Thank you for having Kevin on the podcast, his insights were incredibly interesting, I could’ve listened to him for hours! It would be wonderful to have him back sometime in the future. Also, thank you for your thought-provoking questions Kenneth, they truly added depth to the conversation. Fantastic interview!
Kevin Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the University of Amsterdam. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024), the first book to bring Vietnamese political thought into the academic field of political theory.
Thanks for an enlighten and intelligent dialogue, and the lesson learned from it. I watched this in bed at 3:am and I'm 65 yo (just prove to you that older doesn't always mean wiser lo)
Hi anh Kenneth, as a Vietnamese living in Vietnam, specifically in Saigon. I just want to say that I learnt a lot from these podcasts, a lot of young people in Vietnam nowadays are getting more exposure to international content and understand much more about democracy or other kind of constitution and philosophy than their parents. However the way we study in school and the way the society is in Vietnam prevent us to have debates, think critically, and make voices to things that matter to us just like Confucious philosophy, you just do not speak up to those above you. When I was in college, I had to learn a lot about Marx and Engels ideology, and nobody else's and the funny thing is that our economy is considered as a free economy by the US, which is the complete opposite of their philosophy. Do we have thinkers nowadays? we probably do, but whenever there are some opinions, they either go to jail or being teared apart by the communist thinkers. That's why many young people are seeking their ways out of the country, including me.
Your question is very intriguing and well derserved deep thinking. Howerver, it's also too broad and it could lead to biases. We all want some level of generalization and shared values, but Vietnamese in the country are trained differently than those abroad. They, as an overwhelming majority, learn and form their ideology much sooner than those abroad. Their stake is also rooted for the homeland and regime as they know them.
Interesting observation you write here. I’m wondering if you can expand on this thought. I figured this is a starting point that will need more expansion as time goes on.
I’m curious what Prof Kevin’s distinction between “Chinese occupation” and “French colonization”. The reason I wonder it that Prof Kevin said Phan Bội Châu is the pioneer of anti-colonialism. However we had many people fight against the Chinese before. Aren’t they supposed to be the “first”?
Gentlemen, I loved it, but I knew it already. I better read Pham's book. Please note: after the Versailles Conference, only the 4th International was interested in the liberation of the colonial peoples. Nonetheless, it was twenty years before the Vietnamese Revolution began in May 1941. And then it was a further thirty-four years before the Revolution was successfully completed (4/75). Is there any doubt that the 4th International was the only force in the world with the fortitude to support the Vietnamese revolutionaries until victory ? As for the shame you mention, you should know that many of us consider the Vietnamese to be the very toughest and shrewdest humans on earth. Quietly prideful.
I appreciate the commentary. No matter how much the outside world thinks of the Vietnamese there will be feelings of shame and inferiority that we as humans must process no matter the National situation. I think it’s part of processing who we are and in the end, it’s just part of getting to know ourselves better. But thanks for the vote of confidence my friend!!!
@@TheVietnamesepodcast By the way, dear brother, when you discussed heroes on street signs, you glaringly omitted the NLF cadres, PAVN generals, Party luminaries and contested pieces of real estate that are commemorated in every town. Non-Vietnamese would like to know that the guy who tried to assassinate McNamara is remembered in every province, as are the Paracels and Spratlys.
he talked about Ho Chi Minh's activities in France but forgot to mention that he was one of the founders of the French communist party, he wasnt just hang out with them.
HCM was a tool and a thug. He secretly kiiled many of his communist comrades and anti French allies who saved his asses to consolidate power. Nothing positive to write home.
The damn Vietnam war, a subdivision of the Cold War created by superpowers USA and former USSR has caused a division among Vietnamese until today. Hopefully when all the people of that generation are gone, Vietnamese can be a real union... :-(
I was a Philosophy student as well... my undergrads was Philosophy. We didn't call "Political Philosophy".... our university named the course as "Social Philosophy." We do have many Philosophers who study not focus on one area of study..... Philosophers are well-rounded.... we studied mathematics, science, astrology, medicine, family/social, etc.... To focus only on "political figures" as thinkers worth mentioning is a disgrace/unjust to our forefathers.
to answer the "Do Vietnamese People Share the Same Heroes?" tbh we should asking yourself (if you're vietnamese) "what is your define of "vietnamese heroes" ? Heroes is a mist concept. bigger problem is... each vietnamese vs vietnamese oversea are have different roots, different family path that's lead u to today.
A real historical version I just got from a trip to VN . In Qui Nhon, there is an Uncle Ho and his father, Nguyen Sinh Sac - Nguyen Tat Thanh Monument, in the central square in city . There is going on a tale about this statute that you can only hear among the locals . - "There are 2 idiots standing all day out there - Why idiot - Because it''s only idiots standing all day out there in such a hot temperature - How dare you saying so . Police would arrest you and put you in jail. You can not criticize uncle Ho like that. -We are not naming anyone. We saying in general"
It's ok to let go of the past. Why should you be ashamed OR be proud of your ancestors achievements or non-achievements. It's good to draw some inspiration, but you can do that from anyone. If I'm a person from an Amazon tribe, am I any less of a person? Only be proud of your own achievements. Something that was done by someone a thousand years ago has nothing to do with you, Vietnamese or otherwise.
Người Việt nhiều, bạn chỉ chọn chủ đề triết hoc,chính trị, mà không chọn chủ đề tôn giáo, thì không phải là người hiểu hết câu chuyện cách mạng của người VN,nó không đơn giản là chủ nghĩa cộng sản hay chủ nghĩa tư ở VN và thế giới,nó là cuộc đấu tranh của các giá trị văn hoá ,giữa các nền văn minh Đông ,Tây
Eh HCM came from a turmoil time when society gone away with metal coinage to papier excheque tender? and from cash basis to accrual methods in book keeping aka mass production, inventory management, supply chain, etc.. Results in millions agrarians suddenly became endebted and entwined in poverty? What many said the lack of welfare and risk management in then so called progressive soicety where a few win BIG and many MANY loss a little by little?
You must read and interview in Vietnamese language to research about Vietnamese history and stories . If you don't know Vietnamese, your writing are to serve the non Viet community only. If you don't read and understand Vietnamese you don't really "feel" and dónt really "know" the Viet history and their stories. But , oh well, history in pre-internet time was fictional anyway . Now, with youtube, internet, history is real ! I love these interviews, although you guys are too brainwashed by the West, and sorry to say that here
@@chocoHD88 Windyqueenky is correct not a hater but it's a fact at least from my experience. I've lived in Canada for over 30 years. I've met numerous young Vietnamese who are not fluent in Vietnamese. All they know about Vietnam history is through the western books and through Western view.
@@thumtlnguyen3626 Ive lived in the US all my life and I still speak Vietnamese. If you want to fault others versions of it, then maybe start pointing the finger at your own families and the communities you were brought up in. At least someone is actually doing something about it and writing it in English and bringing it to the masses.
@@chocoHD88 You jump to your stereotypes too soon . In the academic world at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton,... mentor professors would expect their researcher students to master the language in which the graduate student doing his/her doctoral dissertation about.
Thank you both to bring a different angle to our vietnamese heritage.
Thank you for the kind words. We will make an effort to bring more guests like Kevin!
Amazing interview! I learned so much about the history of our people and the nuances of the Vietnam War
Thank you Howard!
Thank you for having Kevin on the podcast, his insights were incredibly interesting, I could’ve listened to him for hours! It would be wonderful to have him back sometime in the future. Also, thank you for your thought-provoking questions Kenneth, they truly added depth to the conversation. Fantastic interview!
Thank you for continuing to do your podcast Kenneth. All of your videos are excellent!
Thank you for the kind words Henry! I would love to have more suggestions for video topics.
I just went to an online bookstore and was able to find the book! It will be coming soon.
Great to hear!!
Very interesting! I have learned a lot from the podcast.
Thank you so much 👍
Kenneth, your search for Vietnamese identity is admirable. You have to really drop what our parents have told us…
Excellent! Keep digging it deeper and find a way out. Greatly apricated your diligent work. Hope our future will be bright.
Our present and future is bright!
Your diligent work empowers today & future Viet diaspora generations. ❤
Great job guys ❤❤❤
Kevin, your story is fascinating! You probably my son's age. I just order your book and can't wait to read it.
Please come back and tell us your thoughts after you read Kevin’s book!
very interesting topic ❤
Kevin Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the University of Amsterdam. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024), the first book to bring Vietnamese political thought into the academic field of political theory.
Thanks for an enlighten and intelligent dialogue, and the lesson learned from it. I watched this in bed at 3:am and I'm 65 yo (just prove to you that older doesn't always mean wiser lo)
Jeeez, I love this comment. Thank you for keeping it real lol! Glad you enjoyed this episode. I appreciate the kind words!!
Hi anh Kenneth, as a Vietnamese living in Vietnam, specifically in Saigon. I just want to say that I learnt a lot from these podcasts, a lot of young people in Vietnam nowadays are getting more exposure to international content and understand much more about democracy or other kind of constitution and philosophy than their parents. However the way we study in school and the way the society is in Vietnam prevent us to have debates, think critically, and make voices to things that matter to us just like Confucious philosophy, you just do not speak up to those above you. When I was in college, I had to learn a lot about Marx and Engels ideology, and nobody else's and the funny thing is that our economy is considered as a free economy by the US, which is the complete opposite of their philosophy.
Do we have thinkers nowadays? we probably do, but whenever there are some opinions, they either go to jail or being teared apart by the communist thinkers. That's why many young people are seeking their ways out of the country, including me.
I just tried to order Kevin’s book, and my local bookstore couldn’t find it on any platform they tried. Any suggestions?
Can you try this link and let me know if you were able to order the book? a.co/d/eTy0p6z
Your question is very intriguing and well derserved deep thinking. Howerver, it's also too broad and it could lead to biases. We all want some level of generalization and shared values, but Vietnamese in the country are trained differently than those abroad. They, as an overwhelming majority, learn and form their ideology much sooner than those abroad. Their stake is also rooted for the homeland and regime as they know them.
Interesting observation you write here. I’m wondering if you can expand on this thought. I figured this is a starting point that will need more expansion as time goes on.
Our dignity is to liberate the Vietcong government 😮❤
Anyone have visit Trier Germany?
I’m curious what Prof Kevin’s distinction between “Chinese occupation” and “French colonization”. The reason I wonder it that Prof Kevin said Phan Bội Châu is the pioneer of anti-colonialism. However we had many people fight against the Chinese before. Aren’t they supposed to be the “first”?
Gentlemen, I loved it, but I knew it already. I better read Pham's book. Please note: after the Versailles Conference, only the 4th International was interested in the liberation of the colonial peoples. Nonetheless, it was twenty years before the Vietnamese Revolution began in May 1941. And then it was a further thirty-four years before the Revolution was successfully completed (4/75). Is there any doubt that the 4th International was the only force in the world with the fortitude to support the Vietnamese revolutionaries until victory ? As for the shame you mention, you should know that many of us consider the Vietnamese to be the very toughest and shrewdest humans on earth. Quietly prideful.
I appreciate the commentary. No matter how much the outside world thinks of the Vietnamese there will be feelings of shame and inferiority that we as humans must process no matter the National situation. I think it’s part of processing who we are and in the end, it’s just part of getting to know ourselves better. But thanks for the vote of confidence my friend!!!
@@TheVietnamesepodcast By the way, dear brother, when you discussed heroes on street signs, you glaringly omitted the NLF cadres, PAVN generals, Party luminaries and contested pieces of real estate that are commemorated in every town. Non-Vietnamese would like to know that the guy who tried to assassinate McNamara is remembered in every province, as are the Paracels and Spratlys.
he talked about Ho Chi Minh's activities in France but forgot to mention that he was one of the founders of the French communist party, he wasnt just hang out with them.
HCM was a tool and a thug.
He secretly kiiled many of his communist comrades and anti French allies who saved his asses to consolidate power.
Nothing positive to write home.
Care to elaborate details of the French then and now modern welfare system??
The damn Vietnam war, a subdivision of the Cold War created by superpowers USA and former USSR has caused a division among Vietnamese until today. Hopefully when all the people of that generation are gone, Vietnamese can be a real union... :-(
I was a Philosophy student as well... my undergrads was Philosophy. We didn't call "Political Philosophy".... our university named the course as "Social Philosophy." We do have many Philosophers who study not focus on one area of study..... Philosophers are well-rounded.... we studied mathematics, science, astrology, medicine, family/social, etc.... To focus only on "political figures" as thinkers worth mentioning is a disgrace/unjust to our forefathers.
to answer the "Do Vietnamese People Share the Same Heroes?" tbh we should asking yourself (if you're vietnamese) "what is your define of "vietnamese heroes" ? Heroes is a mist concept. bigger problem is... each vietnamese vs vietnamese oversea are have different roots, different family path that's lead u to today.
A real historical version I just got from a trip to VN . In Qui Nhon, there is an Uncle Ho and his father, Nguyen Sinh Sac - Nguyen Tat Thanh Monument, in the central square in city . There is going on a tale about this statute that you can only hear among the locals .
- "There are 2 idiots standing all day out there
- Why idiot
- Because it''s only idiots standing all day out there in such a hot temperature
- How dare you saying so . Police would arrest you and put you in jail. You can not criticize uncle Ho like that.
-We are not naming anyone. We saying in general"
precisely
😀😀😀 see how smart people are
It's ok to let go of the past. Why should you be ashamed OR be proud of your ancestors achievements or non-achievements. It's good to draw some inspiration, but you can do that from anyone.
If I'm a person from an Amazon tribe, am I any less of a person?
Only be proud of your own achievements. Something that was done by someone a thousand years ago has nothing to do with you, Vietnamese or otherwise.
Cho hỏi luật sư ở tiểu bang nào vậy
Người Việt nhiều, bạn chỉ chọn chủ đề triết hoc,chính trị, mà không chọn chủ đề tôn giáo, thì không phải là người hiểu hết câu chuyện cách mạng của người VN,nó không đơn giản là chủ nghĩa cộng sản hay chủ nghĩa tư ở VN và thế giới,nó là cuộc đấu tranh của các giá trị văn hoá ,giữa các
nền văn minh Đông ,Tây
Eh HCM came from a turmoil time when society gone away with metal coinage to papier excheque tender? and from cash basis to accrual methods in book keeping aka mass production, inventory management, supply chain, etc..
Results in millions agrarians suddenly became endebted and entwined in poverty? What many said the lack of welfare and risk management in then so called progressive soicety where a few win BIG and many MANY loss a little by little?
We are free and we live in the USA. Freedom of Speech my brothers.
You must read and interview in Vietnamese language to research about Vietnamese history and stories . If you don't know Vietnamese, your writing are to serve the non Viet community only. If you don't read and understand Vietnamese you don't really "feel" and dónt really "know" the Viet history and their stories. But , oh well, history in pre-internet time was fictional anyway . Now, with youtube, internet, history is real ! I love these interviews, although you guys are too brainwashed by the West, and sorry to say that here
Oh look, a hater on the internet. It's real!!
@@chocoHD88 Windyqueenky is correct not a hater but it's a fact at least from my experience. I've lived in Canada for over 30 years. I've met numerous young Vietnamese who are not fluent in Vietnamese. All they know about Vietnam history is through the western books and through Western view.
@@thumtlnguyen3626 Ive lived in the US all my life and I still speak Vietnamese. If you want to fault others versions of it, then maybe start pointing the finger at your own families and the communities you were brought up in. At least someone is actually doing something about it and writing it in English and bringing it to the masses.
@@chocoHD88 You jump to your stereotypes too soon . In the academic world at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton,... mentor professors would expect their researcher students to master the language in which the graduate student doing his/her doctoral dissertation about.
@@windyqueenky ohhhh you mean those elitist, name brand professors. Well, not in the everyday world will that apply.