VNUHCM Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

Latest Articles

1. Article - Arts & Humanities

   The political and historical hue of memory fragments in Patrick Modiano’s novels

   Trần N.àn

   The atmosphere of distant nostalgia in Patrick Modiano’s novels immerses readers in a world of emotions, leading to the easy conclusion that he is a lyrical writer “imprisoned” by the past. However, intense emotion is not the sole prerequisite for Modiano to be considered as “our generation’s Proust”. We believe that the memory in Modiano’s novels is not merely a nostalgic longing for a bygone era but also a manifestation and the consequence of the political and historical upheavals in France as well as the world during and after World War II. The writer reflects with the reality that memory is no longer a private, personal possession. Instead, the process of modern human memory practices has long been influenced by political and historical discourses, or more simply, power. In other words, to better understand Modiano’s writings, and above all, to understand those vague fragments of memory in them, this article aims to delve deeper into the manifestations of politics and history as subtly reflected through the memory of people – the memories of postwar ghosts. In addition, Modiano also projects memory onto spaces, revealing the no man’s land as a symbolic place of political illusions, thereby showing that Modiano is really serious and devoted his entire literary career to the fight against amnesia and against the forced forgetting by power.

   Published: 2025-04-23In press
2. Research Article - Social Sciences

   The science and technology management at higher education institutions: The literature review and the proposed model for Vietnam

   Pham L.

   Science and technology along with training activities serve as two main tasks of higher education institutions to provide highly qualified human resources, contributing to promoting the scientific, technological, socio-economic development of the country. Therefore, the effective science and technology management will yield numerous benefits in improving scientific research productivity, which fosters innovation, creativity, and technology transfer activities in universities. This study aims to synthesize the factors that constitute a scientific and technological research management model from publications across the world, thereby proposing an efficient management model for higher education institutions in Vietnam. The study adopted 32 articles published in prestigious domestic and international scientific journals to obtain relevant information. Drawing on the literature review, the paper puts forward the science and technology activity management model with the six elements: 1) researcher profiles, 2) research and technology parks, 3) scientific products, 4) scientific cooperation, 5) national scientific visibility, and (6) international scientific visibility. From the proposed model, the article offers recommendations on activities, policies, and strategies to enhance the management capacity of science and technology activities at Vietnamese universities.

   Published: 2025-04-23In press
3. Research Article - Social Sciences

   The evolution from the Pivot to Asia to the US's Indo-Pacific strategy: Causes, adjustment process, and impact

   Nguyễn N.,ị Võ Tú Nguyễn T.ư

   The US - China competition is always the most concerned issue in the complex context of the world today and has originated from the beginning of the 21st century when China rose to become the second largest economy in the world, directly challenging the global leadership role of the United States. China's strong development has forced the United States to redefine its position and influence in the U.S. foreign policy in particular and in the Indo-Pacific region in general. This is clearly demonstrated through President Barack Obama's Pivot to Asia strategy and President Donald Trump's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy. By mainly using two qualitative and comparative research methods, the study will focus on comparing and analyzing the transition of two administrations leading to changes in the direction of U.S. action towards the Indo-Pacific region, thereby answering the question: Whether the U.S. foreign policy is consistent in issues related to Asia in general and the Indo-Pacific region in particular or not. The article will also contribute a new approach in studying and evaluating the inheritance and adjustment in the United States’ major foreign strategies towards regions, especially Asia - Pacific.

   Published: 2025-04-23In press
4. Article - Arts & Humanities

   The construction of national identity in the historical fiction Tay Son Phung than ky by Thanh Chau

   Nguyễn D., Nguyễn N.,ọc Trương N.ên

   Tay Son Phung than ky is a novel in the epic Tay Son Ky by writer Thanh Chau. With historical materials and themes, Tay Son Phung than ky has made the significant contributions to the inheritance and development of the historical novel genre. Moreover, by exploiting national heritage and folk materials, and building the image of national heroes, the novel has also partly created and consolidated the Vietnamese national identity. The national identity research in historical novels is not new in the field of Literary Studies. However, through Thanh Chau’s study, a young author, and Tay Son Phung than ky – a recently published novel, the research team will provide new perspectives, thereby more clearly showing young authors’ contributions in continuing the development of the historical novel genre. The study will clarify the construction of national identity in the work through the two main arguments: the construction of national identity from the national heritage and the construction of national identity from the national pride through the image of the hero. The analysis and clarification of the issue of the national identity construction in Tay Son Phung than ky will contribute to the positive impacts on the national pride and the noble spirit of the Vietnamese people in order to arouse patriotism and national identity in the hearts of each reader, especially young readers.

   Published: 2025-04-23In press
5. Research Article - Social Sciences

   Driving Forces of Work Motivation: A Case Study of Shopee, Vietnam

   Pham A., Pham T., Truong U.

   Work motivation is a crucial issue that covers various areas of management and leadership, including organisational culture, working conditions, and performance management. The purpose of this study is to examine how the variable of work motivation, as a set of psychological components, drives the initiation, direction, intensity, and persistence of individual behaviours in an organization; employees with high work motivation help a company gain significant competitive advantages and leverage organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Kovach’s Ten Motivational Factors and the Employee Motivation Scale, developed by Tran Kim Dung and Nguyen Ngoc Lan Vy, were used as the research methodology to examine the practices of work motivation at a multinational e-commerce firm Shopee Vietnam. The research results show that the employees' work motivation at Shopee Vietnam is affected by the factors of working conditions, corporate brand and culture, suitable jobs, and income and benefits. Based on the research results, the preliminary solutions for enhancing employees’ work motivation to optimize human capability and organizational performance are also proposed.

   Published: 2025-04-23In press
6. Research Article - Social Sciences

   Language attitudes in Vietnam: The dominance of English and emerging trends in foreign language preferences

   Pham Y.

   This study explores the attitudes of Vietnamese learners towards English as their foreign language, focusing specifically on their motivations, learning methods, and future language preferences. The research aims to enhance the understanding of how the contemporary Vietnamese attitudes influence the choice of English, considering its historical development in Vietnam. The data collected from a survey of more than 700 participants reveal that English remains the dominant foreign language in Vietnam, driven by motivations, including career advancement, job opportunities, and educational requirements. Most respondents prefer self-study and language schools, demonstrating a proactive approach to language acquisition. The study also identifies a notable shift in language preferences, with growing interest in other languages like Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. These languages are gaining popularity due to cultural influences, evolving career prospects, and the increasing impact of Asian countries in the region. This trend suggests a potential diversification in foreign language learning in Vietnam, with English's dominance being challenged by these emerging languages. The findings highlight the need for educational institutions, curriculum developers, and policymakers to adapt language education strategies to reflect current learner attitudes and the changing landscape of foreign language preferences. Moreover, the study emphasizes the importance of aligning language education with learners' needs and motivations to foster more effective learning outcomes. By understanding the current attitudes toward English and other foreign languages, educators can better design curricula and teaching methods that resonate with students' goals and preferences. Future research should build on these findings by incorporating diverse data collection methods, such as interviews and observations, to provide a deeper exploration of the complex factors influencing language attitudes and choices in Vietnam. This study proposes insights to inform language education policies and practice, supporting alignment with the needs of Vietnamese learners in a changing global context.

   Published: 2025-04-23In press
7. Article - Arts & Humanities

   Metaphors about the death in American children’s literature: Effects and educational values

   Trinh V., Vo G., Nguyen D., Tran A., Bui T.

   Metaphor is often regarded as a powerful cognitive and literary tool for articulating intricate concepts in more relatable terms. Nonetheless, there is a gap in the existing literature regarding metaphors about death in children's books, despite the broader interest in death as a theme in children's literature. Therefore, this research investigates the metaphors about the death embodied in 20th-century American children's literature. Our specific purpose is to examine the effects of metaphors about death on different elements of fiction and explore the educational values they impart to young readers. The study employs a thorough textual analysis of American children's literary works as its primary methodology, alongside the thematic analysis, analytic-synthetic approaches, and systematic methods. We investigated the metaphors about the death in six American children's fictional works published in the 20th century, namely The Big Wave (1948) by Pearl S. Buck, Beat the Turtle Drum (1968) by Constance C. Greene, Annie and the Old One (1971) by Miska Miles, A Taste of Blackberries (1973) by Doris Buchanan Smith, Bridge to Terabithia (1977) by Katherine Paterson, and The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages (1982) by Leo Buscaglia. The key findings reveal that the metaphors about death contribute to clarifying and deepening characterization, as well as reflecting the stories’ cultural settings within the analyzed works. The study also mentions the educational value of these metaphors, demonstrating their capacity to help young readers grapple with a challenging topic like death and construct their knowledge and worldviews. These findings underscore the power of the metaphorical language in bridging the gap between the abstract concepts and children's comprehension, offering insights into how authors can sensitively approach difficult subjects while imparting profound life lessons.

   Published: 2025-04-23In press
8. Reviews - Arts & Humanities

   Ramanuja's revelation to the Vishistadvaita Vedanta school in the work Gita Bhasya

   Trần Đồn., Lê K.

   The consequences of industrialization in contemporary society are creating pessimistic feelings about the human condition. Re-examining the thoughts of Ramanuja - the founder of the Vishistadvaita school - through the scripture Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā with Gita Bhasya of Bhagavad Ramanuja - can open up ways of living that meet the needs and aspirations of people in contemporary society. The article's content is developed mainly by applying the method of determining language (typology) and interpreting signs (semeion/sign) of hermeneutics. The authors attempt to faithfully recount Ramnuja's ideas from the perspective: of Brahman - Atman - The path of merging Atman with Brahman to escape from the cycle of birth and death, as a basis for approaching the basic content of the qualitative non-dual school (Vishistadvaita Vedanta) as well as determining the meaning of this perspective in contemporary society. Brahman, in Ramanuja's interpretation, is not only the Supreme Being but also the Source of Light with the qualities of infinite love, compassion, and grace. Each entity of Life will become Atman when receiving the Jiva ray from Brhanman. Liberation in spiritual contemplation is the complete and intact radiance of the ray (Jiva) that Brahman has projected into each Living entity, the path of merging Atman with Brahman. This path includes Jnana Yoga (enlightened knowledge), Karma Yoga (righteous action), and Bhakti Yoga (devotion). If we remove the theistic mist from Ramanuja's thought, we can realize that the humanistic values in Ramanuja's Gita Bhasya can contribute to building global ethics - religious ecological ethics - opening a new direction for the practice of happiness in the life of contemporary humans.

   Published: 2025-04-23In press
9. Research Article - Social Sciences

   Mức sống của người dân huyện Củ Chi, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh trong quá trình thực hiện Chương trình mục tiêu Quốc gia về Xây dựng nông thôn mới

   Nguyễn Hà Lê Hà

   Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh là một trong những địa phương đi đầu trong việc thực hiện Chương trình mục tiêu quốc gia xây dựng nông thôn mới. Qua 12 năm thực hiện Chương trình, nông thôn mới tại các huyện ngoại thành đã có nhiều thay đổi, kinh tế nông nghiệp tăng trưởng qua các năm, kết cấu hạ tầng kỹ thuật, hạ tầng xã hội đã làm thay đổi bộ mặt nông thôn, dân trí được nâng cao, việc chăm sóc sức khỏe cho người dân được quan tâm hơn, thu nhập bình quân đầu người tăng, tỷ lệ hộ nghèo giảm, mức sống của người dân ngày càng được cải thiện. Nghiên cứu của chúng tôi đánh giá mức sống của người dân huyện Củ Chi trong quá trình thực hiện Chương trình mục tiêu quốc gia xây dựng nông thôn mới. Chúng tôi khảo sát 204 hộ gia đình bằng kỹ thuật lấy mẫu cụm ngẫu nhiên và phỏng vấn sâu 08 người dân tại hai xã của huyện Củ Chi, cùng với các nguồn dữ liệu thứ cấp khác. Kết quả cho thấy mức sống của người dân trên địa bàn huyện Củ Chi đã có những thay đổi đáng kể trong quá trình triển khai nông thôn mới. Thu nhập bình quân đầu người tăng theo các năm, đa số người dân trong mẫu khảo sát cho rằng tình hình kinh tế hộ gia đình và tình hình kinh tế địa phương hiện nay tốt hơn so với trước khi triển khai nông thôn mới. Tỷ lệ hộ nghèo giảm đáng kể; người dân tiếp cận với giáo dục – đào tạo, y tế và chăm sóc sức khỏe thuận lợi hơn; điều kiện nhà ở của đa số hộ dân được cải thiện đáng kể so với trước đây. Các phân tích trong bài viết đưa ra những đóp góp về mặt lý thuyết và giải pháp nhằm nâng cao mức sống cho người dân huyện Củ Chi nói riêng và người dân khu vực nông thôn ở Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh nói chung trong thời gian tới.

   Published: 2025-04-17In press
10. Research Article - Social Sciences

    The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on the geopolitics of South Asia: the India case study

    Nguyễn N.,ị Võ Tú Nguyễn T.ư

    Since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was announced, a series of economic corridors have been signed and put into operation by China and other countries in the South Asian region. This action brings many benefits to the participating parties and especially to China. However, the BRI poses a series of challenges in terms of changing geopolitics in South Asia. Not only the member countries of the strategy but also the powers involved in the region also face a series of geopolitical, security, economic issues, etc. BRI projects undertaken in South Asia have enabled China to enhance its soft power and political influence, notably by challenging India's longstanding regional dominance. While China has cultivated increasingly close ties with other South Asian nations, its relationship with regional powerhouse India presents a stark contrast. India's firm stance against China's initiatives has erected significant barriers to the Belt and Road Initiative's ambitions within South Asia. Historical animosities and recent border disputes have further exacerbated the already strained bilateral relations between the two nations. Therefore, the article focuses on analyzing the geopolitical impact of the BRI on South Asia as well as India's position in the region, thereby showing China's objectives to shape a new power order in the Indo-Pacific.

    Published: 2025-04-14In press