Hélène Luc – A lifelong friend of Vietnam, from war to peace
Her eyes lit up with joy as Luc told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Paris: “My love for Vietnam will never end.” She reflected on seven decades of devotion to a nation that has become her “second homeland”.
Paris (VNA)♐ - At 93, Hélène Luc, French Honorary Senator, remains a tireless advocate of France-Vietnam friendship.
Her eyes lit up with joy as Luc told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Paris: “My love for Vietnam will never end.” She reflected on seven decades of devotion to a nation that has become her “second homeland”.
Born in 1932 in Saint-Étienne to an Italian miner’s family, Luc’s early life amid World War II’s devastation shaped her commitment to peace. Joining the French Communist Party, she rose to prominence as a senator (1977–2011), Vice President of the Senate’s France-Vietnam Friendship Group, and President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV).
Her first acts of support for Vietnam were humble yet profound - collecting milk, wool, and basic supplies, and raising funds for the “Ship to Vietnam” initiative, one of the earliest France–Vietnam solidarity movements.
Luc remained closely connected to Vietnam from the resistance against France to the fight against the US. She recalled she always followed Vietnam’s struggle, especially the country's goal of national independence.
One of her most vivid memories is hosting the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s negotiation delegation, a stay that stretched from months into five years as peace talks dragged on. During this time, Luc witnessed the strength of international support for Vietnam, with slogans like “Peace for Vietnam” and “Vietnam of Ho Chi Minh will win” echoing across France, Germany, and even the US.
In 1978, Luc made her first visit to post-war Vietnam, where the scars of conflict were fresh, but so was the nation’s resilience and determination. Five decades later, she stays deeply engaged with Vietnam. She has been at the forefront of raising donations, offering aid, building partnerships, and fostering bilateral friendship. Luc has also been a vocal supporter of Vietnamese-French Tran To Nga's lawsuit against US chemical corporations that supplied Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin for the US army during the war in Vietnam, while expressing concern over Vietnam's environmental challenges and international pressures such as US tariff policies.
Reflecting on Vietnam’s extraordinary development, Luc marveled: “When Vietnam was reunified, some journalists claimed it would take at least a hundred years for the country to gain global standing. But just 50 years later, we’ve seen how influential Vietnam has become. It’s truly a great victory, not only in diplomacy but in peaceful development”.
AAFV President Nguyen Hai Nam described Luc as “irreplaceable”, noting her presence in every activity related to Vietnam. Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, meanwhile, praised her as a shining example of solidarity and friendship.
Luc’s dedication has earned recognition from the Vietnamese Government through distinctions, including the Friendship Order and the Order of Independence. Several Vietnamese cities and provinces have granted her honorary citizenship, and she was recently invited to attend the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s national reunification (April 30).
“My fight for Vietnam is eternal. It is my second homeland, along with Italy - the birthplace of my parents. I always wish the best for Vietnam,” Luc concluded, her words filled with heartfelt devotion./.
Party leader To Lam highlighted France’s role as the first EU nation to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, a testament to its commitment to strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation.
Vietnam and France pledge to fully leverage the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and deepen cooperation in priority sectors including infrastructure, transportation, renewable and green energy, science and technology, innovation, aerospace, and development of high-quality human resources, particularly for the semiconductor industry.
Under the strategic planning component, the French side will assist CAAV in developing a roadmap to manage the projected growth of Vietnam’s aviation sector in the coming years.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
