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| Researcher Nguyen Huu Chau Phan has devoted himself to the journal “Researching Hue" |
Gathering finest minds
In preparation for the release of “Researching Hue ”_Volume 10, scheduled in early 2026, the Hue Research Center is currently in the final stage of editing the articles. It is done in a meticulous manner to ensure the academic quality and the accuracy of every source.
“Editing is quite complicated because of its large volume and diverse topics. However, the editorial board is making every effort to complete it while preserving the scholarly spirit of the series over the years,” said Nguyen Huu Chau Phan.
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| “Researching Hue “_Volume 9 |
“Researching Hue “_Volume 10 is big work of more than 1,300 pages with over 80 in-depth research articles by around 70 authors in and out of Vietnam. The articles span such a wide range of fields as culture, history, architecture, society, etc. Contributors include both domestic and international researchers, as well as many familiar Hue scholars such as Nguyen Huu Dinh, Nguyen The Anh, Nguyen Huu Thong, Nguyen Xuan Hoa, Tran Dai Vinh, Phan Thanh Hai, Nguyen Anh Huy, Nguyen Huu Chau Phan, Andrée Viollis, Louis Roubaud, Bruce Weigl, and others. The volume consists of many sections such as Nhin lai và Nghi den (Looking back and Looking ahead), Nghien cuu (Studies), Nhung Nhan vat Kiet xuat (Outstanding Figures), Cong trinh Kiet tac (Masterpieces), Tu lieu (Document), etc.
“Researching Hue” is one of the very few journals in Vietnam that publishes detailed valuable studies and articles to those who do research. The articles are well selected to ensure their academic values and relevance to each section, aiming at preserving, researching and spreading the unique historical and cultural values of Hue.
Many articles are in-depth research of hundreds of pages such as: Boi canh Lich su Vietnam truoc Cong nguyen va cuoc Khoi nghia Hai Ba Trung (The Historical Context of Vietnam before the Common Era and the Trung Sisters’ Uprising), Gia Hoi Ngay xua (Gia Hoi in the Past), Pho cang Thanh Ha (Thanh Ha Port Town), Bao Vinh _ Nhung Thang tram (Bao Vinh _ Ups and Downs), Nhung Sac mau Doi song Hue nhung nam 1957-1962 (Colors of Hue Life in 1957-1962), Dieu De Quoc Tu (Dieu De National Pagoda), Bao vat Quoc gia tai Co do Hue (National Treasures at Hue Ancient Capital), etc.
“Researching Hue” is not a periodical publication. It is printed only when the content is sufficient and conditions are met. Since its first volume in 1999, there have been 9 volumes with 395 articles with a total of 3,776 pages. This is really a massive, comprehensive, and valuable series on the history and culture of Hue, and is expected to be a scientific series which continues the legacy of the B.A.V.H. of the Association of Friends of the Old Capital.
According to researcher Nguyen Xuan Hoa, “Researching Hue” selects new in-depth articles exploring memories, recollections, and anecdotes about Hue as historical and cultural data. It also announces memoirs and research which have not yet been published and reviews books about Hue published in Vietnam and abroad.
Persistently preserving
Hue Research Center was founded on May 7, 1995 in Hue. Its founding members included several Hue-based researchers: Nguyen Huu Dinh, Nguyen Xuan Hoa, Tran Hoai, Nguyen Mien, Nguyen Huu Chau Phan, Ho Tan Phan, Vinh Phoi, Doan Van Quynh, and Tran Dai Vinh with Nguyen Huu Dinh as its Founding Director.
After Nguyen Huu Dinh passed away, his son, researcher Nguyen Huu Chau Phan devoted all his energy to Hue Research Center and the journal “Researching Hue.” Volume 9 was released in 2021, when Phan was already 85 years old. Racing against time, he immediately began work on Volume 10. This may be the last time he works as the chief editor, so he works with his whole heart, gathering all valuable articles submitted to the Center. Even when he was ill and hospitalized, he resumed work as soon as he could.
“I have devoted all my energy to this publication. My monthly pension is just about VND7 million, and I use it all to make books. We have completed about 90% of the workload including typing, presenting, editing, etc. There were times when I thought I couldn’t continue because of my health status. But now I feel somewhat reassured. Just a few final steps are waiting to be done before this volume is published,” said Nguyen Huu Chau Phan.
The main criterion for articles for “Researching Hue” is “not saying what is wrong and daring to say what is right” about Hue and Hue culture. The journal boasts the contribution of hundreds of people across the globe who loves Hue and Hue culture including Vietnamese people living abroad and foreigners who research Hue and Vietnam. This is because Hue culture is not confined to Hue alone, but has spread widely from the time when Hue was the imperial capital of the country.
As a non-profit activity and in order to abide by its criteria, “Researching Hue” doesn’t accept any sponsorship or advertising; its members contribute their own money. Even the founding members receive no honoraria. Just 500–1,000 copies per issue are printed and in order to be accepted by readers, the articles must be of great value. The journal is always sold out. Even foreign libraries place orders on a regular basis.