Professor Pham Quang Minh works with foreign ambassadors in Vietnam.

The meeting revolved around organizing a series of events commemorating the 135th anniversary of the birth of writer Frank Kafka in Vietnam (July 3, 1883 – July 3, 2017). He was a major writer of short stories and novels in German, considered by critics to be one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

The main organizers of the event series are the Faculty of Literature (University of Social Sciences and Humanities), the embassies of Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, and Japan in Vietnam; in addition, there is the participation of a number of governmental and non-governmental organizations such as the Goethe Institute, the Japan Foundation, etc.

The series of events is scheduled to take place in the second week of April 2018 and will include three activities: an exhibition and film screening about the writer Frank Kafka; an international conference on Frank Kafka, with the participation of domestic and international scientists; and an awards ceremony for a writing competition on Frank Kafka for literature students nationwide, focusing on universities in Hanoi. In addition, there will be side activities at cafes and academic spaces in Hanoi. The series of events is expected to last one week and take place at various locations, including the campus of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

On behalf of foreign partners, Ambassador Vítezslav Grepl of the Czech Republic affirmed the importance of this series of commemorative events. He emphasized that Frank Kafka's works not only represent German literature but also reflect the culture of other European countries such as the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. As a European, he wanted to understand how Vietnamese readers receive a writer of such great influence as Frank Kafka. This is also an opportunity for cultural exchange, aiming to strengthen relations between Vietnam and European countries.

On behalf of the University, Professor Pham Quang Minh highly appreciated the organizational idea of ​​the Faculty of Literature and its foreign partners. The Rector believes that this activity will have an impact not only on the University's students but also on a large number of Vietnamese readers, especially young readers. As one of the prestigious and long-standing literary training institutions in Vietnam, the University is committed to creating the best conditions to contribute to the success of this series of events.

Professor Pham Quang Minh presents commemorative gifts to the ambassadors.

Professor Pham Quang Minh and the university staff took a commemorative photo with the ambassadors.

In addition to training and research activities, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has recently organized many meaningful and impactful cultural and social activities. Most recently, it organized a friendship event to commemorate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Algeria and the 62nd National Day of the Republic of Algeria.