French artist family - three generations of love for Hanoi

Mr. Du Gard recommended my father publish the letters into a book and a meeting took place in 1928. The second letter was written in 1928 and sent to his friend Jacques Heurgon, who at the time completed his military services in Hanoi. He described a lot about Hanoi in his book.

Two letters were published separately, though I want to compile them into o­ne book, the publishing houses in French can not give their unanimous. Thanks to the French Cultural Centre in Hanoi, I havebeen able to satisfy my desire.

Hanoi through your father’s words and your own feeling?

Attitudes of French people to Hanoi now and in the past have obviously changed. When I go o­n Hanoi’s streets, it is not strange or surprising, for I have known them through my father’s letters, significantly I can recognize the elegant, gracefulness and politeness of the Hanoi ladies.

The city has changed though making many buildings still storing houses with antique style. In 1997, I came to Hanoi, saw many bicycles and heard many interesting sounds, now nothing but motorbikes. Certainly, we do not have another choice, that is development.

Any your comments o­n wall painting of artist Victor Tardieu, your grandfather drew in College of Arts Indochina, recently restored by Vietnamese artists?

I am surprised at the process of restoring, conducted quite good, and I would like to meet the artist, who did this work. In color, he is successful in using color, though it has changed a little, for example, more pink is used, but it is appropriate to the color of the wall in Hanoi.

In the past few years, through exchanged e-mail with Ms. Nguyen Anh Thu, Hanoi National University, you have informed that continuing to find out more document and letter related to this wall painting. Now, how is this conducted?

At present I have not looked for material in the true sense of the word, o­nly some material to serve as an introduction show of the book.

How many time have you come to Vietnam?

This is the third time. The first time when I came to Vietnam to receive statue of my grandfather, carved by a Vietnamese artist. At that time, my mother was ill and some months later she died in hospital. The second time, in 2005, the Hanoi University of Arts invited me to attend The 80^th foundation of the university.

Your grandfather and father lived in Hanoi. Would you like to live in Hanoi, if you have suitable job?

These are words that I have said to my husband when we sat in the air to Vietnam. We are not young any longer, I am 70 years old , my husband 72.

If our journey to Vietnam is short, we will visit your country more often, I feel as if to live in my own house.