FIB USU PR - On Thursday, February 26, 2026, the Undergraduate Study Program of History, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FIB USU), in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, organized a Guest Lecture entitled “Same Fate – Different Choice: Decolonization in Indonesia and Vietnam.” The lecture featured an academic from Vietnam National University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Thuy, and was held at the Academic Senate Meeting Room, Jl. Universitas No. 36, Padang Bulan Campus, Universitas Sumatera Utara.

The event was attended by the Head of the Undergraduate History Study Program USU, Dra. Lila Pelita Hati, M.Si., the Chair of the Academic Senate of USU as well as Professor of History, Prof. Budi Agustono, lecturers of the History Study Program FIB USU, academics from FISIP USU, and History students of the 2024 cohort who are currently taking the course Contemporary Indonesian History (1945–Present).

The Guest Lecture was moderated by a lecturer of the Undergraduate History Study Program FIB USU, Kiki Maulana Affandi, M.A., who opened the session by introducing the speaker, a graduate of Leiden University from undergraduate to doctoral level. Currently, Dr. Pham Van Thuy serves as a lecturer in the History Program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, and has been involved in numerous research projects related to Southeast Asian history, particularly Vietnam and Indonesia.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Budi Agustono explained that comparative studies on the decolonization processes in Vietnam and Indonesia after World War II reveal significant differences, particularly due to the colonial legacies of the Netherlands in Indonesia and France in Indochina (Vietnam).

In his lecture, Dr. Pham Van Thuy stated that the decolonization processes in Indonesia and Vietnam after World War II until the 1960s share certain historical similarities as former colonies, yet each country adopted different political choices and strategies in achieving independence. Indonesia and Vietnam experienced comparable colonial backgrounds and revolutionary periods; however, differences in ideology, political leadership, and struggle strategies resulted in distinct paths of decolonization.

This guest lecture provided an opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding of Southeast Asian historical dynamics, particularly in Indonesia and Vietnam after World War II, in relation to the decolonization processes in former colonial territories.

Through this guest lecture, it is expected that international collaboration between Universitas Sumatera Utara and Vietnam National University can be strengthened in the future, particularly in the implementation of the Tridharma of Higher Education, including lecturer exchange, international student exchange, joint research, and collaborative international conferences.