Vietnam-Chile: Linking People-to-People Exchanges with Local Connectivity and Concrete Cooperation Models
	Promoting People-to-People Cooperation on the Occasion of the 55th Anniversary of Vietnam-Chile Relations

M.A. Nguyen Thuy Trang (left), a member of the Papelucho translation team in Vietnam. (Photo: Hanoi University)

- What led you to become involved in translating the Papelucho series?

- My connection with Papelucho began with a memorable conversation with a friend, the former Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam, Sergio Narea. He shared his deep concern about how to bring his country’s most representative children’s work to Vietnamese readers.

His heartfelt words stayed with me, reminding me of an unfinished cultural bridge. When the opportunity arose to join the project, I did not hesitate. For me, this was not merely a professional task, but a chance to realize the aspiration of a Chilean friend who has always held a deep affection for Vietnam.

I have always believed that if one wishes to touch the heart of a nation, one should begin with the books that nurture its children’s souls. Bringing this work from South America to Vietnam is, in essence, a journey to find a resonance between the hearts of readers in both countries.

- How did the translation team prepare to approach a work that is famous in Chile but still new to Vietnamese readers?

- From the outset, we understood that this could not be a purely linguistic translation; it had to be a process of cultural transfer. In addition to carefully studying the original text, the team explored the social context of Chile at the time, from family life to children's interactions with the world around them.

Perhaps most importantly, we focused on defining the narrative voice for the translation. How could we preserve Papelucho’s innocence, mischief, and distinct personality, while still making Vietnamese young readers feel a sense of familiarity? We did not want children to feel they were reading a translated text; rather, we wanted them to feel as though they were listening to a friend of their age telling a story.

- During the translation process, what was the greatest challenge for the team?

- The greatest challenge lay in narrative perspective. In Spanish, the character uses only one pronoun, “yo,” but in Vietnamese, the system of personal pronouns is highly nuanced and layered. Should we choose “tôi,” “tao,” “tớ,” or “mình”? Each option carries a different shade of meaning. How could we retain the boy’s mischievous charm - sometimes even a bit precocious - while still making Vietnamese children feel that the story is close to their own lives? It was a quiet but intense “duel” to find the most fitting linguistic balance.

The second challenge was preserving the “spirit” of the narrative voice. Papelucho writes his diary with a natural thought process, unafraid to use naive sentence structures to express his emotions. If the translation were too polished, it would immediately become “adult-like”; yet if we tried too hard to mimic childishness, it could easily feel forced.

The third challenge was the distance of time and culture. The series was written from 1947 to the mid-1970s. Certain vocabulary, objects, and expressions felt unfamiliar even to the Chilean friends we consulted. Handling these layers of language and culture, covered by the dust of time, in a way that remains accessible to Vietnamese readers without losing the historical context required a deeply dedicated process of refinement by the entire team.

Vietnamese readers explore the children’s series Papelucho at the official launch event in Vietnam on June 24, 2025. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

- In your opinion, what makes this story appealing to Vietnamese young readers?

- I believe that children’s hearts everywhere share the same “emotional frequency.” Although the story is set in Chile in the last century, Papelucho’s experiences are universal. They revolve around everyday troubles: going to school, being scolded by parents, or small misunderstandings with friends. His thoughts may seem naive at first, but upon reflection, they reveal a surprising honesty and depth.

In particular, the way Papelucho engages in self-dialogue through his diary creates a private world - a refuge for dreams, unanswered questions, and childhood fears. I believe that any Vietnamese child has either had, or longed for, such a personal space. When reading Papelucho, they will not feel that they are reading about a distant foreign boy, but rather as if they are looking into a mirror, encountering themselves in playful mischief and in their most private reflections.

- What is the significance of introducing Papelucho to Vietnamese readers in terms of cultural exchange between the two countries?

- Children’s literature is a gentle yet enduring pathway for connecting nations. As Vietnamese children turn each page of Papelucho, they are not simply reading a story; they are beginning a quiet dialogue with a different way of life and a different way of perceiving the world from the other side of the globe. Seeds of understanding planted from such an early age often take deep root.

I believe Papelucho should not be confined to the category of children’s literature. It is a work for all ages. Children read it to find resonance, while adults can discover lessons in tolerance and in preserving a sense of clarity and innocence in an ever-changing world.

For professionals like us, this project has also been an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Chilean character. Cultural bridges like this, though seemingly small, accumulate over time to make relations between the two countries more vibrant and sustainable. Ultimately, the strongest form of connection is empathy between people, and literature is perhaps the finest messenger of all.

- Thank you very much!

Chilean Work Papelucho to be Published in Vietnam The Embassy of Chile in Vietnam and the Vietnam Education Publishing House have had a meeting and signed a Cooperation Agreement on culture and translation.

Papelucho - Chilean Children Book Reaches Vietnamese Readers On June 24 in Hanoi, Vietnam Education Publishing House coordinated with the Embassy of Chile in Vietnam to organize the Launch Ceremony of the children ...