Finding Vietnamese identity and voice through the experiences of expatriates

From May 8-12, the "European Literature Days" program will take place in Hanoi , including literary discussions and workshops (short courses) in many fields such as journalism, media, arts and entertainment.

With the theme “From Where to Where: Voices of European Immigrant Literature,” the speakers are all Vietnamese or half-Vietnamese, born and raised in Europe or have worked and studied in the West.

According to Mr. Oliver Brandt (President of EUNIC Vietnam, Director of the Goethe-Institut - 2 of the co-organizers), these speakers and writers are gradually asserting their own voices in the literature and arts in Europe. "We think this year's program theme will help honor the creativity and diversity of these authors in particular, as well as between Vietnam and many other countries in general," he commented.

Mr. Oliver Brandt - President of EUNIC Vietnam and Director of the Goethe-Institut. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Some notable names include French writer of Vietnamese origin Anna Moi (Tran Thien Nga) - author of the novel "Noc Buom" about the growing up struggles of a young woman born in Saigon before 1975, released in Vietnam in January 2025. She was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Literature and Arts by the French Government in 2018.

Film producer based in Prague (Czech Republic) and Hanoi Nghiem Quynh Trang is the producer of " Coolie Never Cries" - the award-winning work at the Berlin Film Festival, revolving around the experiences of a woman who used to work abroad in Germany, now lost in the flow of modern life.

Computer engineer Nuage Rose Hong Van - former French Economic and Commercial Attaché in Vietnam - was born and raised in Hanoi during the anti-American resistance war. She is the author of "120 Days of Clouds Whispering with the Wind" (Tre Publishing House, 2021), considered a "Vietnamese-French literary fusion."

The speakers also included German-Vietnamese journalists Khue Pham and Vanessa Vu; French writer Cecile Pin, comic artist Clément Baloup, and Spanish critic Kim Nguyen Baraldi, all of whom are half Vietnamese. They are the authors of many literary publications and comics translated into many different languages.

Each author brings his or her own reflections on origin and identity into life and artistic creations.

Some of the works featured in this year's program.

The panel discussions include “Resilient Echoes - Voices of Vietnamese Female Writers,” “Immigrant Identity and Generational Trauma,” and “Graphic Novels: Discussions” with the participation of many speakers.

Workshops include “The Journey of Novel Writing” with Cecile Pin; “Incorporating Journalistic Techniques into Novel Writing and Film Scriptwriting Workshop” with Nghiem Quynh Trang; “Sources of Inspiration: Culture, Experience and Words ” with critics Pham Xuan Nguyen, Kim Nguyen Baraldi and guest writer Maik Cay, “The Art of Podcasting with Journalistic Materials” with Vanessa Vu…

Interested audiences can follow the time and location of each activity on the Facebook page of the Goethe-Institut Hanoi./.

The European Literature Days program has been held annually in Vietnam since 2011. This year's co-organizers include EUNIC (European Union of Cultural Institutions and Embassies) in Vietnam, Goethe Institute (Germany), Embassy of Spain, Embassy of Italy, British Council, Czech Center, French Institute.

Before arriving in Hanoi, the program took place in Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. This year's European Literature Days also have special significance as they mark many important diplomatic anniversaries, such as 35 years of Vietnam-European Union relations, 75 years of Vietnam-Czech Republic and 50 years of Vietnam-Germany.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/di-tim-ban-sac-va-tieng-noi-viet-nam-qua-trai-nghiem-cua-nguoi-xa-xu-post1037386.vnp