10-year-old Minh left Vietnam for France with her father 70 years ago. Living in France, she never forgets she is a Vietnamese woman. During talks with French friends, she often emphasises that Vietnam is her native country (“mon pays” in French).      

In 1991, Cécile Minh came back to Vietnam for the first time. She says, “I went around the country in 2 months by bicycle and on foot. After this fact-finding tour, I decided I should do something for my homeland.”

After returning to France, Cécile established the France-Vietnam Friendship Association to assemble French friends who care about Vietnam and organise activities to raise money for healthcare equipment needed by the homeland. Thanks to a reputation gained through 38 years of taking care of retirees in France, Cécile was able to attract many high-ranking French politicians to support her activities.

During nearly 20 years of operation, the Association has purchased healthcare equipment for some localities in Vietnam donated money to several vocational training centres, granted scholarships to students, and helped handicapped people.

Along with others in her native land in the lead-up to the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, Cécile has entered a competition in the sincere hope of winning a cash prize worth VND1 million with which she will spend on buying a wheelchair for the disabled.

In 2008, Cécile Minh was given a certificate of merit by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for her active role in strengthening and developing the community in the cause of national defense and construction. The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) also presented her with a medal “For Peace and Friendship among Nations”.

Cécile says she visits Vietnam annually and always receives a warm welcome from local leaders and people. “Staying in Vietnam, I feel sad sometimes when people still consider me a foreigner. I only wish to be seen as a normal Vietnamese woman like others in the country,” she confides.   

Now 86 years old, she still has a sound heart and is actively involved in charity work. Her house in Dreux City, 90km from Paris, is a rendezvous for many French friends with deep affection for Vietnam.