Meritorious Artist Le Vi had a conversation with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper about 20 years apart, but family, the connection with her mother and older sisters is still strong in her.
You have been living in France for more than 20 years. After all these years, what do you miss most when leaving Hanoi, leaving your family?
- There are things that when living in Hanoi, we find very normal. But when we leave, when we are separated from that life, we will have enough space and time to look back, to see most clearly our roots, our origins, to see how "Hanoi quality" permeates our blood and flesh!
Take examples from the simplest things. Before, I rarely wore ao dai. I was even afraid to wear ao dai, feeling like wearing it would make me look... older. But when I came to live in another country, I loved wearing ao dai to the point of being strange.
Every time I go home, I bring a few sets of ao dai. Ao dai must be tailored to the traditional style, straight shirts, made of silk like my grandparents and parents in the old days.
Or, when I was in Hanoi, driving around Hoan Kiem Lake every day was very normal for me, but when I went far away, I missed it very much.
Stepping out of that life, I clearly see what I have left behind. Hoan Kiem Lake is still the same, but every time I return, I see Hoan Kiem Lake as more beautiful, more familiar. I keep remembering every street corner, every announcement, the clanging sound of the tram... when I was young.
My family of 5 lives in a 24m2 room on Phan Dinh Phung street. Hanoi in those years was pure, rustic, simple and for me, it was the most peaceful and beautiful Hanoi. I say that not to mean I want to return to the poverty of that time, but I feel that in those circumstances, the human spirit of that time was truly pure and elegant.
The public once compared her family to the families of People's Artists and Meritorious Artists. Each stage in life, we often look at our families differently. What about you?
- My family in those years did art very differently than now. Back then, being an actor, being an artist... was like many other paid jobs. There was no pressure, competition or the glitter of glory as the concept later became.
We do art in a pure and innocent way, "good wine naturally fragrant".
The family was poor, but my parents and 3 sisters all worked in the profession with love, passion, and enthusiasm. At that time, there was no polishing at all.
Fortunately, all 5 people in our family have their own positions and stands, with their own marks on their journey. We all understand the value of an artist not only in talent but also in lifestyle.
Until now, only Ms. Le Khanh is still persistently pursuing art. It can be said that she is the last person in our family to still work in the profession. I call her "the fire keeper", because she is the one who still maintains the way of life, keeping the fire of art is passion, is passion and sincerity.
You said that you and Le Khanh, Le Van are very traditional. So, how do you pass on and preserve that "traditional quality", "Vietnamese quality" in your family in France?
- Living in Europe, I am always aware of preserving Vietnamese for my children, and it is also easier to teach them. I teach my children with the lessons that I learned from my parents when I was young, I take my own experience to avoid them from falling. To help my children live correctly and understand more about Eastern culture, I guide them to come into contact with Buddhism, thanks to which my family is even closer.
Fortunately, in France, my parents-in-law are also very traditional people, they live with rules, order and standards, family lifestyle is very precious. I have learned a lot from them.
How do traditional French people resemble and differ from traditional Vietnamese people, in your opinion?
- Of course, each country, each nation has its own identity, views, and lifestyles, but there is a certain similarity in standards, which are standards and ethical norms.
For example, before getting married, they can learn freely, but when they are married, they will be very serious and responsible.
In the family, my mother-in-law, like many traditional Vietnamese women, has only cared for her husband and children her whole life, forgetting herself.
Your husband - Cyril Lapointe is a researcher of Vietnamese history and culture. Did he share with you what you were most impressed and loved about the history, culture, and character of Vietnamese people?
- I still tease my husband, he must have been Vietnamese in his past life. He loves everything that belongs to Vietnam, loves culture, loves cuisine... And of course, loves everything that belongs to his wife too.
He still said that he finds all customs and habits in Vietnamese culture interesting. From incense offering rituals, Tet worship to regional cultural characteristics... he loves them all.
Culture makes people. My husband loves Vietnamese people because he loves culture.
Living in a French family and having traveled to many European countries, when you step out into the world, what do you want to introduce most about Vietnam to international friends?
- My family has a homestay business. Many international tourists come here, when they know I am Vietnamese, many people are very happy and immediately tell me that they have just come to Vietnam for tourism. They give many compliments about the scenery, people of Vietnam, especially the personality of Vietnamese people who are open, friendly, and welcome everyone they meet. Many international tourists are particularly impressed by that. They tell me how they were welcomed when they came to Vietnam.
Vietnamese traditional culture in the eyes of international tourists is very unique, distinctive and they also have no difficulty guessing that I am Vietnamese.
There are also guests who have never been to Vietnam. And after chatting together, they want to come to Vietnam in the future.
In France for more than 20 years, what image do you bring about Hanoi?
- In my heart, there is always a family scene when reuniting on Tet, enjoying traditional dishes together.
My Hanoi scenery is the peaceful, simple childhood years. I remember the clanging sound of the tram, the summer afternoons of catching ticks and picking ambarella. I cycled around Hoan Kiem Lake again...
I always wish to return and live in that scene. That scene is the most beautiful image of Hanoi, always present in my mind, forever irreplaceable.
