Kadrinka Kadrinova – Bulgarian Journalist And Two Decades Of Writing About The “Vietnam Miracle”

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A Bond Rooted in Childhood

Among the international friends present in Vietnam for this year’s National Day on September 2, Kadrinka Velichkova Kadrinova is remembered with deep respect. She is a distinguished journalist in Bulgaria and across Europe, known for her special affection for Vietnam.

Born in Italy, raised in Moscow (Russia), and later settling in Bulgaria, Kadrinova was introduced to Vietnam at a very young age. Between the ages of 9 and 14, while participating in an international solidarity club, young Kadrinova heard stories about the Vietnamese people’s resistance war. The image of a resilient nation sowed in the heart of the Bulgarian girl a dream of one day visiting Vietnam. It was not until December 2006, with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria, that her dream came true. Her journey across Vietnam then left her with a profound impression of what she calls "the miracle of Vietnam."

Journalist Kadrinka Kadrinova in Vietnamese Ao Dai at the Launching Ceremony of the book "Vietnam Miracle", June 2021. (Photo: KT)

Since then, her love for Vietnam has become the source of inspiration for hundreds of articles and five books, some of which are considered milestones in promoting Vietnam’s image in Bulgaria. In 2010, Kadrinova published the book “Vietnam – Land of the Fairy Dragon” in Bulgarian, later translated into English and released on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi. In 2021, to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Bulgaria, she published “Vietnam Miracle”, featuring 20 chapters and three appendices with 120 photographs, most of which she took herself during her visits to the country.

The book offers a comprehensive portrayal of Vietnam, covering its national history, cultural traditions, land and people, as well as the country’s remarkable achievements in nation-building and development, particularly Vietnam’s success in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire journey of building and safeguarding the nation, along with its renovation and growth, is depicted by her as nothing short of a miracle.

In her letter to Vietnamese readers on the occasion of the release of the Vietnamese edition of “Vietnam Miracle”, translated and published under the auspices of the Vietnam–Bulgaria Friendship Association in Hanoi, she wrote:

“I am the author of four books, two of which are dedicated entirely to Vietnam, a country I have visited five times as a journalist. Vietnam has also been the central theme of many of my articles over the years, all inspired by my deep respect for the achievements of the Vietnamese people throughout their long history as well as in modern times. With a special affection, I have always paid close attention to writing about the traditional friendship between Bulgaria and Vietnam, a relationship that not only holds great potential for further development, but is also a precious human treasure embodied in specific individuals: the Bulgarian friends of Vietnam and the Vietnamese friends of Bulgaria.”

Some images in the book "Vietnam Miracle" by journalist Kadrinka Kadrinova. (Photo: KT)

Nguyen Vu Can, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Vietnam–Bulgaria Friendship Association, shared on his personal page:

“The book 'Vietnam Miracle' is a powerful reflection of Kadrinova’s impressions of Vietnam and its people through her five visits and her writings about our country. The birth of this book overcame countless difficulties – from preparing the manuscript based on materials she had been collecting since 1996, to arranging finances for publication during the pandemic. Perhaps it was her profound love for Vietnam that gave Kadrinka Kadrinova the wings to complete this work.”

According to him, Kadrinka Kadrinova is "a new icon of media about Vietnam in Bulgaria and Europe".

Vietnam in Her Heart

Kadrinka Kadrinova’s writings do not only recount the history of war, but also portray a Vietnam in renewal, rising with strength.

In her article titled “Unity – The Highlight of the 50th Anniversary of the End of the War in Vietnam,” written on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, she wrote:

“Fifty years on, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has risen from the ashes of war to become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, pursuing a consistent foreign policy based on international understanding, effective partnership, and mutually beneficial cooperation with all nations, even with former adversaries. Having endured so much loss through war, the Vietnamese people have always regarded peace and national unity as their most sacred and cherished values.”

She paid particular attention to the spirit of great national unity highlighted in the article “Vietnam is One, the Vietnamese People are One” by General Secretary To Lam.

According to her, “the core message of the article is that national unity is not a goal already achieved, but rather the starting point for building a stronger and more developed Vietnam. In other words, peace is not a static or passive monument, but a dynamic and living foundation for continuous progress. Part of this process is the modernization of the country, the improvement of education in connection with new technologies, and the constant enhancement of infrastructure. All of these are nurtured within a moral and compassionate social environment, one that encourages citizens to devote themselves responsibly to the common good and to the ever-stronger development of the Fatherland.”

Journalist Kadrinka Kadrinova (far left) was honored with the Friendship Medal by the State of Vietnam in 2010. (Photo: KT)

The name Kadrinka Kadrinova has long been associated with Vietnam. In September 2024, she was appointed by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev as a member of the Council for Electronic Media, the highest media regulatory body in Bulgaria. Although no longer reporting daily, she affirmed: “Throughout my journalistic career, the topic of Vietnam has always remained especially close to my heart.”

Kadrinka Kadrinova was honored with the Friendship Medal by the Vietnamese State in 2010 and has twice received Vietnam’s National Award for External Information. For her, the journey of writing about Vietnam has never come to an end, as she once shared: “My impressions of a friendly and open Vietnam will forever remain indelible in my heart.”

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