Vietnamese writers in Europe, marginal voices or significant contributions?

Writer Anna Moi interacted with Vietnamese readers on the evening of May 8 in the discussion Echoes of Resilience - Voices of female writers of Vietnamese origin - Photo: T.DIEU

European Literature Days 2025 taking place in Hanoi , introducing to Vietnamese literature lovers writers of Vietnamese origin such as Anna Moi, Clément Baloup, Vanessa Vu, Khue Pham, Cecile Pin, Kim Nguyen...

Why did this year's European Literature Days choose to introduce writers of Vietnamese origin? How are these writers recognized by European readers, and what contributions do they make to literature in European countries?

The question of Tuoi Tre Online at the press conference to inform about the European Literature Days 2025 taking place on the afternoon of May 8 in Hanoi was answered by the organizers and writers.

At the same time, hundreds of literature-loving readers can also find the answer in the talk show " Resonance of Resilience - Voices of Vietnamese-American Female Writers" on the evening of May 8 at the Goethe Institute in Hanoi.

Mr. Oliver Brandt - Director of Goethe Institute Hanoi - shared about Vietnamese writers at the press conference - Photo: Organizing Committee

Vietnamese Writers - New Narratives, New Perspectives

Responding to a question from Tuoi Tre Online, Mr. Oliver Brandt - Director of the Goethe Institute Hanoi - said that the organizing committee chose to introduce writers of Vietnamese origin in this year's event to celebrate a year with many important milestones between Europe and Vietnam.

He assessed that the literature of European writers of Vietnamese origin is increasingly gaining more attention in both Vietnam and Europe. They contribute to creating a diverse and polyphonic European literature with new narratives and new perspectives.

These writers also increasingly participate more deeply and actively in the literature of European countries and affirm their position with many awards.

Writer Anna Moi also tells a story showing how important Vietnamese writers in France have been to French literature.

In France, in the early 2000s, a distinction was made between French literature and literature by non-French authors.

Although she admits that she is a non-French author of French literature, Anna Moi and many other authors do not agree with this division.

According to her, there is only one kind of literature. And non-French authors are contributing to the French literary heritage in general. She said that recently, when she attended conferences at American universities, she saw a significant decrease in the number of students studying French literature there.

Some professors told her that it is thanks to French literature by non-French people that the French literature industry in the United States maintains a large student body. Non-French writers are enriching French literature with their different voices.

From left to right are writers: Vanessa Vu, Cecile Pin, Khue Pham, Anna Moi at the discussion Echoes of Resilience - Voices of Vietnamese female writers on the evening of May 8 - Photo: T.DIEU

The voices resonated

It can be seen that Vietnamese writers in Europe are increasingly participating deeply in the literature of the country they live in. In France, the works of female writer Linda Le are loved by many French readers.

In 2012, the novel Lame de fond (Undercurrent) by Linda Le is one of four books that made it to the final round of the 2012 Goncourt Prize - the number 1 literary award in France.

Anna Moi has published 8 short story collections and 3 novels, notably The Venom of the Papillon, which won the Littérature - monde award in 2017.

In 2018, she was awarded the title "Knight of Arts and Letters" by the French Government for her contributions to French-Vietnamese cultural exchange.

Clément Baloup - a French comic artist of Vietnamese origin born in 1978, is known for his series of works exploring the cultural heritage of East Asia in France. His series Memories of Overseas Vietnamese (Mémoires de Viet Kieu) has won many comic awards in Europe.

He is currently one of the typical representatives of multicultural comics in France, regularly participating in Vietnam - France art exchange projects.

Some works by Vietnamese writers in Europe - Photo: T.DIEU

In Germany, journalist and writer of Vietnamese origin Khue Pham has won many awards. Vanessa Vu has also received many prestigious awards such as Theodor - Wolff - Preis, Helmut - Schmidt - Preis. Cecile Pin is a writer of French - Vietnamese descent, grew up in Paris and New York, and writes in English.

Her debut novel Wandering Souls was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Prix Femina Étranger, and shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize.

And many Vietnamese writers in Europe are increasingly asserting their unique voices in the literature here.

With the theme "From where and where to: European migrant literary voices", European Literature Days 2025 took place in Hanoi from May 8 to 12 with many exciting activities.

Notable among these are a series of literary talks revolving around the theme of immigrant literature, and writing workshops with Vietnamese writers from France, England, Germany, Spain, and the Czech Republic.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nha-van-goc-viet-o-chau-au-tieng-noi-ben-le-hay-dong-gop-khong-nho-20250508213827722.htm