The Chinese version of Người Hà Nội, Chuyện Ăn Chuyện Uống Một Thời (Hanoians’ Eating And Drinking Stories) that has won the Southeast Asia Book Award. — Photo courtesy of Chibooks

HÀ NỘI — The book Người Hà Nội, Chuyện Ăn Chuyện Uống Một Thời (Hanoians’ Eating And Drinking Stories) by researcher Vũ Thế Long has won the Southeast Asia Book Award, a prestigious award within the framework of the China-Southeast Asia Book Culture Week held in Nanning, China.

Hanoians’ Eating And Drinking Stories presents to readers the essence of the capital’s culinary art in the 20th century through the memories of the author.

Through 300 pages with 39 articles, readers can savour familiar but unique dishes from the capital, such as hearty crab noodle soup, phở and clam worms, among other specialties.

The book also tells stories about Hà Nội and Việt Nam in the past century, from the resistance wars against France and the US to the subsidy period and the 'open door' policy.

According to author Vũ Thế Long, dining is a vital aspect of culture. Discovering the identity of Hà Nội's culinary culture, and further exploring the unique eating habits of the capital's residents, is essential for preserving, promoting and developing the city's cuisine. 

“I wish to write about what someone at my age, living in Hà Nội, knows about what we've eaten and drunk; how the families around me across different ages and generations have dined. Perhaps this could be of some benefit in the effort to understand and preserve the culinary culture of our Hà Nội,” the author told vietnamplus.vn. 

The book is displayed at the China-Southeast Asia Book Culture Week held in Nanning, China. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

The Chinese edition of the work was produced by CHI Cultural JSC – Chibooks, licensed to the Guangxi Science and Technology Publishing House, and was officially released in China in November 2024. After nearly a year, the book has made a significant impact on Chinese readers through impressive sales, positive feedback and high praise from local media.

Translator Phí Thanh Đóa, who translated the book into Chinese, noted that the author uses fluent, relaxed, yet delicate language to recount his memories of Hà Nội.

“While reading the book, I felt as if I were conversing with an elderly man, listening to his stories from the past. Author Vũ Thế Long also offers very unique perspectives, conveying his emotions in each story he writes,” she said.  

Hanoians’ Eating And Drinking Stories ranked eighth in the top 20 most influential Southeast Asian books with a score of 4.73, and is the only Vietnamese book to receive a Southeast Asia Book Award this year.

According to the jury of the Southeast Asia Book Awards, the book paints a vivid picture for Chinese readers of the transformations in the culinary culture of Hà Nội and Việt Nam as a whole.

“It conveys the author's thoughts on the inheritance and innovation of Vietnamese culinary culture, as well as his deep love for Vietnamese national culture. This is an outstanding work that perfectly combines knowledge with warm emotions,” they commented.

In his speech addressed to Chinese readers, author Long wrote: "I hope the stories I write introduce how Vietnamese people enjoy Chinese dishes in Việt Nam, and how Chinese cuisine has changed after its arrival in Việt Nam. I also wonder: Do Chinese people eat Vietnamese phở?" 

Researcher Vũ Thế Long, the author of  Người Hà Nội, Chuyện Ăn Chuyện Uống Một Thời (Hanoians’ Eating And Drinking Stories). — Photo vietnamplus.vn

Long was born on February 1, 1947, in Hà Nội. He holds a PhD and is a researcher in palaeontology, anthropology, environmental studies and cultural history. He previously worked as head of the Department of Human and Environmental Studies at the Vietnam Archaeology Institute, under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

He is now the Secretary of the Culinary Arts and Culture Club, part of the Vietnam Folklore Association, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association. — VNS