[Book] History, Facts, and Some Reflections

Normally, a scientific paper should be published in scientific journals, such as the journal of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Communist Journal, the Journal of Historical Studies, and other journals and books with international ISSN indexes. However, apart from a few recently published papers, I have mostly avoided doing so for the following reasons:

A pressing national issue requires information exchange with a group of scientists or with party members and the general public? I choose the second approach: disseminating information to the general public so they can reflect on the country's current situation and the effective reforms needed to build a clean, strong, open, and transparent regime based on people's democracy.

Because I want to share my thoughts, I often publish my opinions in Hanoi Moi newspaper – the official publication of the Hanoi City Party Committee, the voice of the Party committee, government, and people of the capital city – and Dai Doan Ket newspaper – the official publication of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

My approach to the issue is based on the resolutions of the Party organization, the practical realities provided daily by state media, and my own personal observations. These are important foundations for identifying the current state of society. My difference lies in getting to the root causes of the current stagnation and worsening situation. In this regard, my frank opinions are based on examining the capabilities and fighting spirit of the leadership and management, as well as the weaknesses of legal authority. This constitutes responsible policy critique.

The book "History, Truth and Some Reflections" by Associate Professor Dr. Pham Xuan Hang

The concerns I have are shared by many others, including leaders at the central level. Leaders point out the issues, issue warnings, propose solutions, and systematically disseminate and explain them. But the reality remains unchanged.

I am seeking answers to why, despite sound policies and comprehensive solutions, reality remains unchanged, even becoming more complicated, and what causes high-ranking officials to disregard Party discipline, become corrupt, and distance themselves from the people? I seek the answers to these questions within the micro-level political and legal power structures. Only when these entities courageously recognize their own shortcomings can there be a basis for reform, and high-ranking leaders will no longer be troubled by thoughts like, "A significant portion of the population is now nowhere to be found; the people keep asking, and we are still struggling." At this point, courage in the spirit of the Sixth Party Congress (1986) is needed.

This book is a collection of my published articles focusing on the factors that influence the socio-political landscape of our country, that is, those that impact contemporary history. The duty of historical science, or historiography, is to seek the truth about the factors that are the root causes of positive or negative trends. I have reflected on these root causes from four historical perspectives:

1. Historical science and the reality of life

2. Policies and Life

3. National sovereignty

4. Beloved thousand-year-old capital

My concerns are the honest and heartfelt expression of my devotion to the Party and the regime that my forefathers helped to build over 70 years ago.

These are also reflections after a journey I've taken. Reality is constantly changing, and some issues are now different from before, so I may not be able to keep up with the times. I hope my friends and colleagues understand. This book should be considered a personal reflection by the author on a period I witnessed, with my limited understanding.

Hanoi, the historic days of May