The story of amateur astronomy in Vietnam
Tan Vu Nguyen

Vietnamese Astronomical Society (VAS)

Abstract

This presentation tells the not-so-long yet so dramatic story of the association of amateur astronomy in Vietnam. Since the early years of the twenty-first century, there have been three attempts to unite amateur astronomers in Vietnam. Being carried out by different stakeholders, these efforts naturally have different end goals, but all aim to promote and develop astronomy in Vietnam. In fact, the efforts have contributed to the improvement of the state of astronomy in the S-shaped country.

The presentation also shares the lessons learnt from the first two unsuccessful initiatives, an online platform and an ambitious national project, and what it means for the third, or the current ^incarnation^, named Vietnam Amateur Astronomy Network (VAAN). First and foremost, the focus should always be on the primary beneficiaries: amateur astronomers in Vietnam (and beyond). The creation of a national society for amateur astronomers should not create more problems for the participating amateur astronomical societies. The next crucial lesson is about trust and capacity building. Among the lessons also lies the value of patience and perseverance, especially given the quite complex local context of Vietnam. Without a strong national society for professional astronomers, the Vietnamese Astronomical Society (VAS), the road towards a united organisation for amateur astronomers has proven to be a mission impossible in this country. Last but not least, it is also crucial to utilise external resources from outside the country, specifically the support from the International Astronomical Union (IAU), through the Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) and the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD).

A quarter century is undoubtedly a short period of time on a cosmic scale, but it is quite a long journey for the Vietnamese community of amateur astronomers. The future is yet to be seen, and VAAN is entering its second year since its foundation last summer. However, many things have changed for the better, such as the development of astronomy research, along with astronomy education and public outreach in Vietnam. Perhaps the third time is really a charm?

Keywords: vietnam, amateur astronomers, amateur astronomy

Topic: Public Outreach, Education, and Popularization of Astronomy