Cecile Le Pham: Heartfelt Bridge of Compassion between Vietnam and France
	Tribute to International Friends: 80 Years of Companionship with Vietnam

– Returning to Vietnam on the 80th National Day anniversary, what are your impressions of the atmosphere here?

– My first impression upon stepping off the plane was the same as always: deeply moved, with a sense of coming home. Immediately, I saw red flags with golden stars flying everywhere, and the streets were clean and splendidly decorated. It reminded me of the atmosphere in France before major national events, when people join hands to clean, prepare, and welcome guests.

As soon as I left my luggage at the hotel, I went straight to the Hanoi Post Office with two young ladies. There, I could feel the festive spirit in full: rehearsals, singing, children playing joyfully under the watchful eyes of their parents. The whole scene was vibrant and jubilant.

Elisabeth Helfer Aubrac, President Ho Chi Minh’s goddaughter. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

– In your childhood memories, what image of President Ho Chi Minh stands out most? And how do you view the friendship between him and your father, Raymond Aubrac?

– President Ho Chi Minh once lived in my parents’ home, who were active in the resistance movement. From a very young age, my siblings and I were instilled with the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. For us, he was not only a godfather but also a true member of our family.

As a little girl, I had no understanding of what the Indochina war was, and of course no one could foresee the later war in Vietnam. But gradually, I realized that President Ho Chi Minh was an extraordinary figure, not only through photographs but because he was an integral part of my own family.

Even after we no longer met in person, I maintained the habit of sending New Year greetings, and he, in one way or another, always sent back his wishes on my birthday. For that reason, President Ho Chi Minh was never a distant figure to me, but someone always present as a beloved family member. Over time, I came to better understand his stature as a great leader, but his character bore many similarities to that of my father and his friends - men who all came from the resistance movement - so this realization never shocked me. Everything seemed natural, part of the flow of family life.

My father, Raymond Aubrac, was a humble man, principled and independent, who never exploited his reputation for personal gain. He enjoyed the complete trust of President Ho Chi Minh, and this trust helped to strengthen the French people’s confidence in him. The foundation of their relationship was trust and simplicity of character - traits shared by these two remarkable men. My father was also trusted by French leaders, such as Prime Minister Mendès France during the period 1946-1954. Thanks to this, their special friendship contributed to important progress in Vietnam-France relations during a historically challenging era.

Archival photo: President Ho Chi Minh holding his goddaughter, Babette.

– What has impressed you most about Vietnam’s changes over the years?

– My first visit to Vietnam was in 1987. At that time, Hanoi still bore bomb craters, the airport was dilapidated, and there was no street lighting; people lived in great hardship and deprivation. Yet what moved me was that everyone was working: repairing bicycles, mending broken tools, or fixing a tin can or a radio. No one sat idle.

After that, I returned more than ten times, while my husband came to Vietnam almost four times a year. I witnessed an astonishing pace of development: the Vietnamese people held their heads high and rebuilt together. The scars of war gradually faded, except for the severe consequences of Agent Orange. In their place emerged an extraordinary resilience.

– In your view, how has the Vietnam–France friendship been cultivated over the decades? And what could further strengthen the bonds between the peoples of the two countries?

– From a personal perspective, I believe there were times when relations did not develop as well as they could have. General Vo Nguyen Giap once told me: “I have never been to France because France did not invite me.” This reflects the hesitation of the past.

Nonetheless, France made important contributions, particularly after the Doi Moi, by helping Vietnam integrate into the international community, join international organizations, and receive support in science and technology. I believe relations between the two countries can advance even further, especially within the framework of the European Union. Education and training is one example, as the French language is still relatively limited in Vietnam. Greater efforts are needed to foster closer ties between young generations of both countries.

One outstanding example is the French-Vietnamese Center for Management Education (CFVG). For more than 30 years, the Center has trained successive generations of master’s students in economics, finance, and management. Vietnamese students study in English, and then continue with joint programs at the Sorbonne University in France. Even without using French, this model has created a strong bridge between the youth of the two nations. I believe such open forms of cooperation should be expanded, whether in medicine or other fields, to give young people more opportunities to connect and grow together.

– On the 80th National Day of Vietnam, what message would you like to send to the Vietnamese people?

For a nation, 80 years is very, very young - it is only the beginning stage for vigorous strides ahead. For a woman, however, 80 years is not exactly the start of a great breakthrough. But at my age, my hope is to see- or more precisely, to know - that if this country continues on its current path of openness and creativity, while paying greater attention to the environment, then, in witnessing the elegance, courage, and kindness of the Vietnamese people, an 80-year-old lady may well think: “This country has a wonderful future.”

– Thank you very much!

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