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./.
