50 years of national reunification: Hélène Luc and her love for her "Second Fatherland"

Ms. Hélène Luc has always supported 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. (Photo: Thu Ha/VNA)

April 2025 is the occasion for Vietnam to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. In the common joy of the whole nation, there is also the sharing of international friends, including friends who have been attached to Vietnam with loyal and lasting love.

Madame Hélène Luc, Honorary Senator of France, is such a person. From a young girl full of enthusiasm participating in the anti-war movement, to becoming an Honorary Senator, she has become a symbol of France-Vietnam friendship for over 70 years.

Receiving reporters from the Vietnam News Agency in France in a small apartment filled with memories on Villeneuve-Saint-Georges Avenue, in the city of Choisy-le-Roi, Ms. 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.

Her light blond hair was flowing, her face was clearly wrinkled by time but did not lose her noble, intelligent appearance.

She still looked young and energetic in a black dress and pink vest. She radiated a positive energy that made it impossible for others not to be drawn in.

Showing us souvenirs, books, and documents related to Vietnam, she brought us back to the memories that have connected 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.

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

In different roles and positions, from Val-de-Marne Provincial Council member to Senator, from Vice President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Group in 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, I felt I had 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 experienced the resistance war against France and then the war against America.

"Over time, from one war to another, I have always been interested in Vietnam, in their struggle and especially in 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 Choisy-le-Roi city government and the French Communist Party arranged accommodation for the delegation during the Paris Agreement negotiations at the Central Cadre School of the French Communist Party - the Maurice Thorez building at 8 Général Leclerc avenue.

Ms. Hélène Luc gives an interview to Vietnamese press in France. (Photo: Thu Ha/VNA)

The delegation was only supposed to stay for a few months, but they ended up staying there for five years to negotiate the Agreement. Ms. Hélène Luc recalled that during that time, Vietnam received a lot of support from international friends.

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 US.

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 people were still very poor. 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 40 small meatballs - one for each child, that was all for the meal. The 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."

Even though the war ended 50 years ago, Hélène Luc has never stopped caring about Vietnam. Whether in war or peacetime, in all activities from donations, assistance, to cooperation and friendship with Vietnam, she has always been at the forefront.

She is deeply concerned about the Agent Orange issue, supporting Ms. Tran To Nga's legal battle against Monsanto and several other chemical companies that supplied herbicides to the US military during the Vietnam War.

She is concerned about the climate change challenges that Vietnam is facing, and does not hesitate to express her views on the challenges in the international environment that Vietnam is facing, such as the US tariff issue.

Ms. Hélène Luc visits Nhan Dan Newspaper's booth at the Humanitarian Newspaper Festival. (Photo: Thu Ha/VNA)

She is delighted to witness Vietnam's extraordinary development over the past half century. She shared: "When Vietnam was unified, there were journalists who said it would take at least 100 years for the country to have a place in the world.

But after 50 years, we have seen how influential that country is. It is truly a great victory for Vietnam, not only on the diplomatic front but also on the peaceful development front!"

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. Until today, she is still so active, a wonderful person!"

For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang commented that Ms. Hélène Luc is a typical example of friendship and solidarity that French friends and people have shown to the Vietnamese people over many decades.

Ms. Hélène Luc and leaders of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association received and worked with Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh, President of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association. (Photo: Thu Ha/VNA)

From local activities in Choisy-le-Roi, to activities in the French parliament, especially in the Senate, from association activities to activities in political parties, typically the French Communist Party, Ms. Hélène Luc always showed her determination as well as her belief in the relationship and friendship between Vietnam and France, including in the resistance war for national independence and reunification of the Vietnamese people in the past, as well as in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland today.

The Ambassador affirmed: “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.

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 was also awarded the title of honorary citizen by many provinces and cities in Vietnam. In particular, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification, she was one of the international guests invited to attend the April 30 Victory Celebration.

"My fight for Vietnam will be eternal. It is my second homeland along with Italy, where my parents were born. For Vietnam, I always wish the best," Ms. Hélène Luc concluded her conversation with VNA reporters with those words.

The story of Ms. Hélène Luc not only reflects the history of France-Vietnam relations but also shows the deep affection of a woman who devoted her life to building bridges of friendship between the two peoples./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/50-nam-thong-nhat-dat-nuoc-helene-luc-voi-tinh-yeu-danh-cho-to-quoc-thu-hai-post1033941.vnp