Strategematics in Vietnamese Culture

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-539-3_2How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Hồ Chí Minh; Strategematics; Strategy; Sun Tzu; Zhūgě Liàng

Abstract

The term stratagem [The western term strategem (from Greek stratēgēma), closely related to strategy and usually considered as a small strategy. In Ancient China and later in East Asia the following hieroglyph 計 was used to express idea of planning the trap.] (計), let alone strategematics—the science of strategems—is rarely found in books on Vietnamese culture as a whole, or in the history of Vietnam across different centuries, including its modern history. Strategematics is an important part of culture, particularly strategic thinking, without which effective national defense is impossible. Throughout Vietnam’s history, whenever the political elite degraded—primarily in the cognitive sphere—they became incapable of defending the country, leading to a loss of independence.

Outside Vietnam, the role of Hồ Chí Minh as an outstanding master of strategematics and as an exceptional strategist remains virtually unknown—even though his role as an eminent cultural figure has been recognized by UNESCO. In Vietnam, strategematics is sometimes rightly perceived as part of national culture. Expressions such as Mượn đao giết người (“Kill with a borrowed knife”), Điệu hổ ly sơn (“Luring the tiger away from the mountain”) and Giương Đông kích Tây (“Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west”) sometimes are considered as elements of cultural tradition. However, this was not always the case. According to legends, the first encounter of the ancient Viets with strategems —specifically with the stratagem Mỹ nhân kế (“The Beauty Trap”) (美人計) in the 3rd century BCE—had tragic consequences. The Cổ Loa Citadel fell, and the country was conquered.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Vladimir N. Kolotov
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/17
TI  - Strategematics in Vietnamese Culture
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Culture and Humanity in the Era of Rising and Integration (ICDHV 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 4
EP  - 8
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-539-3_2
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-539-3_2
ID  - Kolotov2026
ER  -