The author's book Nguyen The Anh reiterates some issues related to the material life of the Vietnamese people during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). Written in the 60-70s of the twentieth century, the book is considered a pioneering work approaching socio-economic issues in historical research. Although not covering all aspects of Vietnam's economy and society, this book has laid one of the first bricks for a deeper understanding of Vietnamese history in the nineteenth century, a comprehensive history, not limited to political events. The author has helped readers understand thoroughly about the life of ordinary Vietnamese people in the past including the following aspects: economic structure and production methods, spiritual activities, religious beliefs.