Top 10 Best Books on Vietnamese History

Among our old history books, 'Complete Annals of Dai Viet' stands out as a monumental history series, transcribed from the Hong Bang period to At Mao (1675) during the reign of King Gia Ton of the Le dynasty. 'Complete Annals of Dai Viet' is a precious historical collection in Vietnam's archives, essential for those studying the nation's history.

The Complete Annals of Dai Viet, sometimes abbreviated as the Complete Collection, is a national history series written in classical Chinese by Vietnam, recorded chronologically, documenting Vietnamese history from the legendary period of King Kinh Duong Vuong in 2879 BC to 1675 during the reign of King Le Gia Tong of the Later Le dynasty.

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'Vietnamese Dynasties' provides detailed insights into the dynasties of Vietnam, from the 'Vietnam Country - National Name' era to the period of French colonization. It is considered one of the most comprehensive books on the succession of dynasties, kingship throughout the nation's history.

The writing style is concise and easy to understand, which captivates readers. It particularly arouses a love for the nation and a passion for the country's history among young readers, making history lessons no longer dull and sleepy.

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'Overview of Vietnamese History' is the first Vietnamese history book written in quoc ngu (Vietnamese alphabet), systematically recounting the entire history of Vietnam (up to the French colonial period). Compiled in 1919, first published in 1920, and subsequently reprinted many times, it was even used as a textbook during the French colonial and Republic of Vietnam periods until 1975, and has continued to be reprinted since then.

This is the first Vietnamese history book to break away from the tradition of writing history in the annals style and using difficult language found in feudal-era Vietnamese history books, making it widely welcomed by readers. However, due to being compiled in a very short period and solely by Tran Trong Kim, the book also contains many inaccuracies and misunderstandings for readers.

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'Vietnam Chronicles - 12 Epic Stories' narrates 12 stories of nation-building and defense during the feudal period, selected based on their importance and grandeur in Vietnamese history. The historical documents in the book have all been verified, accompanied by the author's analysis and evaluation. The work recounts the captivating stories of Vietnamese history in a completely new approach, neither like historical fiction nor like a dry scholarly reference.

Author Dung Phan crafted this masterpiece, sparking a new interest among the Vietnamese people, who may have previously been indifferent to their ancestral history. Not only does the book introduce readers to heroes like Ly Thuong Kiet and Tran Hung Dao, but it also sheds light on underrated figures and obscured landmarks. Moreover, it doesn't merely skim over the victory at Bach Dang River but also explains the technique of setting up stakes in the river. In addition to unraveling the mystery of Quang Trung's lightning-fast military campaigns, it also elucidates why the nation's territory resembles the letter 'S' today.

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Nam Phuong - The Last Empress is a book that collects stories about Empress Nam Phuong, the talented and virtuous daughter of Gò Công - Tiền Giang land, who completely captured the heart of Emperor Bao Dai to ascend to the throne of the Nguyen dynasty in 1934.

Born into a wealthy family, the life of the girl named Nguyen Thi Lan would have been much calmer and happier if she had not had a fateful encounter with the young Emperor of Dai Nam - Emperor Bao Dai. Becoming the wife of a king of a country, her life took a completely different turn, thought to be fame and power, but turned out to be painful and lonely until the final years of her life.

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This book is a journey to unveil hidden truths. This arduous journey will take you through two major parts:

The first part will not talk about history, but rather the work of historians. Instead of discussing events, readers are invited to stroll through the study rooms of historians. There, you will see images of them sitting in a busy room, surrounded by materials, pondering what to write. The rooms are arranged chronologically. The stories written by each historian sitting in different rooms will not be the same and will increasingly be filled with more details. That is how history has been formed based on reality, like flowers blooming from the roots.

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Under the scrutiny of specialists, this work conceals an intriguing and reliable endeavor. Moreover, it can provide practical tools: whenever a precise picture of Annam is needed, one cannot but refer to it. The work was first published (in several installments) in the newspaper Courrier de Saigon (Saigon Courier) in 1875 and 1876, under the auspices of the colonial authorities.

After the initial part, with a respectful handling of the original text, Jules Silvestre takes the liberty of adding an Appendix to make it the second part of the book. The notes in this section may provide some benefits, with some additional notes on previously overlooked but crucial and unaddressed events.

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'Legends of Annam' is a compilation of notes about Vietnam in the 17 main historical books of China, from the Qin and Han dynasties to 1911, when the New Year Revolution ended the last feudal dynasty in this country. In addition to the direct records about the ancient land of Vietnam known as Giao Chỉ, An Nam... there are also notes about ancient kingdoms that have become part of modern-day Vietnam's territory, such as Chiêm Thành, Phù Nam, Chân Lạp...

The source of these Chinese records has long been a valuable reference material for researchers both in the East and the West. Therefore, an external perspective on Vietnamese events is sure to inspire historians, researchers, and even young Vietnamese history enthusiasts today.

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Completed in classical Chinese in 1914, then translated by the author into Vietnamese script and published in the Indochina Magazine in 1915, BRIEF HISTORY OF VIETNAM by Hoàng Cao Khải can be considered as the first Vietnamese-language book that introduced a modern approach to writing about the history of Vietnam.

Adopting the Western style of historical writing, the book represents a significant breakthrough in the approach to and compilation of history, diverging from the traditional annalistic style of feudal historians. As a concise history, the work provides a relatively comprehensive overview of the entire history of Vietnam, from the inception of the Văn Lang state to the completion of the book in the eighth year of Duy Tân, 1914.

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'War Records 1-2-3-4.75' is an insightful book about Vietnamese history written by author Trần Mai Hạnh, who was a frontline journalist for the Vietnam News Agency in the southern battlefields. In early 1975, he was assigned to participate in the historic Hồ Chí Minh Campaign as a special correspondent.

'Historical events only happen once, just as each person's life is lived only once. But to fully understand the true value of history, to truly understand a person, it takes time, sometimes it cannot be assessed in just one instance. History and life are always an endless continuous flow. In today's life, there is the foundation and priceless spiritual values ​​of the past, while it also contains the seeds and strong vitality of the future.'

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