On March 6, 2026, as part of the course "Communication in Archival Studies," the Faculty of Archival Studies and Office Management, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, organized a field trip for students of classes K68 and K69 majoring in Archival Studies to visit and experience activities at the exhibition space "Viewing Royal Annotations - Preserving the Mark of Woodblock Prints." The visiting group was led by Mr. Nguyen Trung Duc, M.Sc., Lecturer of the Faculty, in charge of teaching the course.
Faculty and students of the Department of Archival Studies and Office Management take a commemorative photo with the Exhibition Organizing Committee.
The event "Viewing Imperial Annotations - Preserving the Mark of Woodblock Prints" was held at the Space for Introducing Vietnam's World Documentary Heritage and Representative National Archives (12 Dao Tan Street, Giang Vo District, Hanoi). Welcoming the delegation were Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thu - Head of the Archival and Document Reserve Operations Department, National Center for Electronic and Reserved Documents Archives, along with officials from the State Archives and Records Administration.
In the media room of the exhibition space, students enjoyed vivid and insightful perspectives on ancient court life through two exceptional documentary films, "The Royal Palace Celebrates Tet" and "The Art of Woodblock Printing." These films helped students better understand the historical context, cultural value, and craftsmanship associated with these rare archival documents.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thu - Representative of the Exhibition Organizing Committee - presented a gift to the representative of the Department of Archival Studies and Office Management. The gift was an edict by King Le Hien Tong on the importance of employing talented people in 1499 (Printed from the original woodblock preserved at the National Archives Center IV - State Archives and Records Department).
Film screening space at the Exhibition
In the "Imperial Seal Viewing" area, students had the opportunity to see firsthand the Nguyen Dynasty imperial documents with their distinctive red imperial seals and auspicious seals of the Nguyen Emperors. Beyond observation, students also directly participated in the experience of printing seals onto New Year's greeting cards, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the symbolic meaning of imperial seals in state administration during the feudal era. Each participating student received a specially designed (limited edition) red envelope as a personalized gift and a memorable souvenir of the visit.
Students asked for calligraphy to be printed on New Year's greeting cards after experiencing the process of printing seals onto the cards.
In the "Preserving the Legacy of Woodblock Printing" space, students learn about the traditional woodblock printing process by observing the elaborate woodblock carving techniques of the artisans. In particular, students have the opportunity to try their hand at woodblock printing on dó paper, experiencing the ink rolling, plate pressing, and creating their own unique prints. This experiential activity not only helps students better understand the value of the Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks – a UNESCO World Heritage document – but also helps them appreciate the sophistication of the techniques used in creating and preserving this documentary heritage.
Students from the Department of Archival Studies and Office Management learn about the woodblock printing process and experience the woodblock printing techniques of the Nguyen Dynasty.
In addition, the delegation also visited the exhibition "Ho Chi Minh: Life and Career from Archival Documents of Vietnam and the World," along with a display space about the Archival Profession, Archivists, and Archives Day. Through the documents, images, and professional stories presented at the exhibition, students had the opportunity to better understand the role of the archival sector in preserving historical memory, providing authentic source materials for scientific research, and contributing to social development.
Students visit the exhibition "Ho Chi Minh: Life and Career from Archival Documents of Vietnam and the World".
The group of students visited the exhibition space about the Archiving Profession, Archivists, and Archives Day.
Through the tour and hands-on experience at the exhibition, students majoring in Archival Studies had the opportunity to connect the theoretical knowledge of their coursework with practical activities aimed at promoting the value of archival documents. This allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the role of communication activities in bringing archival materials closer to the public. These practical experiences not only contributed to enhancing professional awareness but also fostered pride in the nation's documentary heritage and a love for the archival profession in each student.
