Which nation gave the Vietnamese People's Army the name "Buddha’s Army"? What is the goal of the history education program at upper secondary school level in Vietnam?

Which nation gave the Vietnamese People's Army the name "Buddha’s Army"?

According to sub-section 1, Section 4 of the Propaganda Outline commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Victory over the Southwestern Border Defense War of the Fatherland and the joint victory with the Cambodian people over the genocidal policies (January 7, 1979 - January 7, 2024)... Download, the origin of the name "Buddha’s Army" is specified as follows:

IV. Promoting the spirit of victory, continuously fostering the good neighboring relationship, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainable development between Vietnam and Cambodia

1. Vietnam helps Cambodia prevent the return of genocidal policies and revitalize the nation

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For 10 years (1979 - 1989), Vietnam simultaneously undertook three tasks in Cambodia: 1) Assisting the Cambodian revolutionary armed forces in both building their forces and coordinating to combat remnants of Pol Pot in the western, northwestern, and inland border areas; 2) Helping to build and consolidate the revolutionary government system, organizations from central to local levels, and organizing training and fostering cadres at all levels; 3) Sending thousands of Vietnamese cadres and experts along with Vietnamese volunteer soldiers to stay behind to assist the revolution and Cambodian people in stabilizing and recovering in all fields, including economy, culture, education, transport, healthcare, and taking care of the people's livelihood.

Over 10 years of performing noble international duties in Cambodia, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts clearly demonstrated a steadfast spirit, wholeheartedly devoted to the revolutionary cause of the Cambodian people, overcoming arduous challenges, and excellently completing all tasks. Thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts heroically sacrificed their lives on Cambodian soil for a noble international obligation. The Cambodian people affectionately called the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers the Buddha’s Army. When the situation in Cambodia stabilized, on September 26, 1989, in the presence of international media, the last units of the Vietnamese Volunteer Army withdrew back to Vietnam with the fond farewell of the Cambodian people.

On the day the Vietnamese volunteered troops returned home, Cambodia’s Pracheachon newspaper published an editorial stating: “During the extremely tragic years under Pol Pot’s genocidal policies, in this world, there were many powerful and wealthy countries, but it was only our poor neighboring friend Vietnam that came to save our people.” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen affirmed: “Without the help of Vietnam, Cambodia would not have today, it is definitely so.”

Thus, the name "Buddha’s Army" was given to the Vietnamese People's Army by the Cambodian people.

Propaganda Outline commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Victory over the Southwestern Border Defense War of the Fatherland and the joint victory with the Cambodian people over the genocidal policies...Download

Which nation gave the Vietnamese People's Army the name "Buddha’s Army"? What is the goal of the history education program at upper secondary school level in Vietnam?​ (Image from the Internet)

What is the goal of the history education program at upper secondary school level in Vietnam?

According to Section 3 of the General Education Program issued together with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT (amended by Article 2 of Circular 13/2022/TT-BGDDT), the goal of the history education program at upper secondary school level in Vietnam is specified as follows:

- The History subject program helps students develop historical competence as an expression of scientific capabilities formed in lower secondary education;

- Contributing to patriotism education, instilling national spirit, appreciating the good traditional values of the nation and the cultural elite of humanity, and fostering the qualities and competencies of Vietnamese citizens, global citizens in line with the development trends of the era;

- Assisting students in accessing and understanding the role and characteristics of historical science as well as the connection between history and other scientific fields and professions, laying a foundation for students’ career orientation in the future.

What is the mission of the History subject in Vietnam?

According to Section 1 of the History subject education program issued together with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the characteristics of the subject are defined as follows:

SUBJECT CHARACTERISTICS

History is a subject within the social sciences group, chosen based on career orientation at the high school level.

The History subject has the mission of helping students form and develop historical competence as a component of scientific competence, while contributing to forming and developing the core qualities and general capabilities identified in the general program. The History subject plays a pivotal role in educating patriotism, national pride, historical and cultural traditions of the nation, helping students perceive and apply historical lessons to address real-life issues, develop vision, consolidate human values, community spirit, tolerance, and compassion; contributing to forming and developing the qualities of Vietnamese citizens, global citizens in the development trend of the era.

The History subject forms and develops students’ historical thinking, systematic thinking, critical thinking, skills to exploit and use historical sources, perceive and present history in a diachronic and synchronous logic, connecting the past with the present.

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Thus, the History subject has the mission of helping students form and develop historical competence as a component of scientific competence, while contributing to forming and developing the core qualities and general capabilities identified in the general program.