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Vietnam: A Long History
De la préhistoire aux dernières années du XXe siècle, cet ouvrage nous conte la Longue marche du Peuple Vietnamien, l'émergence et la formation de la culture et de la nation vietnamiennes. Une histoire riche en périphéries, écrite dans un style clair, concis : l'engagement militant de l'auteur sans nuire à l'objectivité de l'histoire confère à l'ouvrage une facture particulière.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
410 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
Nguyễn Khắc Viện
33 books6 followersNguyễn Khắc Viện (1913 - 1997) là một bác sĩ nhi khoa, đảng viên đảng Cộng sản Pháp và đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam, một nhà nghiên cứu văn hóa và tâm lý - y học - giáo dục, Giải thưởng Nhà nước Việt Nam và Grand prix de la Francophonie của Viện Hàn lâm Khoa học Pháp. Ông đã để lại nhiều công trình nghiên cứu cho Việt Nam.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 29, 2018
It was ok.
A very authentic reading experience, in that it reads like a direct translation - which it is, from it's original French, written by Nguyen Khac, published in 1976. The author was apparently a bit of a national figure and this publication is described as "...proves its attractiveness to foreign readers." by having been re-published nine tomes since 1976 and translated into several languages.
I wont lie; it is exceptionally difficult to read and follow. If you know a lot about Vietnam already, you will probably get a fair bit out of it. If you can speak/read Vietnamese your chances are better of following the many wars, dynasties and people. If you want an introduction to Viet Nam, go elsewhere!
This was one I purchased, while in Hanoi because despite having read a fair bit about Viet Nam, it was all by authors who were Westerners or had a lot of Western background. Buying it, I knew that I would be buying a whole lot of heavy propaganda, but I wanted to see what the party line was, history wise, and I had high hopes that the fascinating ancient history of Vietnam would be well covered as that was long enough ago to surely be beyond the reach of communism.
The early history was interesting to read and it leads leads up to contemporary Viet Nam in a number of different ways. It is just unfortunately the smaller section of the book and then we progress on to to the more modern era.
From 1858 on we encounter the French colonial period and wow, I knew that Veit Nam as an entity is very anti-French (and I don't doubt the occupation was pretty bad, so, who blames them) but... Wow they really don't like them. I winced quite a bit. Also the nationalistic/propaganda element ramped up at that point so in combination with the difficult writing style it was not always a pleasant reading experience, though always an interesting one.
Also, very patriarchal, this is unfortunate though consistent with what I observed while in the country. On the one hand there was this whole 'women fought for communism too!' element, but opposing it was the social structure of long term patriarchy which means that women are not really equal . This was saddening, because one of the reasons I purchased this tome was that I had heard about a queen who was prominent in one of the later dynasties, breaking rules, marrying again when she was widowed (A no no apparently, like China) all for the benefit of the country. I had hoped to learn more about that, but there was one glancing reference to her existence, no name or anything else. At that, she was the woman who got the MOST attention in 130 pages.
So. Interesting for a specific, niche readership. Tough to read, not general audience. Shame about the absence of all of womankind.
A very authentic reading experience, in that it reads like a direct translation - which it is, from it's original French, written by Nguyen Khac, published in 1976. The author was apparently a bit of a national figure and this publication is described as "...proves its attractiveness to foreign readers." by having been re-published nine tomes since 1976 and translated into several languages.
I wont lie; it is exceptionally difficult to read and follow. If you know a lot about Vietnam already, you will probably get a fair bit out of it. If you can speak/read Vietnamese your chances are better of following the many wars, dynasties and people. If you want an introduction to Viet Nam, go elsewhere!
This was one I purchased, while in Hanoi because despite having read a fair bit about Viet Nam, it was all by authors who were Westerners or had a lot of Western background. Buying it, I knew that I would be buying a whole lot of heavy propaganda, but I wanted to see what the party line was, history wise, and I had high hopes that the fascinating ancient history of Vietnam would be well covered as that was long enough ago to surely be beyond the reach of communism.
The early history was interesting to read and it leads leads up to contemporary Viet Nam in a number of different ways. It is just unfortunately the smaller section of the book and then we progress on to to the more modern era.
From 1858 on we encounter the French colonial period and wow, I knew that Veit Nam as an entity is very anti-French (and I don't doubt the occupation was pretty bad, so, who blames them) but... Wow they really don't like them. I winced quite a bit. Also the nationalistic/propaganda element ramped up at that point so in combination with the difficult writing style it was not always a pleasant reading experience, though always an interesting one.
Also, very patriarchal, this is unfortunate though consistent with what I observed while in the country. On the one hand there was this whole 'women fought for communism too!' element, but opposing it was the social structure of long term patriarchy which means that women are not really equal . This was saddening, because one of the reasons I purchased this tome was that I had heard about a queen who was prominent in one of the later dynasties, breaking rules, marrying again when she was widowed (A no no apparently, like China) all for the benefit of the country. I had hoped to learn more about that, but there was one glancing reference to her existence, no name or anything else. At that, she was the woman who got the MOST attention in 130 pages.
So. Interesting for a specific, niche readership. Tough to read, not general audience. Shame about the absence of all of womankind.
October 15, 2014
Viet Nam – A Long History by Nguyễn Khắc Viện
As its title suggests this book aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the history of Vietnam to foreign readers and to a large extent it has succeeded. It is not a mere factual recounting of the events that took place up to modern Viet Nam, neither does it read like a book on political or social science. Instead, it has tried to encompass all these fields and meld them together in order to present a full picture of Vietnamese society at different eras.
Although the author does offer his opinions and analysis of the events that take place, he clearly states that the role of historians is not to suggest solutions or alternatives, but rather to record facts. Thus readers should not expect much in the way of speculation and conjecture.
Nguyễn Khắc Viện was born the son of a Mandarin in Vietnam. He studied Medicine in France and after the declaration of Vietnamese independence, joined the Communist Party. Nguyễn served as the leader of the Vietnamese liberation movement in France and in a similar capacity in the Foreign Languages Publishing House back in Vietnam. He authored many books and articles on the culture and history of Vietnam and despite being a member, was famous for his candid criticism of the tight and bureaucratic control by the Communist Party in Vietnam.
Accordingly, Nguyễn Khắc Viện has not hesitated to bring up errors made by the Communist Party in its path to modern Vietnam. While several of these cases are discussed but fleetingly, he should be saluted for not attempting to avoid or whitewash these incidents, despite his relation to the Party. Undoubtedly, any reader will be able to pick up on his decidedly sympathetic and congratulatory tone towards the Communist Party vis a vis the more hostile attitude towards France and America. In the final chapters of the book however, he conducts an unflinching and impartial analysis of the errors and misjudgments made by the Party at the various Congresses following the reunification of Vietnam. A frank acknowledgement was also made that some would consider his work biased and that he would leave it to the reader to make the necessary adjustments.
Coverage of the book begins from the Stone Age and stretches to the late 1980s. The topics are divided into two main categories: Traditional Vietnam and Contemporary Vietnam. Nguyễn covers a wide range of issues; the uniting of the tribes that was the genesis of Viet Nam as a state, conquest and resistance against foreign invaders and occupiers, the introduction and subsequent rise of feudalism and even major military engagements. Attention is also given to culture: depictions and descriptions of artefacts, religious and traditional constructions abound. At the end of each category Nguyễn expounds on issues he considers important but was unable to fit into the individual chapters.
Each chapter of the book appears in chronological sequence. Nguyễn has delineated them with the rise and fall of whichever regime came to power. Within each chapter, he generally starts with an explanation and in-depth analysis of the governing power, be it local or foreign, its policies and organization. He then moves on to social and economic issues, followed by military engagements and finally ending on culture and religion. Nguyễn makes a point to introduce iconic and influential figures of their time, including members of academia, the arts and religion.
The strengths of this book lie in its details. Interspersed among its pages are a multitude of quotes and comments by local officials, religious leaders, poets and even foreign officials. Together with its portrayal of Vietnamese society and culture, readers can find themselves trying to visualize Viet Nam as it was in the past, empathizing with the peasants as they toiled through hardships and oppression, and sympathizing with the mandarins as they struggled to reconcile their loyalty to their country with their loyalty to a weakening monarchy.
The book draws upon several disciplines and in doing so offers readers an in-depth and multifaceted understanding of Vietnamese society and how it evolved from the past to the present. From discussions about the achievements and downfalls of the different dynasties, comparison between the programs of the then North and South Vietnam, to analyzing the interaction between religion and state philosophy and extolling the love between a young couple in prose, there is something to pique the interest of readers from almost any academic field.
Casual readers need not worry, as the book was written with a foreign audience in mind; the language used is easily accessible with a decent grasp of English. Local terms used can be easily inferred through contextual clues and the book has a coherent, learned style of text as a whole.
The book does have its weak points. It contains few references and no bibliography, factors that may have led many readers unfamiliar with Vietnamese publications to dismiss it out of hand. This could also cause problems for researchers attempting to use it or its sources as a starting or reference point for further research into other events or issues. The sequence of topics within each chapter is an issue as well. Military and political incidents may be discussed at different points in chapter which throws organization of topics into disarray.
Nguyễn’s own biased viewpoint also lends itself to criticism. Readers will find the book takes a rather polemic view of Viet Nam’s relationship with its former Western overlords, the French and the Americans. Any action or reaction on their part is treated with skepticism and contempt; in some extremes, the tone can get downright caustic and venomous. In contrast, one can always detect an upbeat, encouraging note when the focus turns to popular uprisings. Well-known blunders by the Communist Party in its early days in power are mentioned but are quickly dismissed after a casual statement or two.
There is a final point to note. This book is a rare find in that it was authored by a Vietnamese academia who despite his Western background in education, was able to produce a book written from a distinctly Vietnamese perspective. Nguyễn also has the distinct advantage of having lived through several of the tumultuous affairs that took place in the late twentieth century. This hard-earned experience, coupled with his training as a historian, lend the words in this book an undeniable weight.
I would strongly recommend this book to any reader new to the history of Viet Nam. It allows readers to view key events as part of a larger, continuous timeline. This perspective affords readers a unique look into the psyche and national identity of modern day Viet Nam, one that other more focused books fail to offer.
As its title suggests this book aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the history of Vietnam to foreign readers and to a large extent it has succeeded. It is not a mere factual recounting of the events that took place up to modern Viet Nam, neither does it read like a book on political or social science. Instead, it has tried to encompass all these fields and meld them together in order to present a full picture of Vietnamese society at different eras.
Although the author does offer his opinions and analysis of the events that take place, he clearly states that the role of historians is not to suggest solutions or alternatives, but rather to record facts. Thus readers should not expect much in the way of speculation and conjecture.
Nguyễn Khắc Viện was born the son of a Mandarin in Vietnam. He studied Medicine in France and after the declaration of Vietnamese independence, joined the Communist Party. Nguyễn served as the leader of the Vietnamese liberation movement in France and in a similar capacity in the Foreign Languages Publishing House back in Vietnam. He authored many books and articles on the culture and history of Vietnam and despite being a member, was famous for his candid criticism of the tight and bureaucratic control by the Communist Party in Vietnam.
Accordingly, Nguyễn Khắc Viện has not hesitated to bring up errors made by the Communist Party in its path to modern Vietnam. While several of these cases are discussed but fleetingly, he should be saluted for not attempting to avoid or whitewash these incidents, despite his relation to the Party. Undoubtedly, any reader will be able to pick up on his decidedly sympathetic and congratulatory tone towards the Communist Party vis a vis the more hostile attitude towards France and America. In the final chapters of the book however, he conducts an unflinching and impartial analysis of the errors and misjudgments made by the Party at the various Congresses following the reunification of Vietnam. A frank acknowledgement was also made that some would consider his work biased and that he would leave it to the reader to make the necessary adjustments.
Coverage of the book begins from the Stone Age and stretches to the late 1980s. The topics are divided into two main categories: Traditional Vietnam and Contemporary Vietnam. Nguyễn covers a wide range of issues; the uniting of the tribes that was the genesis of Viet Nam as a state, conquest and resistance against foreign invaders and occupiers, the introduction and subsequent rise of feudalism and even major military engagements. Attention is also given to culture: depictions and descriptions of artefacts, religious and traditional constructions abound. At the end of each category Nguyễn expounds on issues he considers important but was unable to fit into the individual chapters.
Each chapter of the book appears in chronological sequence. Nguyễn has delineated them with the rise and fall of whichever regime came to power. Within each chapter, he generally starts with an explanation and in-depth analysis of the governing power, be it local or foreign, its policies and organization. He then moves on to social and economic issues, followed by military engagements and finally ending on culture and religion. Nguyễn makes a point to introduce iconic and influential figures of their time, including members of academia, the arts and religion.
The strengths of this book lie in its details. Interspersed among its pages are a multitude of quotes and comments by local officials, religious leaders, poets and even foreign officials. Together with its portrayal of Vietnamese society and culture, readers can find themselves trying to visualize Viet Nam as it was in the past, empathizing with the peasants as they toiled through hardships and oppression, and sympathizing with the mandarins as they struggled to reconcile their loyalty to their country with their loyalty to a weakening monarchy.
The book draws upon several disciplines and in doing so offers readers an in-depth and multifaceted understanding of Vietnamese society and how it evolved from the past to the present. From discussions about the achievements and downfalls of the different dynasties, comparison between the programs of the then North and South Vietnam, to analyzing the interaction between religion and state philosophy and extolling the love between a young couple in prose, there is something to pique the interest of readers from almost any academic field.
Casual readers need not worry, as the book was written with a foreign audience in mind; the language used is easily accessible with a decent grasp of English. Local terms used can be easily inferred through contextual clues and the book has a coherent, learned style of text as a whole.
The book does have its weak points. It contains few references and no bibliography, factors that may have led many readers unfamiliar with Vietnamese publications to dismiss it out of hand. This could also cause problems for researchers attempting to use it or its sources as a starting or reference point for further research into other events or issues. The sequence of topics within each chapter is an issue as well. Military and political incidents may be discussed at different points in chapter which throws organization of topics into disarray.
Nguyễn’s own biased viewpoint also lends itself to criticism. Readers will find the book takes a rather polemic view of Viet Nam’s relationship with its former Western overlords, the French and the Americans. Any action or reaction on their part is treated with skepticism and contempt; in some extremes, the tone can get downright caustic and venomous. In contrast, one can always detect an upbeat, encouraging note when the focus turns to popular uprisings. Well-known blunders by the Communist Party in its early days in power are mentioned but are quickly dismissed after a casual statement or two.
There is a final point to note. This book is a rare find in that it was authored by a Vietnamese academia who despite his Western background in education, was able to produce a book written from a distinctly Vietnamese perspective. Nguyễn also has the distinct advantage of having lived through several of the tumultuous affairs that took place in the late twentieth century. This hard-earned experience, coupled with his training as a historian, lend the words in this book an undeniable weight.
I would strongly recommend this book to any reader new to the history of Viet Nam. It allows readers to view key events as part of a larger, continuous timeline. This perspective affords readers a unique look into the psyche and national identity of modern day Viet Nam, one that other more focused books fail to offer.
April 21, 2019
Hard to read. The beginning was very interesting, then there is some chapters more towards the arts, and it become an enumeration of artists names. Pretty hard to get the feeling of it without searching on the internet. Then the book starts feeling like straight propaganda and become boring. In the end it is probably not the best book to learn about Vietnam history.
June 24, 2025
Terrible book on every front.
The proper title should be "Vietnam: A Communist History". It is an ideologically driven and totally distorted book in which every aspect of Vietnamese history is seen through the lens of the superiority of communism and marxism-leninism. The retrograde communist terminologies used throughout the book didn't age well either.
The English translation is terrible, hardly readable, any machine translation could do better today.
The structure of the book is incoherent (a good editor could've done a good job to the text), there are loads of unnecessary and boring details, for example when the text is interrupted by some ancient verse in unreadable English translation going on throughout pages.
The author dumps a lot of names, almost impossible to follow who's who. These names may be obvious for native readers but not for me.
The illustrations are terrible, total useless, very primitive, totally impossible to undersand how the described battled unfolded. Any little child totally untalented at drawing could do better.
To sum it up: this should not be the book you read about Vietnamese history.
The proper title should be "Vietnam: A Communist History". It is an ideologically driven and totally distorted book in which every aspect of Vietnamese history is seen through the lens of the superiority of communism and marxism-leninism. The retrograde communist terminologies used throughout the book didn't age well either.
The English translation is terrible, hardly readable, any machine translation could do better today.
The structure of the book is incoherent (a good editor could've done a good job to the text), there are loads of unnecessary and boring details, for example when the text is interrupted by some ancient verse in unreadable English translation going on throughout pages.
The author dumps a lot of names, almost impossible to follow who's who. These names may be obvious for native readers but not for me.
The illustrations are terrible, total useless, very primitive, totally impossible to undersand how the described battled unfolded. Any little child totally untalented at drawing could do better.
To sum it up: this should not be the book you read about Vietnamese history.
July 23, 2018
I bought this as a souvenir in Vietnam to get the popular long duree version of Vietnam’s history from the perspective of its most famous international public intellectual. This book is highly nationalistic and problematic. The vast majority of contemporary historians of Vietnam would not agree with many of his assessments in here. I would recommend Christopher Goscha’s recent history of Vietnam to get a more nuanced approach and an understanding of where the majority of the scholarly community actually stands on these issues and events. This book is more a window into the official, but popularized view of Vietnam’s history, but not a good scholarly resource.
February 21, 2014
Une histoire du Vietnam ecrit par l'historien officiel du parti communiste vietnamien: donc sur la ligne du parti. En d'autres termes tres patriotique voir nationaliste (ce qui n'est pas un mal en soi) mais malheureusement tres partisan en ce qui concerne l'ere moderne (crimes de guerre Nord-vietnamiens et du Vietcong completement eludes, en revanche, le regime de Saigon en prend pour son grade). Une bonne approche de l'histoire du Vietnam, a complete avec d'autres lectures, d'auteurs plus neutres.
December 20, 2016
A good overall look at Vietnamese history (especially from the Vietnamese POV), though I wish he had expanded more on the older stud and condensed more of the modern. It got really repetitive and covered basically the same motivations/moves over and over. Yes, it may have happened that way, but he could have condensed it easily enough to make it an easier, more balanced read.
October 29, 2021
a comprehensive and engaging insight into a fascinating nation; through chronology on a thousand years of debilitating invasions and strong resistance; a valuable resource for anyone contemplating a visit to Viet Nam; carefully sidesteps possibilities of bias or selective omission
February 20, 2013
Doesn't go into too much detail, but a good refresher for readers who want to quickly acquaint themselves with Vietnam's long history since BC.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews