Vietnamese scholars contend that they have developed Southeast Asian studies viewing Southeast Asia as both a geographical entity with a long history and cultural tradition and a strategic region for modern development. This study has traced the construction of Southeast Asian studies as an academic discipline in Vietnam through the studies and arguments of Vietnamese scholars. It has put primary focus on the institutionalization of Southeast Asian studies, taking note of the assessment and perceptions of Vietnamese scholars. It also looked into the construction and limitations of Southeast Asian studies in Vietnam, which advocates Southeast Asian Studies as interdisciplinary area studies, with stressing of the origin of indigenous studies. The major contents of this study include: First, a historic overview of the institutionalization of Southeast Asian studies centering on research institutions of Southeast Asian studies in Vietnam, Second, the perceptions of Southeast Asian studies inside Vietnam and the inside evaluation of the effort to indigenize Southeast Asian studies. This study took note of Vietnamese scholars` perceptions and assessment of Southeast Asian studies performed by outsiders, primarily by Western scholars; the perceptions and evaluation of Southeast Asian studies conducted by Southeast Asian insiders; and the perceptions and evaluation of the origin of Southeast Asian studies indigenous to Vietnam. Last, it examined the construction and limitations of Southeast Asian studies in Vietnam, which advocates the studies as interdisciplinary regional studies.