Co-chairing the Seminar were Dr. Dang Xuan Hoan, NAPA President; Prof. Nguyen Van Kim, Vice Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Attending the seminar were representatives of units under the Ministry of Home Affairs; NAPA leaders; leaders of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities; scholars from and outside NAPA; and members of the research team of the project for compiling Vietnam National Geography Books.

On December 22^nd, 2017, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2079/QD-TTg on approval of the national special scientific and technological task of “Compiling Vietnam National Geography Books”. According to the Prime Minister’s Decision, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam is the Chairperson of the Steering Committee; Hanoi National University is the host agency and the project director is the President of Hanoi National University; The Science Council, the Project Management Unit are the Secretariat, the Project Office, Managers of the components of the project.

The objectives of the project are: compiling and providing fundamental and general knowledge about the natural conditions, people and culture, society, contributing to development of science and education, raising public knowledge, serving the socio-economic development policy formulation, and ensuring national defense and security through development of a database in the digital and printing form of Vietnam National Geography Books.

The content of Vietnam National Geography Books focuses on all areas, such as geography, geology and resources; biology, agronomy and environment; administrative system; human race, ethnic group; political system; law; military and defense; diplomacy; economy; history; culture and literature; ideology, religion and beliefs; education and training; science and technology; medicine and pharmacy; transportation, and so on. The Books are based on four sets of specifications, including a set of content specifications, a set of database specifications; geographic Atlas; a sets of local geography specifications.

The timeline is 5 years, from 2018 to the end of 2022. The Project Management Unit has invited nearly 100 scientists across the country to join the project. NAPA is the key coordination body, and NAPA President is the co-editor of this compilation.

Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Dang Xuan Hoan, NAPA President affirmed that the seminar was organized to launch a series of activities of the project Vietnamese National Geographic Books on public administration, which is a milestone for cooperation between the National Academy of Public Administration and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in research activities, resulted from the exchange of the two training institutions, the efforts of the project management board and the seminar organizing committee, and the support of scientists.

NAPA President also agreed on the viewpoint that the compilation of the National Geographic Books in general and the National Geographic Books on public administration in particular at present not only continue the tradition built by previous generations through recording and describing by documentary means of language concerning events and facts in the administrative field but also report the administrative life in the exciting era which is promoting industrialization, modernization and international integration, in which Vietnam’s position in the international arena is enhanced.

The seminar is an open forum, the beginning of research on Vietnam’s national geography in the field of public administration. The seminar discussion will provide inputs to further clarifying the orientation, approach, and scope of the compilation of Vietnam’s national geography in the field of public administration so that Vietnam’s National Geographic Books on public administration have unique characteristics, completely and accurately reflecting in detail Vietnamese public administration in the current age.

Speaking at the seminar, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Dao Thanh Truong (Head, Project of research and development of Vietnam’s National Geographic Books) said there are four volumes on Public Administration, including: national administration; policies and administrative apparatus; administrative personnel; administrative activities. There will be 3 seminars, 9 discussions and field surveys in 12 provinces and cities in 6 socio-economic regions.

At the seminar, scientists discussed the contents of state administrative institutions; state administrative apparatus; public finance; state administrative personnel; compilation methods; methods of deploying the content of the Public Administration volumes; content of chapters and sections according to the standards of Vietnam’s National Geographic Books; approach and sample of a section; current administrative issues in Vietnam to be reflected in the National Geographic Books.

In the closing speech,  Assoc.Prof.Dr. Dao Thanh Truong appreciated the contributions of the scientists to the development of the Public Administration volumes and would like get more inputs from the scientists in the process of compiling and completing the Public Administration volumes.