Background and Objectives: In the late 18th century, the Hmong migrated to Vietnam, primarily set... more Background and Objectives: In the late 18th century, the Hmong migrated to Vietnam, primarily settling in the north. While recent scholarship has examined their cultural, social, and economic life, their historical political landscape remains underexplored. Lai Châu province, a major Hmong hub, offers rich insights into this area, as the community has significantly shaped local culture and history. This study investigates the origins and evolution of Hmong authority in Lai Châu, focusing on political engagement, cultural preservation, and intra-and intergroup relations.
Methodology: The research draws on the theories of Max Weber, Joseph Raz, and Hannah Arendt, employing qualitative methods, interviews, questionnaires, and participant observation-supplemented by quantitative survey data and secondary sources. Interviews were conducted with pastors, elders, and villagers, alongside questionnaires given to 44 Hmong Christian and Catholic informants. Participant observation over 2024-2025 deepened understanding of community dynamics, with data systematically organized using Google Forms.
Main Results: Historically, Lai Châu's Hmong communities were governed by traditional authority, with matriarchal kinship central to social structure. Leaders included the village chief (thawj tswv zog), deputy (lwm tswv zog), elders (cov laug zog), and shamans (txiv neeb), who oversaw ceremonies and rituals. Despite French colonial and Kinh administrative pressures, Hmong villages preserved their governance systems and even organized military groups for defense until 1954. Authority combined traditional chiefs, religious leaders, and, increasingly, diminished shamanic influence. Village chiefs and deputies were elected, fostering a democratic ethos resistant to centralized power. Modern Hmong still value political autonomy, often favoring native leaders over state-appointed officials.
Discussions: Authority within the Hmong societies of Lai Châu has evolved according to two of the three types put forward by Max Weber and is present in both traditional and modern societies. Hmong people have so far respected the authority exercised by native chiefs, the elderly, and religious dignitaries rather than the formal authority wielded by other ethnic groups. The role of democracy is also important to the exercise of authority, as argued by Arendt (2006). This article asserts that elements of the discourse on authority, as argued by the aforementioned researchers, are applicable to the historical evolution of Hmong authority, and are well-preserved alongside the cultural heritage of the Hmong people.
The review examines “Ngoại giao của chính quyền Sài Gòn (1955-1963)” [Diplomacy of the Saigon Gov... more The review examines “Ngoại giao của chính quyền Sài Gòn (1955-1963)” [Diplomacy of the Saigon Government (1955-1963)] by Tran Nam Tien, a prominent Vietnamese historian, which investigates the formation and evolution of the First Republic of Vietnam’s diplomacy during the presidency of Ngo Dinh Diem amid the Vietnam War. The book comprises three chapters: Chapter 1 lays the historical foundation for national diplomacy, Chapter 2 delves into the establishment of foreign policy, and Chapter 3 focuses on Saigon’s relationships with major international actors. In addition to providing critical insights into the novelty, structure, and content of each chapter, the review highlights significant weaknesses that persist, thereby pointing to ongoing opportunities for further research on RVN diplomacy in the future.
The task of this research article is to shed light on the Republic of Vietnam (RVN/ South Vietnam... more The task of this research article is to shed light on the Republic of Vietnam (RVN/ South Vietnam) - the Republic of Korea (ROK/South Korea) economic ties from 1965 to 1975. The author employed the methodology of histology, including a historical documentary approach, along with desk-research paper reference to acknowledge that the economic relation between South Vietnam and South Korea is a realm of bilateral diplomatic relations and the war is a factor to give a heavy impulse to economic ties. While South Vietnam was subjected to South Korea’s aid to repulse the attacks of Communists as well as reconstruct the national economy after the war, the South Korean government also engaged in South Vietnam’s market and benefited from the US aid and free trade market for South Korea’s commodity consumption. After the removal of Allied troops, South Vietnam and South Korea remained its economic ties to supersede the role of the US in Southeast Asia as well as safeguard South Vietnam from Communism, which was expected to make a seismic change in the economy in this country subsequent to the Fall of Saigon in 1975.
As soon as the new president of the Republic of Korea was elected in 2017, Moon Jae-in anchored t... more As soon as the new president of the Republic of Korea was elected in 2017, Moon Jae-in anchored the New Southern Policy (NSP), which targeted southern Asian countries and expanded South Korea's strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific Ocean. As such, the ROK continued to adopt a public diplomacy policy and empowered Korean culture in Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. This article aims to generalize Moon Jae-in's policy on cultural diplomacy and his application in Vietnam as a case study. I employed Joseph Nye's soft power and cultural diplomacy concept while adopting a qualitative method to collect official information from the ROK's homepages and assess diplomatic results. The central argument of this article is that Moon Jae-in considers cultural diplomacy a key element of the NSP for promoting Korean culture and bolstering a strategic presence in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The ROK attempted to graft K-pop, movies, Korean customs, Korean language, and Korean cuisine onto the Vietnamese concept and seek an upgrade of Vietnamese Korean cultural exchanges and the frequent organization of cultural events. Hence, an upgrade between the ROK and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022 marked an achievement of cultural diplomacy. I also argued that this attempt has a tonic effect on continuing the ROK cultural diplomacy under Yoon Suk Yeol's presidency and on the foreseeable chance of both the SRV and the ROK in cultural diplomacy.
Vietnam and India became exceptional friends in the context of globalization and global and regio... more Vietnam and India became exceptional friends in the context of globalization and global and regional security in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. India paid a significant consideration to South East Asia and expanded its role in this region in the early 21st century. Meanwhile, Vietnam is one country that experienced a thriving economy in its international and regional integrations. This country has a pressing demand for bilateral and multilateral cooperation with all countries in the world. Especially, the objective of rising India's soft power along with its hard power contributed to promoting India's benefits and involvement in Southeast Asia and Vietnam. Likewise, Vietnam has been fully aware of India's intervention in disputes in the South China Sea and its well-meaning plans to tighten relations with Vietnam over various fields. Vietnam considered India as a partner to conduct Vietnam's soft power. Since Strategic Partnership (2007), Vietnam has accelerated this relation through cultural exchanges, cultural projects, and shared values of Indian culture. Thus, the image of Vietnam becomes familiar to Indian people. Likewise, India encouraged Vietnam to hold cultural events and academic seminars to exchange ideologies, opinions, and plans for many domains. Vietnam is also a goal of India's soft power in Southeast Asia. This paper aims to examine cultural diplomacy in Vietnam's foreign policy in Vietnam-India diplomatic relations mainly based on theories of Liberalism, public diplomacy, and soft power. Thus, it clarifies cultural diplomacy in Vietnam and India's foreign policy. Finally, the author would like to anticipate the scenario of Vietnam-India cultural diplomacy in the future.
This article aims to trace the evolution of the Republic of Vietnam - France relationship from a ... more This article aims to trace the evolution of the Republic of Vietnam - France relationship from a frosty relationship to friendship over the course of the Vietnam War (1968-1975). The author employed archival documents of the former Republic of Vietnam housed at the National Archives Center II, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as well as a wide range of derivative research to periodize two phases of this tie. While maintaining a strong influence of the French in South Vietnam, South Vietnamese leaders of this country lost official contact with France since the pullout of the French troops in 1956. This relationship plummeted to the bottom in 1965 due to the decolonial policy of Ngo Dinh Diem and the no-nonsense intervention of the US in Vietnam. However, South Vietnamese leaders made an attempt to break the ice with France when this country was culled for the Paris peace talk conference avenue in 1968. The relationship underwent a rapprochement from 1968 to 1973 with a series of advantageous statements from France. As soon as the withdrawal of the US, France continued to keep up a correspondence with the Republic of Vietnam and rescued this country from Communist sabotage and impetuous and flagrant violations. However, the about-face of international relations with the Sino-American détente and a serious decrease in foreign aid brought this relationship to an end after the Fall of Saigon in 1975.
This article aims at elucidating the actions and struggles of Ấn Quang Buddhism activists from ... more This article aims at elucidating the actions and struggles of Ấn Quang Buddhism activists from 1969 to 1972 in South Vietnam based on reliable sources of archival documents of the former Republic of Vietnam. The insurgencies of Ấn Quang activists started after the collapse of the first Republic of Vietnam peaked in the Vietnamization period. These movements played a vital role in accelerating the US troop withdrawal as well as weakening the Saigon government. The pure nationalism-based ideology and the revival of Buddhism became critical factors in various events and struggles in South Vietnam politics. This article explained the essence of those activities and proved that Ấn Quang activists drifted away from Communists as well as considering their contribution to peace restoration during the Vietnam War.
This article examines the significant transformations of a homogeneous Hmong community by analyzi... more This article examines the significant transformations of a homogeneous Hmong community by analyzing a case study of an upland hamlet called Txheeb Siv (Sin Suối Hồ in Vietnamese) in the Phong Thổ district of Lai Châu province, Vietnam. The findings concern changes in the village's authority, economic livelihoods, and cultural practices of Txheeb Siv villagers. Based on ethnographical fieldwork results, this research indicates that there are three kinds of authority coexisting in this village, including traditional authority, charismatic authority, and rational-legal authority. Besides, there has been a significant shift in economic activity, highlighting the importance of both traditional farming and husbandry along with community-based tourism and trading. In terms of culture, Hmong villagers made changes in their food and house design while preserving the necessary traditional customs of the Hmong in their spiritual life and festivals. As such, this article assumes there are three key factors leading to such changes, including an overreaching Communist state policy, acute ethnic self-awareness, and the globalization of Christianity.
This article aims to review the evolution of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN)'s involvement in the A... more This article aims to review the evolution of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN)'s involvement in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was founded in 1967 by Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia. South Vietnamese leaders and diplomats designed a new foreign policy under the administration of Nguyen Van Thieu (1967-75) that shifted focus to Southeast Asia alongside the RVN's long-standing camaraderie with the United States. This demonstrated Thieu's keenness to engage with regional states for the purpose of nation-building and an anti-Communist future. The RVN's engagement with ASEAN reflected its efforts to foster a regionalization process along with peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia, particularly after the withdrawal of the US and its allies. This study uses a qualitative approach, employing a wide range of archival collections housed at the National Archives Center II, Ho Chi Minh City and a handful of desk-research papers. The relationship is periodized into two phases. During the first phase (1967-72), the RVN embraced ASEAN's values and, despite its observer status, expected help in achieving its security and economic goals. After the 1973 Paris Peace Accords, ASEAN increasingly distanced itself from the RVN as members changed their stances, particularly as attacks by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam escalated in RVN territories. This paper aims to bridge a gap in scholarship by examining the positioning of the RVN in international and regional relations during the Cold War.
This study examines liberal arts education model influences in Vietnam’s higher education through... more This study examines liberal arts education model influences in Vietnam’s higher education throughout the Vietnam War (1965–1975). Liberal arts education advanced due to the necessity to match market norms and unite qualified people to oppose communism, as well as US specialists. This research article uses source materials from the former Republic of Vietnam and previous studies to identify two major elements of national liberal arts education. First, South Vietnamese educators stressed academic independence, which allowed students to critically think about varied views and widen their worldview. Second, community colleges combined liberal arts and pre-professional courses to stress educational practicality and social duty. South Vietnamese students were civically responsible and dedicated to research and innovation. However, the Vietnamese Civil War, declining financial backing and international recognition, and internal discord concerning this paradigm hampered the collective attempt to embody the Republic of Vietnam’s liberal arts education during the war.
This article analyses the progress of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN)'s foreign policy during the V... more This article analyses the progress of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN)'s foreign policy during the Vietnam War (1965-1973). The major hypothesis of this research is that South Vietnamese diplomats attempted to align with their partners and, distinct from the United States (US)' administration, to do two missions: fighting against communism and elevating its position in the international milieu. This paper employs a wealth of source materials housed at the National Archives Centre II, Vietnam and the method of historiography to chronologically historicise two phases. From 1965 to 1968, South Vietnamese diplomats enlisted the munificent support of Free World Military Forces and stressed the importance of military collaboration, though the regime started referring to civic aspects. However, the 1969-1973 phase saw a growth of civic collaboration and deeper integration of the RVN in international organisations and forums. This action purposefully appealed for financial support and world opinion to a higher degree of diplomatic recognition so that it would blaststrategic military and propaganda of Communists at the Paris Conference.
International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies, 2025
This study examines marked changes in marital and familial viewpoints of the Chinese Cantonese co... more This study examines marked changes in marital and familial viewpoints of the Chinese Cantonese community in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Chinese people dwelled in Saigon in the seventeenth century, established several busy areas for trade exchange, and made a considerable contribution to municipal economic and cultural development. Possessing a rich immigration history, the Chinese Cantonese people not only carefully preserved their culture but also fostered modern culture. This research was conducted using a qualitative and quantitative design with the assistance of eighty-two Cantonese participants' interviews and a questionnaire survey along with previous research to fill a lacuna of literature. The first conclusion is that the Cantonese Chinese people adopted new perspectives on marriage aims, gender equality, sexual division of labour, and family models. This highlights the importance of real love and mutual understanding when establishing a family. The Chinese Cantonese women hold a favourable social position and maintain gender equality in family income and child upbringing. When managing a family, the Chinese Cantonese show a strong inclination toward a nuclear family model, while putting their parents' role in high regard. Second, I justify three key reasons
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Papers by Huy T . Ha
Methodology: The research draws on the theories of Max Weber, Joseph Raz, and Hannah Arendt, employing qualitative methods, interviews, questionnaires, and participant observation-supplemented by quantitative survey data and secondary sources. Interviews were conducted with pastors, elders, and villagers, alongside questionnaires given to 44 Hmong Christian and Catholic informants. Participant observation over 2024-2025 deepened understanding of community dynamics, with data systematically organized using Google Forms.
Main Results: Historically, Lai Châu's Hmong communities were governed by traditional authority, with matriarchal kinship central to social structure. Leaders included the village chief (thawj tswv zog), deputy (lwm tswv zog), elders (cov laug zog), and shamans (txiv neeb), who oversaw ceremonies and rituals. Despite French colonial and Kinh administrative pressures, Hmong villages preserved their governance systems and even organized military groups for defense until 1954. Authority combined traditional chiefs, religious leaders, and, increasingly, diminished shamanic influence. Village chiefs and deputies were elected, fostering a democratic ethos resistant to centralized power. Modern Hmong still value political autonomy, often favoring native leaders over state-appointed officials.
Discussions: Authority within the Hmong societies of Lai Châu has evolved according to two of the three types put forward by Max Weber and is present in both traditional and modern societies. Hmong people have so far respected the authority exercised by native chiefs, the elderly, and religious dignitaries rather than the formal authority wielded by other ethnic groups. The role of democracy is also important to the exercise of authority, as argued by Arendt (2006). This article asserts that elements of the discourse on authority, as argued by the aforementioned researchers, are applicable to the historical evolution of Hmong authority, and are well-preserved alongside the cultural heritage of the Hmong people.