Talk | History of Libraries and Archival Systems in Vietnam

Time: 6:30PM - 9:30PM | Sunday, 19.04.2026
Location: Saigon Ward (detailed directions will be sent to registered participants via confirmation email)
Facilitator: Trần Phúc Khang
Event registration link: https://forms.gle/rDb19fuVnvDaFxrr8

Systems for storing and preserving knowledge appeared in East Asia very early. Many sources show that forms of libraries existed even before the Common Era. Within the flow of cultural exchange among countries sharing classical traditions, how did Vietnam receive and build its own systems for preserving knowledge?

In the program "History of Libraries and Archival Systems in Vietnam", we will explore:

• Historical records of book collections in Vietnam
• How scholars such as Lê Quý Đôn and Phan Huy Chú cataloged and systematized knowledge
• Methods of assigning personnel (custodians) and unique preservation techniques developed to protect books under harsh weather conditions

From the experiences of earlier generations, we will discuss and draw lessons for building, operating, and preserving a modern private library system.

Năm Năm Tháng Tháng
Tempo Nexus
Trần Phúc Khang

Speaker introduction: Trần Phúc Khang graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sino-Nom studies and continued postgraduate studies in Sino-Nom at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, HCMC. He has collaborated in organizing programs on classical texts and introductory Sino-Nom classes with Năm Năm Tháng Tháng. Currently, he focuses on research related to ancient Vietnamese bilingual dictionaries and continues to expand his studies on medieval Vietnamese textual heritage.