HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Prof Phan Huy Lê has been granted a medal by the Académie des Inscripition et des Belles Lettres (Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres) for his significant contribution to the preservation of Việt Nam’s historical and cultural heritage and for his devoted social science research.

The medal was given by Prof Micheal Zink from the academy during an award ceremony Monday night at the French Embassy in Hà Nội.   

Speaking at the event, Prof Zink praised Prof Lê for his discovery of the original draft of the Han-script story poem Lục Vân Tiên by the 19th century poet Nguyễn Đình Chiểu in the library of the Institute of France in Paris in 2011. Although the draft had been kept there for years, the French had no idea the story poem is considered “a treasure” of Vietnamese literature.

“We would like to do something to recognise the discovery of Prof Phan Huy Lê. Alongside unveiling the draft, we would like to give him a medal of the academy,” Prof Zink said.  

A ceremony to unveil the draft will take place at the Việt Nam National Archive Department in Hà Nội.

Vietnamese Prof Lê is an internationally-acclaimed historian who in 2016 received the Hồ Chí Minh Award -- the highest State award--for his research. He is an honourary doctor of the École française d’Extrême-Orient (French School of the Far East).

The 83-year-old historian has also been a member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres – a French academic association devoted to the humanities, since 2011. — VNS