On occasion of its 50^th anniversary of founding, the faculty of Vietnamese studies and language received the second State's Labour Order for its outstanding achievements gained in research, teaching Vietnamese studies and language in the last five decades.

Former lecturers reuion. source: VNU

Founded in 1968, the Faculty of Vietnamese studies and language was initially named the Vietnamese language faculty, Hanoi General University.

In the last 50 years, the faculty has received lots of attention from the Party and the State, which assign the Faculty with the national tasks of teaching Vietnamese to foreign students, in compliance with the Vietnamese government and other countries.

In 1995, the Faculty’s name was changed into the Faculty of Vietnamese language and culture for foreign students, and started to offer Bachelor program in Vietnamese language and culture for foreigners.

In 2008, the faculty's name was changed into the Faculty of Vietnamese studies and language, and became the only one institution in the country that offer Bachelor programme in these fields.

Nowadays, the Faculty of Vietnamese studies and language has become credible institution. The Faculty is offering distinctive inter-disciplinary programme in Vietnamese studies based on the fundamental knowledges of humanities and social sciences.

The most outstanding achievements of the Faculty was providing training for over 10,000 foreign graduates pursuing Vietnamese studies and culture. Many of them have become competent diplomats, high-profiled intepreters. Many world-famous scholars in Vietnamese studies were educated in the Faculty. Especially, there were 15 alumni have become Ambassador, Charge d’ affairs in Vietnam.

After the collapse of the Pol Pot genocide regime, the Faculty has successfully completed its new mission in teaching Vietnamese language to Laotian, Cambodian students, officers in 10 following consecutive years.

Many international students trained at the Faculty have become brilliant book authors in Vietnamese language. Some even can use the language better than native speakers, like Mr. Joe (Dâu Tây), author of many bestsellers in Vietnam such as Tớ là Dâu, Ngược chiều vun vút, etc. Some alumni have even expressed their love for Vietnam through poem, like Jorgen Anes, a Norwegian with his poem Yêu Hà Nội (Love Hanoi).

In terms of research, the Faculty’s lecturers have completed dozens of university, ministry and national-level projects. The Vietnamese textbook written by the school’s teachers was very useful, and has become a role model for teaching Vietnamese language in different period.

Many projects, research and editorial work of the schook’s lecturers are considered highly influential works, including the 70 books by Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thach Giang, the dictionary Vietnam-English dictionary by late Prof. Bui Phung which received the State award for Science and Technology, research on grammar, utility words and formal words by Assoc. Prof Do Thanh, Prof. Hoang Trong Phien, Prof Dinh Van Duc, and late Assoc. Prof. Ng Anh Que.

“In the early day of the Faculty, there were countless difficulties facing us. Teachers and staff had put all of their heart into their work. They not only fulfilled their teaching task but also took care of the students’ life, helping them adapt to the overseas environment, said Prof. Hoang Trong Phien.

Ambassador of Romania Valeriu Arteni in the reuion. Source: VNU

Ambassador of Romania Valeriu Arteni (alumnus of the 1971-1976 batch) said: “I love Vietnamese and I love Vietnam. Vietnamese is a beautiful and rich language. We studied in evacuated zone in the countryside. This was where I laid out the firm foundation of my Vietnamese. I have had a chance to gain insight of the Vietnamese culture at it firmly and deeply rooted in the village. I don’t want to cry like this, but I just want to say, I only cry when I am too happy coming back home – the Faculty of Vietnamese studies and language.

Ambassador of Palestine Saadi Salama meets his former lecturer, Nguyen Huu Khang.(source: VNU)

Meanwhile, Ambassador of Palestine Saadi Salama (alumnus of 1980-1984 batch) said: The teachers in the faculty are like our parents. They helped us overcome numerous difficulties in life, despite their lives were hard too. The love for Vietnamese and the pride of being able to bring Vietnamese language to worldwide, and share with other people on the beauty of Vietnamese culture, the culture of my beloved second homeland./.

( Translated by Phi Yen )