Author Nguyen Van Huyen was a native of Luu Xa Village, Hoai Duc District, Ha Tay Province. He studied in France from 1936-1945 and is well known for his studies on village institutions, popular festivals and folkloric songs and dances. The Ancient Civilization of Vietnam, conceived as a school book for secondary education, constitutes an excellent introduction to the traditional culture of Vietnam. There are chapters on: The Family (Nha), The Commune (Lang), The State (Nuoc), The House, The Village, Clothes, Food and Medicine, Economic Production, Religious Life, and Intellectual and Artistic Life. Originally titled: "La Civilization Annamite", this work has been re-edited on its 50th anniversary.