Seminar on Announcement of Anthropology 2014

In the introduction at the Seminar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vuong Xuan Tinh, Director of Institute of Anthropology emphasized goals of the Seminars, including: Summary of research issues of anthropology in Vietnam from 1980 to the present; Connection of units, organizations and individuals who research anthropology nationwide; Development of cooperative orientation about research of Institute of Anthropology with other units, organizations and individuals, ect.; Contribution to development of basic research foundation for anthropology/ethnology; Providing more evidences and materials for Institute of anthropology to compile a set of books of “Ethnic minorities in Vietnam” from 1986 to the present.

The Seminar was organized also provides opportunity for researchers on anthropology/ethnology to meet, share and express research opinions on related issues, to exchange of academic issues, and altogether explain issues that are persistent and emerging in research. This year, the Seminar received 107 reports that focus on following themes:

(1) Common issues (17 reports); (2) Ethnic minorities of language groups of Hmong – Dao and Han – Tang (51 reports); (3) Ethnic minorities of the language group of Malayo-Polynesian (22 reports, in which Ethnic Cham has the most with 11 reports); (4) Other issues (17 reports). By the themes, the seminar was divided into 3 discussion sections, relatively 3 following clusters of issues: Common issues, Research on ethnic minorities of language groups of Hmong – Dao; Han – Tang from 1980 to now, and Research on ethnic minorities of the language group of Malayo-Polynesian from 1980 to now.

At the Seminar, the organizer also present a set of books of “Ethnic minorities in Vietnam” that consists 2 volumes to authors of the books who are living in Hanoi. The books were compiled and published by Institute of Anthropology in 1970s and 1980s last century, after the Institute had been established for 10 years (releasing the first volume) and 14 years (releasing the second volume). The books are evaluated as the first work of anthropology, a “encyclopedia” of ethnic minorities in Vietnam, and are re-printed in 2014 with amendment and supplement. The work is co-conducted by Institute of anthropology and The Social Sciences Publishing House as a grateful gift to the authors and former leaders of Institute of anthropology and Vietnam Academy of social sciences as well as all researchers of the Institute and other institutes.

This Seminar attracted the largest number of reports in three last years. That demonstrates how often concerned researchers in the country are about issues of anthropology/ethnology. The Seminar finished successfully and collected many ideas that are open and exchanged among scientists of research achievement of ethnic minorities from 1980 to now, the results will be basis for the Institute of Anthropology to develop directions of new development with individuals, units and organizations who research anthropology nationwide, more really contributing to implementation of ethnic policies of Vietnam, to develop foundations of basic training and research as well as new research directions of anthropology/ethnology on the background of industrialization and modernization of the country./.

Pham Vinh Ha