EALC0090 - Modern Vietnam Culture and Society

This course offers students an exploration of modern Vietnam — within both regional and global contexts— addressing a wide range of issues, including socio-cultural and politico-economic dynamics, as well as questions of nationalism and international relations.
Students will have the opportunity to view Vietnam from diverse perspectives, moving beyond the conventional focus on the Vietnam Wars. They will gain an understanding of the concept of "multiple Vietnams," which have shaped the nation's development into its present form.
Using a relatively large historical framework, the course emphasizes that concepts like modernity did not emerge in isolation or remain static over time. The course explores the diverse ways in which the Vietnamese navigated their paths to modernity, not only through political engagement but also through educational, cultural, literary, artistic, and religious endeavors.
In order to deepen students' understanding of Vietnam's complexity and richness, further illustrating the idea of "multiple Vietnams," the course will challenge the main national narrative by highlighting under-studied groups and topics, such as the participation of ethnic minorities to the development of the nation and the colonial ambitions of early modern Vietnam. These perspectives will enable students to gain a deeper understanding of contemporary regional dynamics, particularly concerning minority issues and Vietnam's relations with its neighboring countries.
By challenging a Western-centric perspective, students will engage with Vietnamese sources and reposition Vietnam within its regional context. The course encourages students to work with a broad definition of "texts," including not only written documents but also primary sources such as oral histories, social phenomena, and historical commemorations.