05/08/2026
The program's guest speaker was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi An, Senior Lecturer at the VNU School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts (VNU-SIS), Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Vice President of the Hanoi Union of Literature and Arts Associations; and President of the Hanoi Association of Folklorists - a distinguished scholar with numerous contributions to the fields of Folklore Studies and Heritage Studies.
In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Tu Anh, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, gave a brief introduction of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi An and emphasized the significance of academic exchange activities in strengthening professional dialogue, keeping pace with new approaches, and contributing to improved education and scientific research quality in the social sciences and humanities.
In her main presentation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi An examined questions of creativity, the process of transmission, and prevailing scholarly views on folklore, while clarifying the distinctive poetics of the genre. She also emphasized the role of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches in folklore research. Drawing on specific examples, she affirmed that folklore does not exist in isolation but is constantly in motion within a broad cultural space, intersecting with history, society, belief systems, and community life.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi An presenting at the exchange program
Beyond providing a theoretical foundation and research methodology, the speaker also addressed the demands placed on researchers today, particularly the need for openness, the ability to connect knowledge across disciplines, and rigor in academic work.
The discussion session was lively, with lecturers and students raising numerous questions on methods for studying legends within Vietnamese folklore, as well as on how interdisciplinary approaches could be applied in study, research, and teaching. The speaker addressed each question thoroughly, helping to further clarify the theoretical and practical issues raised.
Students showing strong interest in Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi An's presentation topic
The academic exchange program was held in a serious, scholarly, and open atmosphere. Through the event, staff, lecturers, and students at Hong Duc University gained further access to new research directions, deepening their understanding of the role of folklore in cultural and social life and in modern scientific research.
Representatives of the Faculty of Social Sciences presenting a gift
and taking a commemorative photo with the speaker
This activity is one of several practical initiatives aimed at promoting academic life and contributing to the goal of improving the quality of education and scientific research at the Faculty of Social Sciences in particular, and at Hong Duc University as a whole.
Source: Hong Duc University Website