Vol 1, No 7 (2017)

The article deals with modern - the post-Soviet stage in the development of Russian Oriental studies and explores objective reasons for its occurrence. It presents the main Russian centers occupied with educating of Vietnamese speaking people (Institute of Asia and African studies of Moscow state University, the universities of Saint-Petersburg and Vladivostok) and Vietnam studies in the institutes of RAS (for Far East, Oriental studies, philosophy, linguistics, etc.). The author outlines (bibliography submitted in the end) some notable publications in the Russian Federation for the period 1994-2016, notes prominent titles translated into Vietnamese and published in Flanoi. Among scientific proceedings in Russian he highlights the most comprehensive one, namely «The Complete academic history of Vietnam» in six volumes.

The paper examines the spiritual heritage of Ho Chi Minh as the basis for the formation of modern ideological system of Vietnam. It combines the most effective Eastern and Western technologies of struggle against Western colonialism. Since the early 1990's this belief system became known as the ideology of Ho Chi Minh. The author proves that it helped to restore self-reproducing national state power in Vietnam. The ideology of Ho Chi Minh is considered as a key ingredient of Vietnam's victory in the Indochina wars, successful economic reforms in the late XX - early XXI centuries, allowing to defend firmly national interests. Key political slogans of this ideology, as well as examples of Western counter-propaganda are presented.

The paper presents main issues of discussions with famous Australian scholar on Vietnam Adam Fforde concerning the USSR/Russia impact on Communist party of Vietnam policy before and after the unification of the country and the myths on this subject widespread in the West. The analysis revealed the misunderstanding and intentional falsification by part of Western scholars and politicians of the real nature of Soviet-Vietnam relations and decision+making mechanisms in the CPV. The dialog partners made a conclusion about high reliance of internal and external policy of Vietnam leadership, though differed while assessing the degree of its independence and the origins of renovation phenomenon. Identifying a number of factors that determined the policy of «Doi Moi» and, above all, the transition to a market economy, the authors examine internal causes and external influences. Due to the first group they specify some movements on the ground aiming at the development of private initiative and entrepreneurship in 1970-80's, and the need to overcome the crisis of administrative+command system, the second groupe containes the features of Soviet economic assistance to the DRV and the SR of Vietnam.

The paper highlights a fundamental change in the conceptual approach of Vietnamese leadership to the relationship between economy and politics as one of the basic factors for the decision on transition to «Doi moi» policy by the CPV VI National Congress (1986). On the threshold of XXI century the struggle for development and economic progress became the foundation not only of material prosperity, but also of comprehensive national security. In these circumstances, under the Doi Moi policy Hanoi adopted fundamentally new foreign policy, which has enabled to radically change the international image of Vietnam and thus to ensure the most favorable outward conditions for strong economic growth.The new foreign policy was based on the formula of VI Congress of the CPV, namely to conduct independent multi+vector foreign policy; diversify external relations, actively participate in international integration; to be a trustworthy friend and partner of international community.

Russia and Vietnam have a unique historical experience of cooperation, which largely formed the preconditions for «renovation» policy in Vietnam. The configuration of bilateral partnership has been transformed. Cooperation framework is based on the objective capabilities of the two countries, which are determined by the situation on the global market, the national structure of production and profitability criteria. The current model of relations is quite sustainable. The patronage of the state is fundamentally important. At the same time, there are no sufficient grounds to expect a recovery of Russia's position as Vietnams' global trading partner. At the same time modified Vietnams' position in regional economy contains the potential to create a sustainable model of cooperation with Russia.

The paper presents the results of a joint study by the ISPR and Vietnamese colleagues identifying Vietnamese youth facilities to study abroad, including Russian universities. The authors identified that educational migration is directed to the countries implementing an active policy to attract potential students from Vietnam. Russia is not among them and loses out the competition to other states. Russian policy in this area is characterized as inadequate. The authors analyses national youth development strategy in Vietnam during 2011-2020 too. Basing on these assessments they concludes that Russia has the necessary conditions to attract Vietnamese students and have to develop a new external migration policy.

The author reveals the image of modern Vietnamese cities in the context of renovation processes and an increasing rate of urbanization. He presents the main features of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city and Hue, including their demographic characteristics, trends in external appearance changes and development of infrastructure. The issues of maintaining the cities public order, preservation of cultural and historical heritage, implementation of fire and flood safety, protection of the environment are briefly covered too. Growth of population of Vietnam's capital is evaluated as a factor that allowed it to enter the group of the largest cities in the world.

An answer to a question what disturbed to establish diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States in years 70 of the 20th century is an essential purpose of the article. These two states wasted the possibility of regulating bilateral relations. The American community wanted to end conflict with Vietnam. President Carter also aspired to it, but differences of opinion between Zbigniew Brzezinski and Cyrus Vance made achievement of this objective impossible, all the more, that both for politics thought that relations with China were more important. Relationships USA-Vietnam were considered not individually, but in the wider international context. Vietnam also made a few mistakes: he wasn't able to improve relationships with China, to solve of problem of Cambodia, to establish relations with ASEAN. Leading armies into Cambodia was the biggest mistake in this period. The politics of Vietnam was not very flexible too. In years 80 Vietnam again tried to create more easy terms for conversations and didn't raise the demand of war compensations strong. However a turning point of this situation was a political reforms called doi moi. Reorientaition of the foreign policy which was supposed to serve reforms, the pragmatism and the flexibility. The leading out Vietnam's armies from Cambodia opened the door for establishing diplomatic relations.

In the scholarly literature there has been a widespread opinion that Nguyen Truong To was a man of exceptionally broad knowledge in the area of Western learning. According to many authors, when he was young he received a thorough education in Western sciences from the French missionaries, which allegedly started in 1848. In this paper the author tries to prove that the above-mentioned opinion lacks any base in the available sources. On the contrary, the sources warrant the conclusion that in fact, Nguyen Truong To received principally the classical Confucian education, and that the missionaries just taught him for a short time and only on the common level. This circumstance allows to have doubts about the claim that he really was highly knowledgeable in the Western learning.

Abstract: The paper discovers process of revision of religious views and policies realized by the Communist Party and State of Vietnam during past 25 years (1990-2015). The author accepts that due to historical conditions some State and Communist Party guidelines and policies towards religion revealed shortcomings before Renovation period (1986). This period is considered as breakthrough in the «rediscovery of religion» when the Party admitted that «religious morality is much consistent with the building of new society». The paper studies CPV innovative approach towards some peculiar religions such as Protestant, Muslim, and Khmer Theravada Buddhism. Based on his study results, the author reviews achievements and lessons of this process in religious realm.

Автор рассматривает малоизученный феномен вьетнамской культурно-религиозной жизни - Культ Матери трех сфер (впоследствии четырех сфер) - неба, земли, воды, гор - как особое проявление поклонения Святой матери, которое несет в себе местные традиции вьетского населения дельты Красной реки на Севере Вьетнама. Представлены основные молельные храмы этого верования и содержание своеобычных и разнообразных ритуальных действий и обрядов, совершаемых служителями храмов, особенно ритуалы общения с духами и святыми. Автор делает вывод, что поклонение Матери трех сфер и тетырех сфер - это древнее автохтонное верование вьетов, которое демонстрирует необоримую силу и в условиях современной жизни Вьетнама. Благодаря его культурной ценности, духовности и жизненной силе, это верование распространилось на другие районы страны и даже вышло за ее пределы. В 2016 г. Культ Матери трех сфер зарегистрирован в ЮНЕСКО как нематериальное культурное наследие человечества.

The author overviews joint studies conducted by Russian-Vietnamese scholars of terrestrial ecosystems in Vietnam since the late 1950s. Particular attention is paid to the activities of the Vietnamese-Russian Tropical Center established in 1987. The main results achieved during many years of fruitful cooperation between Russian and Vietnamese scientists are discussed.