Vietnamese Archives
National Archives Center II
The National Archives Center II (Trung tâm Lưu trữ Quốc gia II) in Sài Gòn, now known as Hồ Chí Minh City, contains extensive records related to South Vietnam, including materials from the French colonial period (1858–1954) and the Republic of Vietnam (1955–1975). These records cover a range of governmental, military, and administrative matters, offering a rich resource for studying the political and social history of South Vietnam. In 2022, I received funding from my college and department to visit this archive for three months, which provided essential materials for my research on Vietnam’s modern history.
One of the best parts of my research trip to National Archives II was working alongside other highly motivated doctoral students. Our archive cohort (from left to right) consisted of Me, John Tran, Anthony Morreale, Liam Kelly—an excellent scholar who was in town but not conducting research at Archives II—and David McCaskey.
National Archive Center III
The National Archives Center III (Trung tâm Lưu trữ Quốc gia III) in Hà Nội holds crucial documents from both the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV). Its collections include governmental, administrative, and military records from the Vietnam War and beyond, making it an essential repository for research on Vietnam’s modern political history.
I visited the archive twice—once from 2018 to 2019 and again in 2023—gathering key documents for my research on Huế’s political landscape during the Vietnam War.
National Archives Center IV
The National Archives Center IV (Trung tâm Lưu trữ Quốc gia IV) in Đà Lạt houses a wide array of historical records from Central Vietnam, including documents from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) and earlier periods. This archive is located in the former residence of the infamous Trần Lệ Xuân (Madame Nhu) and her husband and prominent political figure, Ngô Đình Nhu, which adds historical significance to the site. I spent several months conducting research at this archive in 2023, becoming one of the first Western scholars to explore its materials on the Vietnam War era. (Check out the images below. The villa was highlighted in an article from National Geographic during the war).
The General Sciences Library
The General Sciences Library (Thư Viện Khoa Học Tổng Hợp) in Sài Gòn (Hồ Chí Minh City) is a significant resource for researchers. It offers a vast collection of books, newspapers, and periodicals, particularly valuable for those studying modern Vietnamese history and literature. The library’s holdings include materials from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) period, providing insight into Vietnam’s political and social history. I visited the library in 2022 during my three-month-long research trip to Sài Gòn.
