HÀ NỘI —The Vietnamese version of the book The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew  was officially launched at a ceremony in Hà Nội yesterday on occasion of the official visit to Việt Nam of  Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the second death anniversary of his father, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The book, written by the late leader and describing the development of his city-state, was jointly published by Omega Books and Thế Giới (World) Publishers.

The 768-page book is only the first volume of a 1,700-page memoire. The second volume, entitled From Third World to First, has also been translated into Vietnamese and will be presented to the public next week.

“Everyone knows Lee Kuan Yew (1923-2015) as a legendary personality in Asia, the founding father of Singapore,” said Đặng Đình Quý, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Việt Nam, at the book launch ceremony.

Near-mythical figure: The Vietnamese version of The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew written by the late leader of Singapore, was officially launched at a ceremony on Thursday in Hà Nội.— Photo courtesy of the organisers.

“He was a good and longtime friend of many leaders of Viet Nam and of the Vietnamese people. The book can be very useful and can teach interesting lessons for officials and young people,” he adds.   

The memoires describe how a "third-world state" with few natural resources, a weak economy and undeveloped society, became one of the most advanced countries in the world and an international financial centre with advanced science and technologies.

In his book, Lee described in detail the events that led Singapore to independence and its reconstruction as the "Dragon of Asia".

A conference about the life and career of Lee Kuan Yew was held after the book launching ceremony.

The two volumes will be available at major libraries in Việt Nam from April.—VNS