The Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Foundation has introduced the first Vietnamese Studies Award for foreigners. Writer Ngo Tu Lap, the foundation’s director, talks about the award.

Vietnamese studies expert Peter Zinoman, the founder and chief editor of the Vietnamese Studies magazine and researcher Lai Nguyen An.

Why did the Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Foundation initiate the Vietnamese Studies Award?

Vietnamese studies possibly appeared in the period of French domination. The typical event was the establishment of the Vien Dong Bac Co Institute to survey Vietnam as a French colony.

During the Vietnam War, when Vietnam was the focal point of the world for tens of years, Western politicians and scientists, particularly Americans, needed to learn deeply about Vietnam for different purposes. There also have been foreigners who love Vietnam and neutral researchers. Some Vietnamese studies centres were formed in Europe and Japan at that time.

The third wave of Vietnamese studies perhaps started with the renovation period, which helps Vietnam become a significant country in the region.

Launching this award, we wish to bring achievements in this field to the public and express our gratitude to foreign researchers who have devoted their efforts, talent and love to Vietnamese culture. This will be one of the three awards that the Foundation will present this year, besides the International Education Quintessence Award and the Research Award.

Is this award for foreigners only?

Vietnamese studies must be the field of research for foreigners. But recently we also have the need to research ourselves. This award, therefore, is not for foreigners only, though most of the significant research works about Vietnam are conducted by foreign authors. Foreigners sometimes have perspectives on Vietnam which are more unique and thorough than Vietnamese peoples’.

What research works about Vietnam will you focus on?

Research workers are very diverse, but we can mention two major trends: traditional and interdisciplinary. The first is unilateral research about each field, such as history, literature, religion, politics, etc. The second is research about various sectors, for example a project carried out by Japanese professor Yumio Sakurai and his co-worker at Bach Coc village in Nam Dinh province for 14 years.

An American Vietnamese studies expert, Peter Zinoman, said that Vietnamese studies is developing in the US. What is your opinion about it?

The Vietnamese studies sector in the US has gained some achievements. Perhaps the memory about the Vietnam War urges American to continue being interested in Vietnam.

Another reason is the robust development of Vietnam in recent years turning Vietnam into an economic and geo-political partner in Southeast Asia.

The third reason is there is the largest community of Vietnamese in the US. The presence and interaction of these people with American may provoke American people’s interest in researching Vietnam.

VietNamNet/TP