Social & Business
Journalist – Author
XUAN PHUONG
SPRING
Upon reading the remarkable chronicle of Madame Xuan Phuong’s life, one’s initial reaction may be tinged with a gentle disbelief. How could a woman who has journeyed through nearly a full century—witnessing the shifting tides of history and the ceaseless fluctuations of human nature—still “never forget how to smile”? Yet this very skepticism transforms into curiosity, drawing us to meet her and listen to her stories of life, kindness, and enduring grace.
The essence of her name, Xuan (Spring), is the embodiment of being “young at heart” — a timeless state of spirit, an “ode to youth” played by a heart that continues to beat with the bright rhythm of vitality, purity, and hope.
Born in 1929 in the former imperial capital of Hue, Nguyen Thi Xuan Phuong is a vivid testament to the spirit of the “extraordinary woman” who transcends all boundaries. Not only has she built a remarkable career spanning nearly 80 years, but she also stands as a rare icon of multifaceted talent and resilience.
Career Milestones & Achievements:
- In 1945, at age 16, she joined the revolutionary movement. During the resistance years, she served in diverse roles — from being one of Vietnam’s first three female explosives technicians, to working as a nurse, military doctor, interpreter, and war correspondent.
- After the war, she continued her career as a documentary and television director, producing significant works that captured major historical events, including the Cambodian battlefields and the northern border conflict.
- In 1991, she opened Lotus Gallery in Ho Chi Minh City, becoming one of the pioneers who introduced contemporary Vietnamese fine art to the international stage.
- She is the author of acclaimed memoirs such as Ao dai (published in French in 2001 and translated into several languages) and Ganh ganh gong gong... (2020), which received two prestigious awards from the Vietnam Writers’ Association and the Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association.
- At age 94 (2023), she was inducted into the Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association and went on to release her memoir Khac di Khac den at age 95 (2024).
- She was awarded the French Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur (2011) and was named among the BBC 100 Women of global influence in 2024.
At 96 years young, her spirit remains an exquisite blend of fervent creativity, restless curiosity, and an enduring open-heartedness toward life and humanity. She is, quite simply, the living proof that age is merely a number, and that true, vibrant youth resides solely in the state of the soul.
I’ll tell you a story. In 2003, I traveled to Western Australia for an exhibition. The landscape there is half desert, half mangrove forest, home to many fascinating creatures. While I was hanging the paintings, someone from the Vietnamese Consulate General brought an Australian journalist to interview me. He asked why a woman over 80 would fly all the way to Western Australia for an exhibition — wasn’t I afraid? I replied that Molière, the famous French playwright, was over 80 when he felt tired onstage, and a few days later, he passed away. I came here with the same sentiment: if I were to die here, it would be a happiness — because dying while doing the work I love is far better than dying in a hospital bed with tubes everywhere. The thought of lying in a hospital terrifies me, so I simply keep working, hoping to work until the very last minute. Unexpectedly, the next day, all the Western Australian newspapers published my story, and many people came to the exhibition just to see this “80-year-old lady.”
So, what keeps me passionate and full of energy is the youthfulness of the heart. When your heart remains curious and eager — always searching for what is interesting in life and letting go of what is dark — your heart stays young. And when the heart is young, the soul is young, even if the face is wrinkled. And when the soul is young, you are just like a young maiden — welcoming the breeze and savoring life. Writer Ho Anh Thai once wrote an article about me titled “The 93-Year-Old Young Writer,” you know!