Remembering Teacher Le!

Professor Vu Duong Ninh(Chairman of the Association of Retired Faculty Members of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities):Professor Phan Huy Le pioneered the laying of the foundation of historical science according to a new perspective.

Professor Phan Huy Le and Professor Vu Duong Ninh

I first met Professor Phan Huy Le in 1956, when I was a first-year student in the History Department at Hanoi University. During Professor Dao Duy Anh's class, the professor introduced him: "This is Mr. Phan Huy Le, teaching assistant for the course on Ancient Vietnamese History." From then on, Mr. Le began assisting Professor Dao Duy Anh in his lectures. He was only about 23 years old at the time, and was a very skilled teacher. He presented issues concisely and clearly, with a captivating and engaging style that resonated with generations of teachers and students. Students of all years praised Mr. Le's teaching style as logical, rigorous, and neither excessive nor insufficient.

When I graduated from Hanoi University in 1959, Professor Phan Huy Le was already a lecturer in Ancient Vietnamese History and a direct student of Professor Dao Duy Anh. At that time, Professors Phan Huy Le, Tran Quoc Vuong, and Ha Van Tan specialized in Ancient Vietnamese History and Archaeology, while Professor Dinh Xuan Lam specialized in Modern History. Thus, the professors who followed Professor Dao Duy Anh were the first to lay the foundation stones for the field of Ancient Vietnamese History as we know it today. The first textbooks were also compiled by them, and they have lasting value and are still used today.

Another significant contribution of Professor Phan Huy Le was his training of many generations of students, especially those specializing in the ancient, medieval, and feudal history of Vietnam. Many renowned professors today, such as Vu Minh Giang and Nguyen Quang Ngoc, are direct students of Professor Le. He built a team of historians in general, and specifically in the ancient and medieval history of Vietnam – individuals who now hold important positions not only in the field of history but also in various cultural and social spheres.

What I want to emphasize is Professor Le's contribution to building the foundation of historical science from a new perspective, which today has become a common model for Vietnamese historians researching this issue. After the country was completely unified, Professor Phan Huy Le conveyed these contents to the Faculty of Literature at universities in the South, building a whole team of researchers on modern history. Thanks to this, today the system of research on Vietnamese history is a solid and very strong system.

Through its historical evidence, the field of History contributes to the protection of sovereignty and territory. From the perspective of Vietnamese history in general and ancient and medieval history in particular, Professor Le and his colleagues and students have made significant contributions to building evidence to prove our country's territorial sovereignty on land and in the sea.

Speaking of personal memories, after graduating, I was retained to work at the History Department, so my relationship with Professor Le has lasted for over 60 years. We were both active members of the Faculty's Youth Union, and we were closely involved in the development of the Department and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Professor Le's special quality was his diligence, hard work, and meticulousness in both life and work; yet he was also amiable, gentle, and caring towards his friends and colleagues. This personality trait created a great attraction for him.

In 1973, when Vietnam had just signed the Paris Agreement to ensure peace in Vietnam and the US withdrew its troops, the Minister of Higher Education and Vocational Training, Ta Quang Buu, was a natural science and technology scientist, but he was also very knowledgeable and interested in history. In early January 1973, the Paris Agreement was signed, and around April, the Minister summoned several history lecturers from Hanoi University. The Minister said that the Paris Agreement had just been signed, liberating the northern part of Quang Tri, and peace had just been restored. That was the time for historians to go there to understand the atmosphere of war and peace, so that they could truly feel the nationwide struggle. He organized a delegation of fewer than 10 history lecturers, led by Professor Phan Huy Le, to go there. At that time, conditions were extremely difficult. Throughout this journey, all of Mr. Le's strengths were clearly revealed, from his well-organized approach and his caring attention to each member of the group to his skillful and persuasive communication with the local people. Wherever he went, he spoke about the tradition of fighting invaders and saving the country, stirring the spirits of the people. Mr. Le's ability to persuade and unite people was truly remarkable.

Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang(Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council of VNU Hanoi, former Head of the Faculty of History, former Vice Director of VNU Hanoi):He is a prominent intellectual figure representing Vietnam in the international scientific community.

Professor Phan Huy Le and Professor Vu Minh Giang

Professor Phan Huy Le was a renowned historian with numerous outstanding scientific works. His publications number over 500, both domestically and internationally. Words cannot adequately describe his talent and scientific contributions. From a very young age, Professor Phan Huy Le was known internationally and was invited to lecture at prestigious universities in France and Japan. There's a little-known story: In September 1975, I participated in a working group in Saigon and saw a complete set of Professor Le's books on the bookshelves of the Faculty of Literature.History of the feudal system in VietnamI asked: "How did you obtain this set of books, since communication between North and South Vietnam was very difficult at that time?" The librarian replied that the set had been around for a long time, and they had to ask French scholars to buy it in Hanoi, then ship it through Paris to Saigon before 1975. This proves that the author's works had transcended the borders of Vietnam early on.

With his sharp intellect, Professor Phan Huy Le quickly grasped the latest scientific trends worldwide, leading him to establish a new field of science: Vietnamese Studies, and becoming the first director of the Center for Vietnamese Studies. The Vietnamese Studies conference in Vietnam in the late 1980s brought together nearly a thousand scholars from both within and outside the country, including around 300 scientists from 27 countries. After hearing of his passing, I received a flood of messages expressing condolences from friends, scholars, and students internationally. Therefore, while it's true to say that Professor Phan Huy Le was a brilliant Vietnamese historian, it's not enough; he was also a prominent figure of Vietnamese intellectualism in the international community. He was awarded the title of Corresponding Member of the French Academy of Inscriptions – a prestigious honor. Furthermore, he was the only Vietnamese recipient of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize in Japan.

Professor Phan Huy Le was a figure who always breathed new life into Vietnamese historical science. In the current turbulent times, where teaching and research in history face many challenges, he aspired to introduce new methods and approaches to history. The National History project he supervised is following this direction. Thanks to his extraordinary efforts, the first draft of the National History project is essentially complete. In the subsequent stages, his students can fully build upon the foundations he laid. This is a significant work.Vietnamese Cultural History - A Partial ApproachHe synthesized new perspectives and ideas in historical and cultural research, for which he was honored with the Ho Chi Minh Prize. For example, previously, historians often studied Vietnamese history by focusing on the history of the Vietnamese people, based on their developmental trajectory. But with the new perspective, all other aspects, such as the history of Champa and Funan, are presented equally and on the same level. This is an extremely new and progressive perspective. Another perspective is that we focus too much on political and military history, but in reality, the Vietnamese nation also created unique cultural values. This comprehensive perspective has proposed incorporating social and cultural issues into historical research.

Professor, Doctor, People's Teacher Nguyen Quang Ngoc(Former Head of the Department of History, former Director of the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science, VNU Hanoi):Professor Phan Huy Le contributed to laying the foundation for the field of Hanoi Studies.

Professor Phan Huy Le and Professor Nguyen Quang Ngoc

Professor Phan Huy Le was not only a leading expert on the history of the country, but from a very early age, he was deeply involved in and played a leading role in the study of history in Hanoi. He began researching Hanoi in the 1960s with his first research program on Co Loa, and later expanded his research to include historical and cultural relics of Hanoi. I remember that in 1984-1985, when Hanoi was conducting surveys of historical and cultural relics, he served as an advisor and organized our work. We gained the knowledge about Hanoi that would later be used for other research activities. Professor Phan Huy Le was particularly interested in the tangible and intangible heritage of Hanoi, that is, the historical and cultural relics as well as the cultural traditions of Thang Long-Hanoi. He worked alongside Professor... Tran Quoc Vuong initiated the establishment of Hanoi Studies as a field of study, organizing scientific conferences to evaluate and guide research on Hanoi in general and its cultural history in particular. It can be said that the comprehensive history of Hanoi up to the present day is the work of Professor Phan Huy Le, who served as the chief editor of the series.History of Thang Long HanoiIt is a two-volume book and has been awarded the Best Book Prize by the Vietnam Publishers Association.

Professor Phan Huy Le's most significant and special contribution to Hanoi was his keen intellect and courageous scientific approach. He organized research and assessments of the value of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and made firm recommendations to all the highest agencies of the Party and State to preserve the Thang Long historical site. Based on this, the Hanoi city leadership entrusted him with the task of building the dossier to apply for UNESCO recognition of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage site, coinciding with the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi. This was a remarkable achievement, a testament to Professor Phan Huy Le's immense contribution. He was also honored by Hanoi as an Outstanding Citizen of the Capital. He was regarded by the city leadership as a leading expert and served as an advisor on numerous development programs for the capital city.

Professionally, Professor Phan Huy Le was principled and strict. For students like us, if we raised any unclear issues, he would immediately correct us. He was uncompromising with mistakes, shortcomings, and weaknesses. But in life, he was incredibly approachable and affectionate. He shared with us even the smallest material things, like how during the subsidy era we had to share undershirts, sandals, or packets of MSG... He always gave way to the younger cadres, even though his own family was struggling. When I heard the news of Professor Le's passing, I received many phone calls and messages. His students from all over the country, upon hearing the sad news over the phone, were speechless and burst into tears, weeping uncontrollably. We truly regarded him as a father figure.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Quan (Head of the History Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities):Professor Phan Huy Le made outstanding contributions to the Department of History, to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and to Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Professor Phan Huy Lê joined the Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities in 1956. He was the Head of the Department of Ancient and Medieval Vietnamese History, succeeding Professor Đào Duy Anh from 1958 to 1978. Throughout that time, under his leadership and organization, the department's staff achieved outstanding results in training and scientific research. Many generations of his students later became reputable scientists, educators, and social administrators in various fields. During this period, many research projects on Vietnamese history were completed by the department, possessing significant scientific and practical value. Even after no longer serving as Head of the Department, he continued to be a pillar of support and a key figure in the training and scientific research activities of the Department and the Faculty of History.

Professor Phan Huy Le also laid the foundation for new academic disciplines at Hanoi University, later the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, including Oriental Studies. Within the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, he founded the Center for Vietnamese Studies and Cultural Exchange, later the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science. This served as a bridge and a hub for Vietnamese studies scholars worldwide, fostering collaboration in research on Vietnamese history and culture. He contributed significantly to establishing major directions in training and research in the social sciences and humanities in particular, and in the disciplines of Vietnam National University, Hanoi in general. Throughout his career, Professor Phan Huy Le made exceptionally outstanding contributions to the Department of History, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular, and Vietnam National University, Hanoi in general. He played a crucial role in building the prestige and reputation of the Department, the Faculty, and the University, not only within the domestic scientific community but also internationally.

As everyone knows, Professor Phan Huy Le played a pivotal role in the preparation and implementation of the research and compilation of the National History of Vietnam. The most regrettable and heartbreaking thing for all those involved in compiling this book is that he was no longer with us when it was published. However, under his leadership, the issues regarding perspectives, research methods, principles of approach, and the organization of the research and compilation were fundamentally completed. Those involved will work with all their responsibility and dedication to ensure the best possible quality for this great scientific work that he always cared so deeply about.

Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Tung (Director of the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi):Professor Le was renowned for his erudition and seriousness, but also for his charm and sophistication.

What has built the strong brand of the former Hanoi University and the current Vietnam National University, Hanoi, both domestically and internationally, is primarily its team of leading professors. In the field of History, following the generation of Professors Tran Van Giau and Dao Duy Anh, came the generation of the "Four Pillars": Lam, Le, Tan, and Vuong. This generation embodied talent through sweat, tears, and diligent labor during the most difficult times of the subsidy period and the war in evacuation zones. They were exemplary figures of tireless work, overcoming difficulties during fieldwork in places preserving the cultural heritage of their ancestors, regardless of whether they were mountainous, rural, or war zones. It was this hard work that resulted in the immense academic contributions of these professors. It is this contribution that has built the brand of the great scientists of Hanoi University and Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Based on their profound research, these professors translate their findings into lectures. Therefore, the prestige of these professors lies in their ability to persuade students with their dedication and intellect. Like the other three professors, Professor Phan Huy Le affirmed his immense academic stature by, from an early age, consulting scientific theories both domestically and internationally, and reading the works of foreign authors that few in Vietnam had access to at that time. This broad-mindedness, global academic exchange, and dialogue formed a superior foundation of knowledge for him. When the country was undergoing reforms and opening up, leading researchers on Vietnam around the world quickly recognized Professor Le's reputation and sent foreign students to study with him as early as 1986-1987. These students are now leading leading research centers on Vietnam and Southeast Asia worldwide. Professor Phan Huy Le's works are cited frequently abroad, perhaps second only to Professor Tran Van Giau and Professor Dao Duy Anh.

Within the country, the highest-ranking academic and cultural bodies, such as the Central Theoretical Council, the National Cultural Heritage Council, and the National Education Council, invited him to be a member. Many Party and State leaders also regularly consulted him on important historical and cultural issues of the country. For his students, he was not only an exemplary teacher in terms of intellect and professional integrity, but also like a father figure, correcting every punctuation mark, every nuance of behavior, and most importantly, teaching us about meticulousness in science and compassion in everyday life. Professor Le was highly respected for his kindness, tolerance, and especially his harmonious working style with colleagues.

Furthermore, Professor Le is a very courageous scientist. Historically, scientists have always had to confront complex problems, and many, despite their brilliance, lacked the courage to fully understand them. Professor Le was different; he always guided his students, readily facing challenges and difficulties. For example, how to evaluate historical figures, polities, and regimes with "problems," such as the Nguyen Dynasty – a dynasty that committed great crimes against the nation by losing the country to French colonialists. However, the Nguyen Dynasty also made significant contributions to the nation's history and culture, particularly in organizing and managing the protection of national sovereignty in the East Sea. Therefore, it's necessary to clearly identify the limitations and wrongdoings, but without completely denying the Nguyen Dynasty's contributions, as this directly impacts the current interests of our nation regarding the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. Professor Le proposed an objective, fair, and honest way of evaluating history.

Among the legendary "Four Pillars," Professor Le was renowned for his erudition and seriousness, yet also for his charm, sophistication, and down-to-earth nature. Professor Le's distinctiveness lay in his sophistication and class; that is, when appearing at major forums or interacting with heads of state, he presented himself as a serious and courteous intellectual. But when with students or working-class people, he was very down-to-earth, readily sitting down to eat, peeling potatoes, dipping them in fish sauce, and discussing farming matters with them. When conversing with foreign artists, he displayed a charming, knowledgeable, and insightful approach to artistic matters. The professor harmoniously combined academic and down-to-earth styles; he was both refined and intellectual, yet simple and approachable; deeply knowledgeable about Vietnamese culture, yet also well-versed in Western culture.