vieOn October 11, 2024, rounds 2-3 and the award ceremony of the “View into the Past 2024” competition took place to the enthusiastic cheers of students from both the Phu Nhuan and Tan Phu campuses.
Round 2: Short film screening
Students worked together to produce short films about their favorite historical events or figures utilizing AI tools. By blending data and images into compelling stories, AI created vivid and lifelike portraits while staying true to the original essence. This innovative use of AI brought history closer to the modern world, fostering students’ love for the subject in an international school environment.
Out of nine teams, the top three with the most impressive films were:
- Tran Thai Tong (Grades 7 and 8, Phu Nhuan)
- Ly Chieu Hoang (Grade 11.2, Phu Nhuan)
- Vo Thi Sau (Grade 12.1, Phu Nhuan)
Round 3: Historical Reenactments
In this final round, students dressed up as their chosen historical figures and performed artistic talents to bring the characters to life. The event began with Grade 10.1’s powerful portrayal of Hai Bà Trưng, re-enacting their triumphant battle against the Han invaders through a Cai Luong theater.
Next came the portrayal of General Ngô Quyền, who used strategic brilliance by planting wooden stakes to defeat the invading Southern Han forces on the Bạch Đằng River, as performed by the 7th and 9th-grade students. This battle became one of the most significant victories in Vietnamese history, marking the end of over 1,000 years of Northern feudal domination over our land.
Subsequently, the audience was taken back to the Lý Dynasty with a reenactment of the resistance against the invading Song forces led by the famous general Lý Thường Kiệt, through a performance featuring a combination of acting and rap by the students of class 12.2. This time also marks the period creating the poem Nam Quốc Sơn Hà, known as the first ‘Declaration of Independence’ of Đại Việt.
At the end of the Lý Dynasty, the audience was once again amazed by the captivating performance of the contemporary dance and drama showcasing Queen Lý Chiêu Hoàng, presented by the students of class 11.2.
Associated with her life is Trần Thái Tông (Trần Cảnh), the founder of the Trần Dynasty, vividly portrayed by the collective performance of the 7th and 8th grade students. The natural and skillful acting of the only empress in Vietnam’s feudal era and the first emperor of the Trần Dynasty received much praise from the audience.
Once again, when mentioning the Trần Dynasty, one cannot overlook the glorious milestone of the three resistances against the Mongol invasions led by the legendary general Trần Hưng Đạo. The performance depicting the hero on horseback driving away the Mongol forces, which shook the earth, was vividly reenacted by the students of the 7th and 9th grades.
Moving forward over 500 years in history, the group of 10.2 students presented a performance reenacting the victory at Rạch Gầm—Xoài Mút, which drove away 50,000 Siamese troops under King Quang Trung (Nguyễn Huệ). This battle is one of the glorious naval victories in Vietnam’s resistance against foreign invasions.
Unlike the previous choices featuring heroic figures, the students of the 7th and 8th-grade team from Hòa Bình decided to portray Queen Nam Phương. Successfully embodying the exquisite beauty and exceptional intelligence of the last queen of Vietnam, the students received a round of applause from the judges.
The third round of competition concluded with a reenactment of the timeless excerpt featuring one of the female heroes of the people’s armed forces: sister Võ Thị Sáu.
“Do not blindfold me! Let these eyes see the country one last time.”
The powerful dialogue, along with the heartfelt acting of the 12.1 students, made the audience overflow with emotion.
All nine performances vividly depicted the glory of the heroic battles and the indomitable heroes in Vietnam’s national history. This made it difficult for the judges, who had to carefully consider their selections for the outstanding performances worthy of first, second, and third places.
In addition to the thrilling performances from the nine teams, all attendees at the event were also allowed to showcase their historical knowledge with a set of questions specifically for the audience.
Awards Ceremony
After the three rounds of the competition, there were the final results.
- First prize: The Trung Sisters (Grade 10.1)
- Second prize: Tran Canh (Grades 7 and 8).
- Third prize: Ly Chieu Hoang (Grade 11.2)
The winning teams received valuable cash prizes and commemorative trophies. Representatives from each team expressed how meaningful the competition was, allowing them to explore and appreciate Vietnamese culture and history even while studying an international curriculum, which aligns with the educational philosophy of Nam Uc Scotch AGS, which aims to nurture global citizens with a strong sense of Vietnamese identity.
The competition successfully instilled in the students a deeper understanding and love for Vietnamese history, inspiring them to bring this rich heritage closer to an international audience.
