A Historical Trajectory of Southern Vietnam Studies in the Journal of Historical Studies (1954-2023)

Abstract

This article examines the development of research on Southern Vietnam published in the Văn Sử Địa Review and the Journal of Historical Studies between 1954 and 2023, based on a statistical survey of 372 specialised articles on the region. The findings indicate that studies of Southern Vietnam expanded significantly from 1959 onwards, closely associated with the requirements of the revolutionary cause and the resistance war against the United States. The periods receiving the greatest attention are modern history (1858–1945) and contemporary history (from 1945 to the present), with particular emphasis on resistance wars, patriotic movements, historical figures, and political, economic, cultural, and social issues. After 1975, and especially during the Đổi Mới period, the scope of inquiry broadened and approaches became more objective and multidimensional, reflecting changes in Vietnamese historical thinking. Previously contested issues, including assessments of Phan Thanh Giản and Trương Vĩnh Ký, the role of the Nguyễn lords and the Nguyễn dynasty, and the Saigon administration, were reconsidered on the basis of new sources and modern research methods. The article affirms the Journal of Historical Studies as an important academic forum that has documented the development of Vietnamese historiography and demonstrates that Southern Vietnam remains a field with substantial research potential.