Farewell to culturalist Huu Ngoc

Culturalist Huu Ngoc, a famous scholar of the 20th century and early 21st century, who built a cultural bridge between Vietnam and the world, passed away in Hanoi at the age of 107.

Cultural House Huu Ngoc - Photo: NGUYEN DINH TOAN

Information from the family said that cultural figure Huu Ngoc passed away at 7:10 p.m. on May 2. The funeral will take place at 1 p.m. on May 5 at the Funeral Home of Hospital 198, 58 Tran Binh, Hanoi . The memorial service and funeral will take place at 2 p.m. the same day.

The news of the passing of culturalist Huu Ngoc not only saddened domestic culture lovers but also moved international friends.

"Up until now, I have never met a person who bridges cultures like Mr. Huu Ngoc - deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture, a true nationalist, very sensitive when accepting other cultures."

( Swedish Ambassador Borje Lunggren - excerpt from speech at the Legion of Honor ceremony at the Swedish Embassy, ​​June 6, 1997)

A few days ago, some international friends, including former Danish journalist Thomas Bo Pedersen, who had not heard from cultural figure Huu Ngoc for a long time, asked Vietnamese journalists to find his home address so they could visit a Vietnamese person they loved and enjoyed hearing him talk about Vietnamese culture.

Former journalist Thomas Bo Pedersen (Denmark) - visited culturalist Huu Ngoc, whom he greatly admired - Photo: T.DIEU

Over 70 years of writing and translating books

Culturalist Huu Ngoc was born in 1918 in Hang Gai, Hanoi, originally from Thuan Thanh, Bac Ninh . He was fluent in French, English, German, and could read and understand Chinese. Thanks to his good English, he "accidentally became a revolutionary".

In a conversation with Tuoi Tre a few years ago At the age of 102, Mr. Huu Ngoc said that in the autumn of the revolution in 1945, he was in his early twenties and was teaching in Hue . The young man was full of hope for the future of the nation like many progressive intellectuals of the time and also wanted to rush into the wind of the new era.

The unexpected meeting with his friend, poet Huy Can, in Hue when Huy Can was part of the revolutionary government delegation led by Tran Huy Lieu to Hue to receive the seal and sword handed over by King Bao Dai, led Huu Ngoc to an unexpected turn.

"You must go to Hanoi immediately because they are in great need of people who know English. The delegation of the countries that defeated fascism and the delegation of the allies will come to Hanoi and will be in great need of people who know English."

And Huu Ngoc came to the revolution from the urging and introduction of his friend. Then he devoted his whole life to his homeland, digging into the cultural treasure of his ancestors and gradually revealing that treasure, not only to the Vietnamese people but also to the international community.

He carried out that mission his whole life, starting from his role as editor-in-chief of a French newspaper - Tia Sang.

That year, Huu Ngoc was only 26 - 27 years old, never worked in journalism, especially French journalism.

He later published two French and English magazines, Le Vietnam Marches (Vietnam Marches) and Études Vietnamminnes (Vietnam Studies). This second magazine was especially edited by Dr. Nguyen Khac Vien, who returned from France, so the magazine had great international prestige throughout the anti-American period.

Starting with revolutionary journalism, Huu Ngoc continued to write for 70 years. He wrote for many newspapers at home and abroad. He also compiled articles by topic into massive books. He published 34 books in his life, some of which were over a thousand pages.

He wrote books in three languages: Vietnamese, French, and English, to introduce Vietnamese culture to the world and bring foreign culture into Vietnam, helping our people keep up with world trends when the country began to open up.

In addition to writing books, he also translates books. The book Grime Fairy Tales was translated directly from German by Huu Ngoc, published more than half a century ago, and has become a close friend of many generations of Vietnamese children.

Culturalist Huu Ngoc (2004), the person who built a cultural bridge between Vietnam and the world in the 20th century - Photo: NGUYEN DINH TOAN

"Identity" Huu Ngoc and the book series written at the age of 100

What is special is that he is a very exemplary, diligent, dedicated and seemingly academic writer, but his writings turn out to be very real, that is why he is very popular with the public. The freshness of life, of personal feelings is the "identity" in Huu Ngoc's writing.

And this is because he has traveled and stayed deeply in every cultural region of the country during the 20 years he was the chairman of the two cultural funds Vietnam - Sweden, Vietnam - Denmark, along with 30 trips abroad.

Not only contributing in writing, he also "exported" Vietnamese culture to the world through hundreds of cultural conversations with foreigners, from ordinary people traveling, to great politicians such as the kings and queens of Sweden, Norway, the prime minister of Brazil, professors, university students...

Culturalist Huu Ngoc and his wife on the podium to receive the Grand Prize - Bui Xuan Phai Prize - For the Love of Hanoi in 2017 - Photo: NGUYEN DINH TOAN

During his lifetime, when answering Tuoi Tre about his favorite book, he said it was probably a few: Wandering in Vietnamese Culture (Vietnamese, French, English, of which the English book won the Vietnamese Book Gold Award, the French one won the Gadif Award from the ambassadors of French-speaking countries in Vietnam, the Vietnamese version was a bestseller).

He also mentioned the book Vietnam: Tradition and Change published in the US and rated 4 stars (the highest) in international books by the US Chance organization. All of the above books were published in 20,000 copies.

With the book series Cao Thom Lan Ba, two volumes of nearly 1,000 pages that he published at the age of 102 (Kim Dong Publishing House), he said this is a book series that he wrote in 5 years, since he was 95 years old.

The journey of writing this book series for him was "a pilgrimage to the past, knocking on the doors of world celebrities" to help him find answers to eternal metaphysical questions: Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?

Throughout his life of tireless literary work, Huu Ngoc has been awarded many prestigious awards:

• Two Independence Medals

• Medal of Honor

• Order of Academic Palms (France)

• Order of the Legion of Honor (Sweden)

• Mot d'or Award (France)

• Vietnam Book Gold Award 2006

• Bronze Prize of Vietnam Book 2015

• Vietnam National Book Award 2017

• GADIF Award 2008 of the Group of Embassies, Delegations and Francophone Organizations in Vietnam

• 2015 National First Prize in Foreign Information

• Bui Xuan Phai Grand Prize for Love of Hanoi 2017

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vinh-biet-nha-van-hoa-huu-ngoc-20250504094911255.htm