THE REFLECTIVE SPIRIT AND THE TREND OF LITERARY EXCHANGE AND INTEGRATION IN THE ĐỔI MỚI PERIOD

Abstract

The article systematically presents the reflective spirit and the trend of literary integration as two parallel dimensions in the development of Vietnamese literature during the Đổi Mới period. Reflection is understood as the capacity for self-questioning and re-evaluating history, human experience, and values that were once taken for granted. This is expressed through innovations in content, narrative form, and artistic thinking. As such, reflection is not merely an aesthetic feature but an inevitable developmental trend, contributing to the liberation of literature from rigid ideological frameworks. In relation to integration, reflection serves as a “cultural filtering mechanism”, allowing Vietnamese literature to selectively absorb global influences while preserving its cultural identity. The process of integration - through translation, immigrant literature, and engagement with modern literary theories - expands the space for reflective thinking and deepens the capacity for literary self-awareness. The article argues for the necessity of a strategic synthesis of reflection and integration to develop a national literature that is both culturally grounded and capable of meaningful dialogue with regional and global literary landscapes.