VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
INSTITUTE OF VIETNAMESE STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCES
VU THI NHU QUYNH EDUCATION IN DONG ANH DISTRICT -
TRADITION AND MODERNITY

Master thesis of Vietnamese Studies
Code : 60 31 60 Thesis supervisor:
ASSOC.PROF TRAN NGOC VUONG HANOI – 2012 GUARANTEE

I undersigned Vu Thi Nhu Quynh would like to guarantee that this
thesis is my individual research under the scientific guidance and


INTRODUCTION 6
1. Rationale 6
2. Brief of related previous researches 7
3. Objectives and tasks 11
4. Objects of the research 12
5. Scope of the research 12
6. Research methodology 12
7. The findings of the thesis 13
8. Structure of the thesis 13
CONTENT 14
Chapter 1: OVERVIEW OF DONG ANH DISTRICT AND ITS
EDUCATION 14
1.1. Overview of Dong Anh district 14
1.1.1. Geography and history in Dong Anh 14
1.1.2. Economy in Dong Anh 19
1.1.3. Cultures in Dong Anh 21
1.2. Draft about education roadmap in Dong Anh Ha Noi 24
1.2.1. Traditional education 25
1.2.2. Modern education 26
Chapter 2: THE TRADITIONAL EDUCATION IN DONG ANH 29
2.1. Overview of traditional education in Dong Anh 29
2.1.1. Teacher – learner 29
2.1.2. Schooling systems and management 33
2.1.3. Learning content and examination 36
2.2. Achievements of traditional education 39
2.2.1. Many people in Dong Anh passed the national examinations 39
2.2.2. Many families, villages of court system of competition –
examinations in Dong Anh 42



INTRODUCTION

1. Rationale
Education is one of the most meaningful activities for the
development of each country. The old people say, “For the benefits
for 10 years, it is required to educate people”. Such short saying
reminds the future generation about the importance of education for
the decadence and prosperity of each country. A PhD in Le Dynasty
said that “Talented and righteous are the life-sustaining element of the
nation. The country is strong and wealthy only when the life-
sustaining element is prosperous. On the contrary, the country is weak
and humble when the life-sustaining element is decadent. Therefore,
the kings always consider the education of talent, selection of scholar
and education and nourishment of nation’s life-sustaining element
necessary”. The old people appreciate the education in such way.
Nowadays, in the context of global integration, the education is
increasingly pressing.
In addition to the achievements that are prided, the current
education in our country remains many disadvantages such as
overloaded program, examination pressure, lots of extra lessons,
school violence, negative teaching and education methodologies, etc.
Before such challenges, it is required to research from the generation
of traditional times to the current moment to see the process. It also
needs the comparison to see the changes. Therefore, it can be seen
some issues in the current time. This is the key to find out the solution
for the new education and the basis for the current education review.
Education is not only meaningful for the development but also
influential to the nation culture and leaves a remark on the cultural
elements. Dong Anh district located in the north and separated from

more than two thousand years in the nation foundation and defense. It
is calculated since the dynasties of Hung King, nearly one thousand
years under Northern invader, feudal dynasties and two wars against
French and American and years of comprehensive changes from the
innovation starting from VI Party Congress. The Confucianism
education in Dong Anh is described lively, detailed and
comprehensively in Part I – Chapter 3 of this book. The book lists out
the number of persons passing as per the duration, hometown, profile
and merits of people passing the pre-court competition examination.
The writer states the villages, families of system of competition-
examinations in Dong Anh clearly with the accurate evidences. This
writing can be seen as the systematic part about education in Dong
Anh district based on the book Education about Confucianism
system of former competition – examinations Thang Long Ha Noi of
Bui Xuan Dinh. However, the writer pays much attention to listing out
the figures without analysis of such figures. The modern education in
Dong Anh has not been rolled out similarly to the part about
Confucianism tradition that makes the reader not have the general
view about education in Dong Anh from the tradition to the modern
aspect.
The study about Viet Nam education for long phases after the
year of 1917 – present, many works indicates the features,
achievements of new education as per each historical period. Some
works can be listed out such as Viet Nam Education in contemporary
period of Phan Trong Bau, Viet Nam Education at the threshold of
XXI century of Pham Minh Hac, Viet Nam Education History before
September 1945 Revolution of Nguyen Dang Tien, Viet Nam
Education History of Bui Minh Hien. As per this study tendency,
there is no work about the periods and achievements about education
in Dong Anh District.

5. The findings of the thesis
With the topic “Education in Dong Anh district – Tradition and
modernity”, the writer wants to have a detailed view about each aspect
in the education in Dong Anh and see the impacts from such changes
on achievements and limitations of education in Dong Anh and its
impacts on the cultural life of Dong Anh people.

CONTENT
Chapter 1: GENERAL OVER VIEW ABOUT DONG ANH
AND ITS EDUCATION

1.1. Overview about Dong Anh District
Basing on the establishment process of Dong Anh District since
the year of 1876, it can be seen that Dong Anh is master planned
mainly from Dong Ngan, Tu Son District of Bac Ninh Province and a
part of Yen Lang District of Son Tay Province. Therefore, it can be
seen that Dong Anh is the cultural junction of Kinh bac and former
Doai – that is the ancient land rich in the tradition, culture and
especially the studious tradition.
Near the capital Thang Long, Tu Son has been very famous for
the place with hundreds of industries and people always hardworking
and eager to learn. According to the book Bac Ninh Geography book
of Mr. Do Trong Vinh and Court Charter Book of Mr. Phan Huy
Chu, “In Tu Son district, in the old days, Dong Ngan has been the
place famous for the culture ever”. Compared to the number of people
passing the Pre-court competition-examinations, here is the place that
always stands the top list. In a family and clan, the member takes part
in the competition in series and brings the glory to the village. The
saying “The fool in Dong Ngan is better than the good one in the
world” has been handed down in order to appreciate the tradition of

contributions to the country with two greatest writers including Mr.
Ngo Tat To, Mr. Nguyen Huy Tuong and many other scholars.
The economy in Dong Anh District has been developed and
brought about series of positive changes in life. The investment in
education is also enhanced better. The school system in Dong Anh is
increasingly spacious. The education support equipments are
becoming more adverse. There are more scholarships sponsored by
the enterprises and given for the excellent pupils and poor pupils with
outstanding results.
The industrial zone network in Dong Anh becomes denser, which
creates the favorable conditions for the people to resolve the working
demands but also helps the pupils, especially the ones in the last year
of high school reduce the examination pressure. With many job
chances in the locality, the pressure about university has been reduced.
On the other hand, the witness for the country change day by day
is also the motivation for the pupil to learn harder to continue the
promotion of achievements that have been inherited from the
ancestors and enhancement of what the former people has not been
done to make the country richer and richer.
Each person born in Dong Anh has their own pride about the
cultural tradition of their hometown. In the in-depth interview of the
writer with a retired teacher, she said, “The traditions of ancestors
have been imbued with the blood and muscle of Dong Anh People.
Therefore, we always make our utmost in promoting such traditions in
any trading activities”. The writer Mr. To Hoai told about some visits
to hometown of the writer Mr. Nguyen Huy Tuong – a person born in
Dong Anh: “Usually, on days near Tet Holiday or in February, March,
when the customs and sights carry the spring atmosphere in the suburb
villages, I often invites my friends to visit Duc Tu. Any time going,
we choose to visit Co Loa. Mr. Nguyen Huy Tuong knows clearly

“central nature” of Co Loa via many periods allows to confirm that
Dong Anh is the education centre of nation even though in An Duong
Vuong or Ngo Quyen period, the education has not been like as later”
[24, page 465].
Therefore, it can be seen that in An Duong Vuong or Ngo Quyen
period, Dong Anh has had the book house store – the first units for
later education. However, in order to have the fact that the education
with the official thinking system, the learner and teacher become a
force in society, the school is built up into the system, it happens only
when in the year of 1075, when Ly Monarch opened the first
examination to select the talent. During about 10 centuries, calculated
from the examination in the year of 1075 to the final one in the year
1919, the Viet Nam dynasties opened 184 examinations and selected
nearly 300 PhD. According to the statistic, list of this book, in any
dynasty, Dong Anh always the participants involved in the
examination and passed the examination. The villages of competition
examinations, family with participants in passing the examination in
Dong Anh have been recorded in the roll of honor and be the pride for
Dong Anh people. It can be said that the achievements at those
periods have come along and nourished the determinations and
willingness of learning for many Dong Anh generations later.
1.2.2. Modern Education
In the scope of study, the writer uses the concept of modern
education that means aimed at the education activities since the
French established the new education in Viet Nam.
On December 21, 1917, Indochinese governor –General Mr.
Albert Sarraut signed the decree of issuance ”education service
general rules” that stated the general regulation throughout Indochina.
It is also the foundation for building up the new education in
replacement of Confucianism. At the same milestone, the education in

as Chu Doan Le passed the PhD in the completion - examination with
title Canh Hung, he is the pupil of the scholar of Nguyen family in
Van Diem. Mr. Ngo Quy Doan (1877 - 1956), person of Lai Da
village, Hoi Phu Commune passes the scholar examination in the 13th
year Thanh Thai but decide to teach at home and participate in the
literate movement against the French domination instead of being the
mandarin. “Being the high morality, respect and intense knowledge,
he opened the class at hometown for nearly half of centuries. Many
family generations from the ancestors to descendants took part in his
class. His words are still remained on the parallel sentences in the
pagodas, communal house, and temple in Lai Da and other shrines”
[27, page 72]. The book Lai Da in the past and present written by
Mr. Nguyen Phu Son states that the teachers in former Dong Anh: “In
additional to the mandarins, there remains many people with intense
knowledge but unlucky in examination. According to the previous
concept, “examination passing means high post but examination
failure means being Confucian teacher, etc however, the majority is
the Confucian scholars. Many villages invite the scholar to teach at the
village so that their descendants have chance to be literate”. [27, page
73].
The former folk verse often reminds the learning like “without
learning when being little means unable to be educated person when
grown up”, “only when having literacy can you grow up to be good
person”. However, considering the Confucianism is the official
thinking system, the traditional education defaults the concept of male
respect and female under-respect that is the typical feature of the
Confucianism. Therefore, the Confucian learners always are boys or
male teenagers.
Thanks to teacher’s teaching, the leaner can pass the examination
to be the mandarin, have the social post, prosperous life and bring the

better, they are required to come to the school at provincial level
taught by the district education officer. For the village school, if the
scholar can teach well, the pupils do not need to the provincial
schools. Dong Anh is the place for systems of competition –
examinations. Many classes were open here. Therefore, the pupils did
not have to come to the provincial school. The typical classes are ones
of the scholars of Nguyen Family in Van Diem Village.
In the traditional education in Dong Anh, the education activities
can be seen as the works of village rather than the state. The teaching
& learning activities are not under the administrative unit with the
sponsor and control of feudal government. From selection of teacher
for village to the building of temple of literature, providing the lands,
encouraging the pupils to learn well, supporting poor pupils, all of
those are done by the village and organizations under villages.
In the traditional education, the salary of scholar is paid under the
way that the family of learners contributes the field, cow, force to
process for the teacher’s family when the harvest season comes so that
the teacher’s family can use. When the teacher dies, such field is used
for caring the funeral for teachers and teachers’ family uses later on
teacher’s death anniversary later. Each class has some fields
contributed by the learner’s family. In some cases, it can be
contributed from the public field of village to feed the teacher. When
the teacher dies, the learner has to prepare the anniversary of teacher’s
death. The learners contributes money to build up the house for the
teacher. When the teacher dies, that house is used to worship the
teacher. Every year on the teacher’s death anniversary, all learners
come to make the offerings. Together with family, each village pays
attention to learning of their children because if someone passes the
examination, it means bringing the honor for the whole village.
Almost the villages encourage the satisfactory learning so that the

examination at one place. The examiners in Dong Anh come to Thang
Long to take part in the examination. Two later examinations are
second degree examination and court examination; the pupils national
wide gather in the capital to take part in the examination and learners
in Dong Anh is not unexceptional. All examinations are aimed at one
skill about literature compilation under many types. Via the results of
each examination, the feudal movement shall select the talented into
the administration machine.
The first-degree examination is organized every three years.
Therefore, some people have to wait two or three years so that they
can take the examination. The travelling for examination is also
difficult for the ones living far away. The traffic is tough and lacks the
means of transportation. When travelling, the learners have to bring
along the tent and bamboo bench. The writer Mr. Ngo Tat To, the
outstanding person of Dong Anh wrote about the examination
atmosphere. Mr. Ngo Tat To was the Confucian leaner. The
examination atmosphere he wrote in the writing Tent and bamboo
bench is the busy atmosphere in Dong Anh when each examination
comes. Such atmosphere reflects lively the atmosphere of a society
learning under the feudal period – an urging, strict and busy
atmosphere expressed clearly at the learner’s anxiety in preparation of
pens, tents, beds and their relatives in each family when brining a few
feed or preparation of rice offerings to the village sages to wish for
examination passing. Facing to such tense examination atmosphere,
maybe the former people set up the temples so that when the
examination occurs, the learners come there to make the wish and
luck. In the former Cu Trinh village convention, currently named Ho
Phu, stated that “In order to encourage learning the Confucian, the
village set up the temples of literature worship the Confucius and the
confucians”. Such encouragements are meaningful to the learners.

always has their clear career path but the job here is limited in the
administration and social management only. With such physiology,
when being successful, they devote their own utmost for the
assignments delivered by the feudal government. It can be said that
although the number of people passing the examination is quite small
on the total figure, they are assigned the relative posts. The book
Dong Anh with thousands years of Thang Long listed quite details
about the important tasks that the court assigned.
Among 56 Confucian PhD, there are two people holding the post
as attaché, later named prime minster Mr. Nguyen Thuc under Le The
Tong Dynasty and Mr. Vu Cong Te under Le Du Tong dynasty and one
person holding as vice attaché Mr. Trinh Duc Nhuan under Le Huy
Tong dynasty, 6 people holding as ministers. The book Dong Anh with
thousands years of Thang Long also affirms that 11/56 PhD in Dong
Anh are sent to foreign countries and hold the posts such as chief
envoy, vice-chief envoy. Especially, the third highest academic title Mr
Vuong Khac Thuat are sent to oversea twice. Many families with
father, children and relatives are sent oversea. Typical cases are
Nguyen Family in Van Diem. There are 4 people allocated this
assignments. In addition to three generations in the same family
Nguyen Thuc – Nguyen Nghi – Nguyen Si, there is additional relative
Nguyen Thuong. Not only being sent oversea but also the PhD in Dong
Anh makes the great contributions to the developments of the
traditional education. There are 6/56 PhD in Dong Anh hold the post as
offer wine or deputy headmaster of temple of literature. Other PhD has
not held any important posts but each person at each position makes the
utmost contribution to the management and leadership of the feudal
state.
2.2.2. Dong Anh has many families, villages of court system of
competition – examinations

4 communes.

2.3. Traditional education affects much on the life
2.3.1. Traditional respect for teacher and study
The traditional education in Dong Anh has not only obtained
many achievements but also affected much in Dong Anh people’s life
naturally via the long lasting historic process. Now, it can be seen that
the remarks about such matter via the tradition of worship especially
the usage of Chinese language in some relics and religion works.
Dong Anh People have the tradition to worship the famous people
who have greater contributions in foundation and development of
Confucius and high performance in the examination or great devote to
the country.
Like many other hometown, Dong Anh people build up the
temples of literature to worship the Confucius – the founder of
Confucians; and the people passing the court of competition
examination at highest ranking. The village convention in Dong Anh
reminds about the establishment of temple of literature. Co Loa
Citadel was built on the land where the former people said that it is the
accommodation of Ngo Quyen. CO Loa citadel has magnificent scale
and not the specific relics of Co Loa village but also the whole area in
Dong Ngan district. Every year, in February and August, the members
of Co Loa Literature Board come here to make the offerings to the
Confucius and Confucians to make the wishes for study of their
children. Lai Da Temple of Literature was built on the spacious land
at the middle of village and hidden after the ancient tree. According to
the book Lai da in the past and present in the year 1965, the temple
of literature was destroyed to be the garden. Currently, it did not exist,
the relics remarks remain the tree and cultural house.
2.3.2. Marks in the cultural works

temples are built up on the shapes of the Chinese characters such as
Co Loa, Mach Trang Temple were built as per “internal Cong –
external Quoc” - Inside as per the character of “Cong”, outside as per
the character of “Quoc”. Cau Ca Bridge is built as per the character
“dinh”. In the relics clusters of Thuong Temple – Communal house
Ngu trieu di quy – Am Mi Chau – pogada Bảo Sơn in Co Loa, it can
be listed many remarks of Chinese character that expresses in the
parallel sentence, horizontal lacquered board, words in stele, bell or
figures with seal character – that reflects the Chinese character
including many dashes and parallel lines. An Duong Vuong Temple or
other name called Thuong Temple is one of the architectural work
with the most parallel sentences surveyed. Chapter 3: THE MODERN EDUCATION IN DONG ANH
3.1. Some changes in modern education in Dong Anh
3.1.1. Teacher – learner
In the initial phase of new education, when the French domination
still limits building the schools, opening classes, the teachers in Dong
Anh are the Confucian scholars. In the year 1927, Mr. Nguyen ba
Dang in Lai Da helmet opened the class teaching the national
language. Additionally, in Lai Da, there was another class teaching
both national and Confucian language. The teacher’s name is Mr. Cu
Doan. When being asked about the memory in the previous years
before the revolution, almost the elderly in Co Loa reminds the
teachers’ names: Mr. Than, Mr. Vinh, Mr Thang – born in Co Loa and
taught in primary schools, kindergarten accordingly. After the
innovation, the teachers in Dong Anh are not only the male but also
the female. The number of teachers is increasing. They are trained in
the college of training. Many teachers are in charge of one class

Under the impacts of market economy and impacts from the
western culture, the teacher is not only the educator like parents but
also the friends for pupils. Additionally, the new concept in the
education places the pupil in the centre and master of education,
which changes a lot in the teacher – pupil treatment. The teacher now
becomes the instructor and guides the pupils in the way of seeking the
knowledge. The relationship between the teachers and pupils become
the democracy relationship. The teacher has not get the absolute
power as before. The pupils do not only have the chance to discuss
freely but also argue with the teachers and question him/her and ask
them to reply. That is a positive progress that express the democracy
and equality in the teacher – leaner relationship and above all others, it
urges the pro-active and positive attitude of pupils.
However, the pupils sometimes express their opinion in over-free
manner, even impolite to the teacher. Meanwhile, the teacher is not
allowed to shout and punish the pupils under any way. We encourage
the pupils to make the question and bravely raise their ideas. We do
wish a close and open teacher – leaner relationship but impossible to
accept the attitude about not respecting teacher. The first learning
attitude of pupils is to know polite and humble with their teachers and
willing to learn all new knowledge. Such attitude expresses the
tradition “Respect teacher” of Vietnamese and the first requirements
to become the cultured person.
It is difficult to conclude which treatment at which period is better
because the relationship between the teacher and leaner depends much
on the factors about economy and society of the times. Looking back
that relationship in the history is one way for the teachers and learners
in Dong Anh to have the proper treatment.
3.1.2. Schooling system and management
The teaching and learning occurs at schools and are divided into

Passing through the feudal period with many glory achievements
of traditional education, our country fell in consecutive wars. The
education in Dong Anh and the overall nation faces many difficulties.
However, the goals set for education such as illiteracy eradication,
popularization education are completely implemented. In the recent
years, Dong Anh is always the top flag in the education of Ha noi. The
achievements of modern education in Dong Anh are shown in many
achievements of different grades with specific figures.
3.3. Some existing issues
Although Dong Anh has many achievements, it remains some
limitations. Such issues are not only of the education in Dong Anh. In
order to further understand those existing issues, the writer made the
survey at Co Loa high school.
Co Loa High school is set up in the year 1966 on the land of
historic Co Loa. At the beginning period, the school was located in
Bai mieu, Mit Village, Co Loa commune and named Dong Anh A
high school. In the school year 1969–1970, the school was officially
transferred into Dong Hoi commune in Dong Anh District and named
as Co Loa High school. The pupils in Co Loa high school are the
children in Co Loa commune, Hoi Phu, Mai Lam and other
surrounding communes. The interview subjects are the pupils at 12th
grade. Being experienced through all pupil life and before the gateway
of career selection, understanding the pupils shall help identify the
existing issues in the education in Dong Anh.
Extra lessons: Learning extra lessons in Dong Anh is not out of the
issues of overall society. For a long time, the university entrance
examination is the only road to promote of more than a million of
graduates. As per the current method and content of examination, for the
majority of pupils, learning at school and at home is not enough. The
extra lesson meets the demands of major pupils who want to pass the