Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Associate Professor Nguyen Van Kim, and Associate Professor Vu Van Quan as project leaders. The Faculty of History also made significant contributions to scientific research commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi. Faculty members directly chaired 3 out of 12 projects under the State-level scientific program "Research on promoting natural, economic, social conditions and historical-cultural values to serve the comprehensive development of the Capital City," code number KX.09 (Associate Professor Pham Xuan Hang, Associate Professor Nguyen Hai Ke, and Associate Professor Vu Van Quan). Together with other units within the university, the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science, and faculty members of the History Department, currently working at the Department, at units within the University, at Hanoi National University, or retired, have edited 23 out of 94 books in the "Thang Long Thousand Years of Culture and History Book Series". Over its 55-year history (1956-2011), the History Department has trained approximately 5,500 Bachelors, nearly 500 Master's, and 112 Doctorates for the country. Most generations of students, trainees, and researchers of the Department have become professionally successful and reputable in their fields; many scientists have received national and international honors, and many alumni have become high-ranking leaders of the Party and State. Many units and individuals within the Department have been awarded prestigious State honors: Labor Orders of the First, Second, and Third Class for the Department as a whole and several departments; First, Second, and Third Class Labor Orders were awarded to individuals such as: Prof. Dinh Xuan Lam, Prof. Phan Huy Le, Prof. Ha Van Tan, Prof. Tran Quoc Vuong, Prof. Phan Dai Doan, Prof. Vu Duong Ninh, Assoc. Prof. Le Mau Han, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Khoan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Han Van Khan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thua Hy, Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hai Ke, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Dang Tri, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Xanh...; Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister and the Director of Hanoi National University were awarded to collectives and individuals; and the city of Hanoi honored them for outstanding contributions to activities leading up to the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi (Prof. Phan Huy Le, Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Xuan Hang, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hai Ke, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Quan). In particular, the scientific research achievements of the lecturers in the Faculty of History have been recognized through national and international awards: Prof. Tran Duc Thao, Prof. Dao Duy Anh, Prof. Tran Van Giau, Prof. Ha Van Tan, Prof. Tran Quoc Vuong received the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Science and Technology; Prof. Phan Dai Doan, Prof. Dr. Phan Huu Dat, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thua Hy received the State Prize for Science and Technology; Prof. Tran Quoc Vuong, Prof. Ha Van Tan, Assoc. Prof. Pham Thi Tam, Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Tung… received science and technology awards from Hanoi National University; Prof. Phan Huy Lê received the Fukuoka Asian Culture International Prize from Japan (1996), the Order of the Academic Palms from the French government (2002), and was a Foreign Corresponding Member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Fine Arts - part of the French Academy (2011)... Over 55 years of development and growth, nearly 200 staff members have worked at the Faculty as authors, co-authors, editors, or co-editors of more than 6,000 scientific works, including textbooks, monographs, reference books, journal articles, and conference papers at domestic and international conferences... These scientific achievements cover many fields of history, but mainly focus on 5 main groups of achievements: 1. Contributing to clarifying the continuous formation and development process of the Vietnamese nation; the historical and cultural origins of Vietnam. 2. Researching the patriotic tradition and indomitable fighting spirit of our nation and Vietnamese military art. 3. Researching agricultural economic and rural social issues, village institutions, religion and beliefs... thereby contributing to clarifying the characteristics of Vietnamese agricultural society in comparison with other societies in the East. 4. Basic understanding of world history and political and social situation, in-depth research on regional history, social revolutions and world revolutionary movements, the formation, development and influence of regional and international organizations, policies and strategies of major powers, Vietnam's position as well as its unique development path in comparison with some Eastern countries. 5. Contributing to clarifying the process of the Vietnamese revolution, the birth of the Party and its leadership role through various revolutionary periods, Ho Chi Minh Thought, integration with the general development trends of the region and the world, and the Party's Doi Moi (Renovation) policy. To continue maintaining and promoting its pioneering position as a leading training and research unit in History nationwide, based on the scientific achievements of the past 55 years, the Faculty of History has been focusing its research on five major directions, based on understanding the requirements of the country's Renovation and Development, expanding international relations, and aligning with the directions of state management agencies on scientific research, the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities: 1. Research on the Southern region: history, culture, the process of exploration and establishment of national sovereignty, policies of dynasties towards the Southern region… 2. Research on the Vietnamese sea and islands system: the marine economic environment, awareness of the sea and traditions of marine exploitation, the process of establishing territorial sovereignty, traditions of protecting the sea and islands, research on maritime trade and international relations in the East Sea region and other regions. regional and international seas… 3. Research on cultural exchange and contact in Vietnamese history: Vietnamese cultural centers, regions, and spaces; modern Vietnamese culture; the unity and diversity of Vietnamese culture within the regional cultural context… 4. Research on urban areas and urban society: natural and social spaces, urban planning and management, population structure, urban anthropology and urbanization issues, economic activities, urban culture, and the relationship between urban and rural areas; models of development and typical characteristics of Vietnamese cities in comparison with other types of cities in the East and the world… 5. Research to further clarify Vietnam's unique development path: the process of national reunification and the protection of national independence, the major policies of the Party and the achievements of the Doi Moi (Renovation) process, the process of regional integration, the policies of major countries, the opportunities and challenges of the country in the process of industrialization and modernization. and current international integration…
*
55 years of continuous effort in building and developing the History Department by generations of teachers and students have created a "
The Synthesis School of Historiography"This achievement has been recognized both domestically and internationally. Those 55 years of history were written by the hard work, sweat, tears, and even blood of generations of faculty and students, creating a massive 'legacy of the Faculty of History' for today's generations to read, understand, contemplate, reflect upon themselves, and gain further motivation for learning, training, teaching, research, and striving in life. Looking towards the 55th anniversary of its founding, we would like to light a candle in remembrance of the teachers and students who bravely sacrificed themselves for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, and to the teachers and staff who have passed away. These exemplary teachers and scientists, these examples of civic responsibility to the people and the nation, will forever shine brightly, passed on to generations of faculty and students of the Faculty of History today and in the future."
Hanoi, Autumn 2011
References
- 40 years of the Department of History (1956-1996), National Political Publishing House, 1996.
- Department of History - Half a Century of Construction and Development (1956-2006), World Publishing House, 2006.
- Nguyen Van Kim,"50 years - A journey of scientific research for the Department of History"Journal of Historical Studies, No. 9 (365), 2006.
- Vu Van Quan, "The Department of History - Half a Century of Construction and Development"www.khoalichsu.edu.vn
