The Contribution of Thai Studies in Vietnam to the Research and Training of Vietnamese Studies

Abstract

The article investigates the various meanings of the term “Thai” and positions “Thai Studies” as an interdisciplinary field that examines the history, culture, language, and society of ethnic communities belonging to the Tai-Kadai language family in Vietnam and the surrounding region. Based on a literature review, the article shows that despite of some differences in opion, Vietnamese scholars generally agree on the classification of Tai-Kadai ethnic groups. From this foundation, it highlights the significant contributions of Thai Studies worldwide through the series of International Conferences on Thai Studies (ICTS) and the works of French, Russian, American, and Thai scholars. It then discusses the formation and development of Thai Studies in Vietnam, particularly the role of the Thai Studies Program in Vietnam in organizing and connecting research with Vietnam Studies training, through curricula linked to the preservation of cultural heritage at various levels. Consequently, the article affirms that Thai Studies is an indispensable component of Vietnam Studies.