Vietnamese - French literary harmony

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France, on December 3, the French Institute in Vietnam and Tre Publishing House organized the program “French-Vietnamese Literary Talk”. More than 100 readers listened to writer Nuage Rose Hong Van and Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Van Quang share many stories surrounding the French-Vietnamese literary relationship.

For a long time, French literature has become an important part of Vietnamese literary life. Many classic works of French literature such as Les Misérables, Notre Dame de Paris, The Count of Monte Cristo, Madame Bovary, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, The Red and the Black, The Little Prince ... with names such as Victor Hugo, Flaubert, Stendhal, Jules Verne ... have been deeply ingrained in the minds of many Vietnamese readers. Later, many contemporary names of French literature were also warmly welcomed in Vietnam such as Romain Gary, Marc Levy, David Foenkinos, Guillaume Musso, Michel Bussi ...

Some French literary works and publications have been introduced in Vietnam recently. Photo: HO SON

In particular, in the flow of French literature in Vietnam, it is impossible not to mention a group of authors of Vietnamese origin such as Linda Le, Thuan, Tran Minh Huy. And writer Nuage Rose (Hong Van) is one of them.

Writer Hong Van was born in Hanoi during the anti-American resistance war, currently lives in Paris and often returns to Vietnam. In 2017, Tre Publishing House released the work Ba ang May troi dat xuo (republished a year later). The autobiographical work has the color of a novel telling about the years when he left Hanoi to evacuate with his family. Amidst the gloom, hunger and fear sown by war, there is a sparkle of love. Before being published in Vietnam, Ba a ng May troi dat xuo became a favorite work in France in 2013.

Two works by writer Hong Van published by Tre Publishing House. Photo: HO SON

In October 2021, writer Hong Van returned with a new non-fiction work set in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic: 120 Days - Clouds Whisper to the Wind . This is considered a record from the author's own battle to survive and ward off Covid-19.

In contrast to the first work written in French, 120 Days - Clouds Whispering with the Wind , writer Hong Van composed directly in Vietnamese, in an effort to "preserve" the beautiful words and phrases of Hanoi until the 80s, which have more or less disappeared today.

From left to right: Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Van Quang, writer Hong Van and MC Phuong Thao. Photo: HO SON

“Actually, when I first wrote this book, I wrote it in French. But then I read it again and found that the French translation was not good at all; it would be messy and not express my feelings. I decided to abandon it and write directly in Vietnamese,” writer Hong Van shared.

Writer Hong Van shares at the program. Clip: HO SON

Although she has a certain position in the hearts of readers, writer Hong Van still modestly does not consider herself a writer. Initially, she did not intend to write books to publish. “I am not a writer, I do not have the ability to write attractive, technical novels, I only write stories expressing love for family and country,” writer Hong Van expressed.

The program had more than 100 readers attending, including elderly readers. Photo: HO SON

At the program, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Van Quang said that there are currently about 180 Vietnamese authors writing about 400 works in French. Of these, at least 50% are autobiographical, like the two works of writer Hong Van.

According to him, beyond literature, these works are life. People are not always brave enough to tell their own lives, especially the hidden corners. With works in the autobiographical genre, we do not just stop at literature but can approach and read them from many different aspects.

Writer Hong Van shares about the process of writing and publishing books in France. Clip: HO SON

“Based on personal stories like this, experts can study history, from a psychoanalytical perspective or from a philosophical perspective… From the reader’s perspective, they can not only read the author’s life but also read their own questions through autobiographical works. From such personal stories, from a small narrative, it will contribute to creating later grand narratives,” said Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Van Quang.

HO SON

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