Honorary French Senator has loyal love for Vietnam

From a passionate young girl participating in the anti-war movement to an honorary senator, Hélène Luc has become a symbol of French-Vietnamese friendship for over 70 years.

Ms. Hélène Luc and Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang at the "Spring of the Dragon 2024" festival organized by the Embassy in Paris. (Source: VNA)

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Receiving us in her small apartment full of memories on Villeneuve-Saint-Georges Avenue, in the city of Choisy-le-Roi, Mrs. Hélène Luc made coffee and arranged cakes herself.

Looking at her agile and nimble appearance, few people would think that this woman turned 90 a few years ago.

Showing us souvenirs, books, and documents related to Vietnam, she brought us back to the memories of the love that has bound her to the distant S-shaped country for the past 70 years.

With eyes shining with joy when talking about Vietnam, she shared: "My love for Vietnam will never end."

Born in 1932, Hélène Luc began her political career early and was a member of the French Communist Party. She was elected Senator in 1977 and served in the French Senate for several terms, until 2011, becoming one of France's most influential female politicians.

In different roles and positions, from Val-de-Marne Provincial Council member to Senator, from Vice President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Group at the Senate, to President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV), she has always made an important contribution to building the France-Vietnam relationship.

Hélène Luc’s relationship with Vietnam began as a young girl in Saint-Étienne. The daughter of an Italian miner, she learned about war early on when she witnessed the bombing of her hometown during World War II.

"I understood what war was. Vietnam was fighting for independence at that time, I felt the need to do something," she recalled.

Her first activities were to collect milk, wool and necessities to send to Vietnam. She and other young people decorated bicycles and traveled everywhere to raise funds for the "Ship to Vietnam" - one of the earliest efforts of the Franco-Vietnamese solidarity movement.

During the following period, Vietnam went through wars against France and then the US. "So, over time, from one war to another, I was always interested in Vietnam, their struggle and especially the goal they set, which was to gain national independence," she confided.

Among the many memories with Vietnam, perhaps the time welcoming the negotiation delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam is one of the most beautiful and profound memories for her.

At that time, the city of Choisy-le-Roi and the French Communist Party arranged accommodation for the delegation during the negotiations at the Central Cadre School of the French Communist Party - the Maurice Thorez building at 8 Avenue General Leclerc. Intended to last only a few months, the delegation had to stay there for 5 years to negotiate the Paris Agreement.

Ms. Hélène Luc attended an event promoting Vietnam at the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France. (Photo: Thu Ha)

During that time, Vietnam received a lot of support from international friends, she said. Ms. Hélène Luc recalled the slogans on the banners: "Peace for Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh 's Vietnam will win"... appeared not only in protests in France but also in Germany and even in the United States.

In 1978, Hélène Luc made her first visit to Vietnam after the war. What she saw left a deep impression: "When I first came to Vietnam in 1978, the Vietnamese were very hungry. I visited a school that Choisy-le-Roi had helped build. At the end of the visit, I asked: 'Where is the kitchen?' They showed me a pot with about 40 small meatballs - one for each child, that was all for the meal. These children were well dressed, clean, but had nothing to eat."

She also recalled another detail: "To have a ballpoint pen, one had to go into the streets of Hanoi , buy ink and refill the ballpoint pen. At that time, people transported meat on old bicycles. Those are the images that I still remember."

And until now, even though the war has been gone from this country for 50 years, she still does not stop caring about Vietnam, not only supporting the Vietnamese people during the war but also in peacetime.

In all activities from donations, assistance, to cooperation and friendship with Vietnam, she is always present at the forefront. She is deeply concerned about the Agent Orange issue, supporting Ms. Tran To Nga's legal battle against Monsanto Corporation and several other chemical companies, which supplied herbicides to the US military during the Vietnam War.

She is concerned about the challenges of climate change that Vietnam is facing. She does not hesitate to express her views on the injustices in current international relations, especially the US imposing high tariffs on Vietnamese goods.

She is delighted to see Vietnam's extraordinary development over the past half century. "When Vietnam was reunified, there were journalists who said it would take at least 100 years for the country to be mentioned in the world again. But after 50 years, we have seen what the country looks like. It is truly a great victory for Vietnam, not only on the diplomatic front but also on the peaceful development front!", she said.

Today, despite her advanced age, Ms. Hélène Luc continues to follow and support activities that connect the two peoples, becoming a living witness to the history of France-Vietnam relations and a valuable bridge for the lasting friendship between the two countries.

Speaking about her contributions, Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam, President of the France - Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV), said that Ms. Hélène Luc is an "indispensable" person at AAFV. She is present everywhere, in all activities of the association. "She is not only one of my predecessors, but also a symbol of AAFV.

Even today, in activities related to Vietnam, she always accompanies us in many events, in France and in Vietnam, especially on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Paris Agreement in 2023. And until today, she is still so active, a wonderful person!"

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang commented: "It can be said that Ms. Hélène Luc is a woman with endless determination for Vietnam. She is also a person who creates an attractive image for all French friends now and in the past.

Ms. Hélène Luc has always supported Ms. Tran To Nga's (center) legal battle against Monsanto and several other chemical companies, which supplied herbicides to the US military during the Vietnam War. (Photo: Thu Ha)

And every time we are with her, we are also contacted and encouraged a lot to be able to work with her, participate in her activities and stir up more activities to make the solidarity, friendship as well as the relationship and cooperation between France and Vietnam increasingly closer.

Ms. Hélène Luc's great contributions have been recognized by the Vietnamese State through many noble awards and medals, including the Friendship Medal and the Independence Medal. She has also been awarded the title of honorary citizen by many provinces and cities in Vietnam.

"My struggle with Vietnam, my struggle for Vietnam will be eternal. It is my second homeland along with Italy - the place where my parents were born. For Vietnam, I always wish the best," Ms. Hélène Luc affirmed.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thuong-nghi-si-danh-du-phap-danh-tinh-yeu-thuy-chung-cho-viet-nam-311788.html