VNUHCM Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

Latest Articles

1. Research Article - Social Sciences

   Human resources for urban administration at state management agencies in Ho Chi Minh City: Imperatives and solutions

   Phạm Hạ Trương T.,ảo Le H.

   Urban management confronts various challenges posed by the escalating urbanization process unfolding throughout the entire nation. These challenges encompass population and housing issues, environmental governance, administrative management, and social security. In order to attain equilibrium amidst these issues, urban areas necessitate an adept workforce equipped with interdisciplinary knowledge to effectively address the multifaceted concerns encountered in urban settings. This paper concentrates on a comprehensive analysis of the prevailing state of competency fulfillment and the requisites for human resources in the domain of state administration related to urban areas in Ho Chi Minh City. The findings reveal that the existing human resource pool engaged in urban management in Ho Chi Minh City exhibits a commendable level of proficiency. However, ongoing self-training and advanced professional development remain indispensable for meeting occupational demands. There persists a scarcity of human resources in certain specialized sectors. Subsequently, given the swift evolution of the urban landscape encompassing socio-economic development, spatial expansion, and urban infrastructure, Ho Chi Minh City necessitates a substantial workforce for proficient urban management in the coming years. To foster professional management practices and yield optimal outcomes, it is imperative to formulate a specialized Urban Management curriculum catering to the distinctive requirements of Ho Chi Minh City, providing a steady stream of capable human resources for urban management endeavors in Ho Chi Minh City and the neighboring southern provinces and cities.

   Published: 2024-03-31In press
2. Article - Arts & Humanities

   The impacts of ethnicity policy on the Ruc community in the western mountains of Quang Binh province

   Tran L.

   For many past years, the government of Vietnam has always paid special attention to and created favorable conditions for promoting economic, cultural, and social development for all ethnic groups, especially ethnic minorities in mountainous areas. Ruc people are a local group of the Chut ethnic group, residing in the western mountains of Quang Binh province. This ethnic group has changed markedly thanks to the implementation of developmental policies since they were discovered and settled in villages. Using the methods of in-depth interviews and participatory observations conducted through surveys in the community, with the theoretical approach to poststructuralism emphasizing the power and discourse of the State through the implementation of developmental policies to the Ruc community. The article focuses on presenting the changes within the Ruc community under the impact of various policies in the fields, including infrastructure, social welfare, crop cultivation and livestock farming, and the development of cultural, educational, and healthcare aspects of life. In addition, the article also discusses the effectiveness of policy enforcement. To enable the Ruc community to further develop in the current context, we propose several solutions to preserve and promote the economic and socio-cultural values of the Ruc ethnic group.

   Published: 2024-03-31In press
3. Research Article - Social Sciences

   The Vietnam Communist Party's views on higher education through the 8th to 13th National Party Congresses

   Trương Mẫn

   After overcoming the economic crisis in 1996, Vietnam’s higher education has transformed and achieved remarkable successes, greatly contributing to raising the position of our country's higher education in the world as well as to the process of industrialization, modernization, and international integration. To gain these achievements, it is thanks to the thorough leadership of the Vietnam Communist Party and State with many reasonable, timely, and decisive guidelines and perspectives. Based on the reality of Vietnam’s higher education during the period of industrialization, modernization, and international integration, this study clarifies the Vietnam Communist Party's role in higher education in each period through analyzing the views related to higher education at the 8th to 13th National Congresses of the Vietnam Communist Party (hereinafter referred to as the Congress). To achieve the purpose of the research, the author uses the scientific literature review method as the main method. Besides, the author also uses the methods of analysis -synthesis, interpretation, and comparison. The results of the study show that there is a clear development in the Vietnam Communist Party's awareness of the role of higher education in relation to the world and domestic situations during the periods of industrialization, modernization, and international integration. However, there are also difficulties and challenges in implementing the above guidelines. Accordingly, the author has made recommendations to further enhance the role of Vietnam’s higher education.

   Published: 2024-03-31In press
4. Commentaries

   The Vietnam and the United States non-traditional security cooperation in the maritime capability buidling for Vietnam (2009-2021)

   Hoang T.

   The bilateral relations between Vietnam and the United States since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 have undergone many drastic changes and development. Looking back at the development of relations between the two countries, one of the areas contributing to the increased strategic nature of the relations is the non-traditional security cooperation. By delving into the realms of the non-traditional security, both countries enhance their diplomatic, political, and strategic proximity in general. This article examines the reasons why Vietnam and the United States have promoted the non-traditional security cooperation, specifically in maritime, over the past 10 years. To explain this, the article considers two factors. First, from the perspective of the realist theory of “covert balancing”, it is how big countries approach small countries and in parallel, small countries increase their capacity. At the same time, it is a strategic calculation when Vietnam and the United States promote the non-traditional security cooperation. Enhancing cooperation in this area keeps the bilateral relations at a low-key level but still promotes the strategic aspect of cooperation. From this perspective, the second factor is that Vietnam strategically leverages this collaboration to bolster maritime capabilities, particularly in the areas contributing to the defense capacity growth during the period spanning 2009 to 2021.

   Published: 2024-03-31In press
5. Article - Arts & Humanities

   Fishing methods of Can Gio fishermen: tradition and transformation

   Pham D., Tran H.

   Can Gio is the only coastal district in Ho Chi Minh City, where its natural conditions are favorable for fishing by a wide range of methods and gears. Therefore, from its ancient days, in addition to agricultural activities, fishing became a means of livelihood for many households in Can Gio. In this article, we have deployed the field research method to study common fishing gears frequently used by fishermen in Can Gio district in the past and present to catch fish in “shallow water and deep water”, specifically, stow nets, other typical nets, hooks and lines, types of rakes, etc. Some fishing gears are still used by Can Gio fishermen today, but have changed adapting to the current conditions, especially in terms of crafting materials as well as fishing areas. The research on the change in fishing gears in Can Gio not only focuses on how fish are caught but also reflects the local fishermen community’s flexible adaptation through their fishing over time. More importantly, this greatly contributes to maintaining and fostering the traditional value of fishing in Can Gio district not only at the present time but also in the future.

   Published: 2024-03-30In press
6. Article - Arts & Humanities

   The aesthetics of Wabi in the work Thousand Cranes by Kawabata Yasunari

   Ngo M.

   Wabi is one of significant aesthetic categories that embody the essence of Japanese beauty. Wabi finds expression in various art forms, including the Tea ceremony, architecture, fine arts, and literature. The history of Wabi is closely intertwined with shifts in aesthetic thought and practice in Japanese art and everyday life in Japan. Kawabata Yasunari, the first Japanese writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968, was deeply influenced by the spirit of Wabi, which he masterfully conveyed in his works, particularly in Thousand Cranes, one of the three Nobel prize-winning works. In previous studies on Thousand Cranes in Vietnam, the focus has primarily been on exploring themes such as mono no aware, sexuality, and existentialism. Surprisingly, there has been a lack of research discussing Wabi as the central theme of this work. This article gives a basic overview of Wabi, and then from the perspective of Wabi aesthetics, we approach the work Thousand Cranes by Kawabata Yasunari, which mourns the decline of the Tea ceremony, an important form of art rooted in the core spirit of Wabi. The article utilizes the theory of Wabi to elucidate the reasons behind the decadence of the Tea ceremony depicted in Thousand Cranes. Additionally, we also explore the presence of Wabi's beauty throughout the work.

   Published: 2024-03-10In press
7. Research Article - Social Sciences

   Intention to have children of young couples in Ho Chi Minh City – the case study in Thu Duc City and Binh Chanh District

   Phạm T.,ân Trần O.

   The article aims to investigate the intention to have children in the next 3 years of young couples in Ho Chi Minh City along with the factors affecting their intention to have children. The research orientation is the theory of planned behavior applying in the fertility intention by Ajzen I and Klobas J. The sample size includes 120 young couples (60 men and 60 women), who have no children and have one child in Thu Duc City (directly under Ho Chi Minh City) and Binh Chanh District. The information collection tools are structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The analytical methods used in this study are the descriptive statistics, the bivariate correlation analysis, and the binary logistic regression. The research findings show that young couples agree with the norm of having more children in the future, have a positive attitude towards having children, but their ability to control having children is limited. Majority of young couples want to delay childbirth and do not intend to have children in the next 3 years. Attitudes towards having children and professional work are the strongest predictors of childbearing. Based on the research findings, the article proposes the functional agencies need to issue policies to create favorable conditions for young couples to have children.

   Published: 2024-03-10In press
8. Research Article - Social Sciences

   The foreign policy of the United States under the Biden Administration on the strategic competition with China: the analysis from the individual level in international relations

   Trang N.

   The United States foreign policy greatly affects the nature and evolution of the United States-China strategic competition, especially since 2017. The paper uses an individual-level analysis approach in international relations to analyze the U.S. foreign policy on the U.S.-China strategic competition under President Joe Biden. In studying the foreign policy of a country, it is equally necessary for many individuals to participate in foreign policy making or influencing. With the complicated development of an ongoing international relations phenomenon, the paper focuses on “The foreign policy of the United States under the Biden Administration on the strategic competition with China: the analysis from the individual level in international relations” to provide more multi-dimensional interpretations of how the United States reacts to the current U.S.-China strategic competition. The study delves into and analyzes individual characteristics, including personality, work experience, etc. of President Joe Biden and the implementation of the U.S. foreign policy on the strategic competition with China through various methods of international relations research, international event analysis, and especially the individual-level analysis. Research results show that despite continuing the strategies of Donald Trump on the strategic competition with China, Joe Biden deployed the softer, more cautious, and limited confrontation with China. The individual aspect is one of the factors affecting the U.S. policy making and implementing.

   Published: 2023-12-312191-2201
9. Research Article - Social Sciences

   A comparative study of the English translations of Truyện Kiều

   Ngo K., Nguyen T.

   Đoạn Trường Tân Thanh (A New Cry from a Broken Heart), more commonly referred to as Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều), by Nguyễn Du is considered to be among the most prominent works in Vietnamese literature. Therefore, Truyện Kiều has been translated into multiple languages around the world, including French, Japanese, Chinese, and English with a considerable number of versions available. This study focuses on analyzing, assessing, and comparing the quality of the English translations of Truyện Kiều by Huỳnh Sanh Thông (1983) and Michael Counsell (1994), using Juliane House’s Model of Translation Quality Assessment (2015). In general, Huỳnh Sanh Thông’s translation (1983) is more faithful to the original version in terms of content and figurative language, along with a detailed list of footnotes. Regarding Michael Counsell’s translation (1994), there is a complete lack of footnotes, and there are many changes compared to the original version, with additions to and reductions from the content in order to maintain the poetic form and rhyme scheme. Afterwards, recommendations for future poetry translations from Vietnamese into English are provided, including the followings: (1) the translation must include sufficient and detailed footnotes to provide clear explanations on the cultural, historical, and linguistic elements in the original version, (2) the translation needs to be faithful to the original version with limited changes made to the content, the order of events, as well as limited additions and reductions made to the original content, (3) the translation should prioritize the content over the poetic form, and (4) the translation needs a specific function and target audience.

   Published: 2023-12-312254-2267
10. Article - Arts & Humanities

    The role and decision-making power of working women in families in New Delhi (India) in the 1991-2022 period

    Le H.

    Women in India from ancient to modern times, specifically before 1991, suffered from many disadvantages, prejudices, outdated customs and practices, gender inequality, child marriage, and prohibition of widows from remarrying, etc. However, since 1991, the Indian government has liberalized and restructured its economy, contributing to liberating and empowering women through some family policies. The role and status of women in the family and in society has thus been improved significantly. The article would like to analyze the changes in the role and status of working women in the family in New Delhi (India) in the 1991-2022 period through their decision - making participation in family matters. The article is based on the results of the survey conducted from February to June 2023, of 165 official and marginal female workers in public and private sectors in Delhi, India. The survey results show that the roles of women in the family have been confirmed through housework, full-or-part-time labor force participation, and community activity participation. Although working women are still in charge of household chores, there is a share of husbands and housekeepers in tasks, including cooking, cleaning the house, doing laundry, taking care of and educating children, and emotional connection between family members, which previously in patriarchal families, women had to be responsible for. Women are increasingly having a voice in the family and together with their husbands, they make decisions on all large and small tasks, act as the head of the household, have their names on real estate documents, and participate in community activities. Working Women become more independent in finance and participate in financial management in the family. Among the surveyed women, 78.1% are university degree holders. The survey results also show that 9.4% of them are the breadwinners (the main earners), and 12.7% of them have a higher income than their husbands’. The study has shown the changing role and status of women in the patriarchal families in New Delhi recently. The article contributes to identifying changes in the role and decision-making power of working women in the 1991-2022 period, thereby partly finding changes in the Indian family and society in New Delhi in the modern era.

    Published: 2023-12-312268-2278