Socialist Republic of Vietnam

The renowned Vietnamese musician and composer Pham Duy, 86, can happily say he is no longer an “overseas” Vietnamese after he arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday to spend the rest of his days.
After arriving Tuesday morning, Thanh Nien spoke with Duy at the Saigon Star Hotel, where he would stay in the coming time, about his big move.

How do you feel now?

Very happy! I should have returned home one month ago. However, I had to stay in the U.S. to check whether I had cancer. Fortunately, the hemorrhaging I suffered in my intestine was simply because of my old age.

Actually, I really wanted to come back on April 30 because that was the exact day I had left Vietnam 30 years ago. It would have been a great feeling after so many years.

Why did you want to come back to Vietnam?

I had made my decision to come back in 1988 when Nguyen Van Linh, then Vietnam’s general secretary of the Communist Party, showed to the world that Vietnam was an open country. At that time, I wrote the song “Rendezvous in 2000” and my wife’s death in 1999 urged me to make my wish come true.

Since then, I have returned to Vietnam 10 times and witnessed a lot of changes in the country. Finally, I decided to come home permanently to spend the rest of my life here.

I can truly say that I have traveled to many countries, but there is no place like Vietnam where the people have so much love for life. That is what impresses many foreigners. The people’s lives in the country have completely changed for the better. Farmers still plough fields, but they also own motorbikes.

Are there any other reasons?

When I left the country, I expressed my sorrow for leaving through many songs. I don’t want to think about those days again. Since 1988, I have only composed songs about spiritual beliefs and historical events. Now, society has changed so much and I want to talk about the contemporary social issues through my music. To do that, I have to come back Vietnam.

Could you please describe your life during those years living abroad?

It was like one very long night. My 30 years was like one long night, but then I woke up, saw the sun and forgot everything in the past.

What are your plans for the future?

What should I do first in the coming days…I will apply for my Vietnamese citizen card. Then I will look for a vehicle, a home and ... a wife, too (Laugh). Hey, I was very faithful to my wife and have been mourning her for the last five years!

What about your music?

If the music business would like to invite me to perform on stage again, I would definitely accept their proposal. Although I’m 86 now, my voice is still good (Laugh).

Thank you very much!

Reported by Hai Ninh – Translated by Quynh Nhu.
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 18 May, 2005, 12:49:18 (GMT+7)
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