Phan Huy Le is considered the doyen of Vietnamese historians.
On the evening of June 23, Professor Phan Huy Le - one of Vietnam's most important historians - passed away at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, Tuoi Tre reports.
Le was hospitalized after a trip to Truong Sa. He was diagnosed with a heart disease and stayed at the hospital for three weeks before passing away.
Phan Huy Le was born in 1934 in Ha Tinh. In 1956, he graduated from Hanoi National University of Education with a major in Vietnam's history from ancient to monarchical period. Two years later, he became the program head specializing in Vietnamese history of that era at the Vietnamese History Department of Hanoi General University when he was 24 years old.
Phan Huy Le devoted his scholarly interest to Vietnam's history of colonial resistance, the country's socioeconomic landscape during feudalism, and cultural studies. He was also the co-author of History of Vietnam — a historical magnum opus mapping Vietnamese history from ancient to modern times, which is considered the most thorough study published in recent years.
Le is a pioneer that played a pivotal role in establishing and popularizing Oriental studies and Vietnam studies departments at Vietnamese universities. In the span of his career, he received more than ten awards and honors from national and international institutes for his contribution to Vietnam's history.
[Photo via Phap Luat Dan Sinh]
