Musings on the Faculty of Literature before the 2014 admissions season.

I pictured the nearly 60-year history of a leading Vietnamese Literature training institution and the sixty years of a person's life. It was interesting to make this comparison and realize both similarities and differences. A person approaching 60 can hardly claim to still be as energetic as they were in their twenties or eighteen, but the Faculty of Literature can. That's the difference. But a person nearing 60 will surely no longer be impulsive, viewing life with the same youthful exuberance as when they were eighteen or twenty. At 60, one knows how to scientifically organize their life, ensuring they remain healthy and productive. The Faculty of Literature is the same. That's the similarity. These days, as a new admissions season is about to begin, I keep picturing the Faculty of Literature through that somewhat "odd" comparison.

More than three years ago, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the thirtieth anniversary reunion of the 22nd Literature class, the largest class in the department's history (the Literature class alone had 180 students). I had the chance to meet and hear the stories of the "22nd graduating class," who were then over fifty years old. Witnessing the enthusiasm of a generation of Literature students, most of whom are now grandparents, even though they have been away from the department and the university for 30 years, I felt as moved as I did when I first entered the school. It turns out that my classmates, six years ahead of me, whom I thought had left school long ago and achieved success in new environments (many are now editors-in-chief or deputy editors-in-chief of prestigious newspapers; some, like Nguyen The Ky, are now in charge of the Central Committee's Science and Education Department; Dang Vu Thao is currently the director of the Vietnam Animation Film Studio; Phung Thi Viet Huong is the Vice Rector of the University of Theatre and Film...), still have a deep affection for those three words.Literature SummaryEveryone shared their regrets, saying that while society is developing day by day, material living standards are improving, and the Faculty of Literature is also developing, they still feel like they are drifting further away from something sacred and precious. Now, whenever they return to the school, thinking about it, the Faculty of Literature and the Faculty of Linguistics are still there, but everyone feels sad that those three words are no longer there.Literature SummaryThis goes to show just how deeply the Faculty of Literature at the University of Hanoi once left its mark. As a student of the 16th cohort of the Faculty of Literature, now a teacher in the Faculty, I completely share and empathize with the profound feelings of the 22nd cohort. Believe me, all the "children" born from here share the same deep affection.

How could it not be deeply meaningful when this leading institution for humanities once boasted a constellation of stars—the nation's top literary researchers? The names of these teachers, though some are still alive today—Dang Thai Mai, Hoang Xuan Nhi, Do Duc Hieu, Ton Gia Ngan, Tran Dinh Huou, Phan Cu De, Ha Minh Duc, Le Dinh Ky, Le Hong Sam, Dang Thi Hanh, Hoang Nhu Mai, Dinh Gia Khanh, and many others—still evoke a surge of pride that makes my heart ache. Simply because, at one time, we were their students; at another, this was the dream destination for so many. And not only that, from this cradle of Literature training, hundreds of members of the Vietnam Writers Association have "taken flight," soaring high and far, making significant contributions to the beauty of national literature of a bygone era: Phan Tu, Thanh Thao, Duong Huong Ly, Nguyen Trong Dinh, Hoang Trung Thu, Nguyen Duy, Hoang Nhuan Cam, Y Nhi, Be Kien Quoc…; thousands of renowned and distinguished journalists, editors, social activists, artists, and educators have also emerged from this cradle, even though the Faculty of Literature then and the Faculty of Literature now are not necessarily multi-disciplinary training institutions. But no one can deny that graduates from the Faculty of Literature, regardless of the stage, cannot fail to become talented and outstanding researchers, teachers, journalists, sociologists, editors, and social activists. The important thing is the quality, love, and determination of the student. There was a time when, true to its name "Comprehensive," the Faculty of Literature, although not a multi-disciplinary institution, produced graduates who, regardless of their assigned positions, excelled in fulfilling their social responsibilities. I still hold in my possession a letter from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, a former student of the 8th cohort of the Faculty of Literature (at that time holding the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Magazine), written to the faculty on its 35th anniversary, with the following words:We are delighted to see that over the past 35 years, through tireless efforts, the Faculty of Literature at Hanoi University has continuously grown and achieved significant accomplishments in education and training. This has been concretely demonstrated at our institution: the number of students trained by the faculty and assigned to the Communist Magazine, from the very first cohorts to the present day, accounts for a considerable proportion of the editorial staff. Most of these colleagues, upon joining the magazine, quickly adapted to their work and have proven themselves to be capable and qualified staff members. Some have made outstanding contributions to improving the magazine's quality and have been assigned leadership positions within the editorial department. It can be said that the achievements of the Communist Magazine over the past 36 years owe a great deal to the contributions of generations of staff who were once students of the Faculty of Literature at Hanoi University.”

The insightful and heartfelt remarks of the person who held the highest position at the Communist Party magazine then, and now holds the highest position in the Communist Party of Vietnam, still retain their value. The Faculty of Literature has every right to be proud of that. Today, after nearly 60 years of development, the faculty's teaching staff is now more streamlined, younger, and more formally and systematically trained than before (45 teachers, more than two-thirds under 50, many professors, associate professors, and doctors). But I still wonder: its appeal to young people has somewhat diminished compared to the past? This is something worth reflecting on for us teachers in the Faculty of Literature. We don't blame the choices of young people today. Living in a world of rapid development, sometimes it's difficult to find the inner peace to choose the right path for ourselves. Furthermore, as social life changes, so too must people's career choices. I think that while people's love for literature may still remain, choosing it as a profession requires careful consideration. Therefore, to survive, the Faculty of Literature can only innovate itself. In recent years, after the separation of the Faculty of Linguistics, the Faculty of Literature has continued to teach and train many fundamental disciplines that once made the leading institution for Literature education in the country: Literary Theory, Vietnamese Literature, Folk and Medieval Literature, Western Literature, Eastern Literature, and Classical Chinese and Vietnamese Literature. To create greater diversity and connection between the faculty and societal needs, five years ago, a new and quite attractive department was opened within the Faculty of Literature: Art Studies. Built upon the foundation of the Film Project funded by the Ford Foundation, this program aims to train screenwriters and film and television critics, a field currently in high demand. In the 2014 academic year, the first cohort of master's students specializing in the history, theory, and criticism of film and television at the Faculty of Literature officially began enrollment. In addition, the Han Nom (Classical Chinese and Vietnamese) specialization, after more than 40 years of development, now offers separate enrollment for all three levels: bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. A country with a rich cultural heritage like Vietnam cannot do without a training institution for experts researching the nation's cultural heritage, such as the Han Nom specialization within the Faculty of Literature. A model of the Faculty of Literature comprising three pillars – Literature, Han Nom, and Arts – will be formed and developed stably in the near future. This is the aspiration of the faculty members currently teaching at the Faculty of Literature. Currently, students in the Literature department, if they meet the requirements and are dedicated, can also pursue a "double" degree in related majors within the National University system. This means that the doors to future careers are always wide open for young people… Why not trust and choose this option?

Nearly 60 years after its formation and development, the Faculty of Literature will always maintain its youthful, dynamic, and creative spirit, worthy of the trust and affection of all generations of students in the Faculty of Literature and society.