The book is a journey back to Hanoi in the early 20th century to discover the beauty of the capital's culinary culture: what did Hanoians eat, how did they cook, and how did they receive and transform the culinary waves from outside? From the East-West, South-North fusion, Hanoi not only preserved but also developed its own distinct culinary identity, what the author calls "Hanoi-ization".
As a PhD, researcher in archaeology, paleontology and anthropology, author Vu The Long not only relies on the life experience of a native Hanoian but also approaches cuisine as a cultural heritage, combining archaeological documents, historical documents and living memories of older generations. This creates academic depth while bringing liveliness, closeness and everyday life to each page of the book.
In a speech to Chinese readers, author Vu The Long shared: “I hope the stories I write are to introduce how Vietnamese people eat Chinese food in Vietnam, and how it has changed since Chinese food was introduced to Vietnam. I also wonder: Do Chinese people eat Vietnamese pho?” Through this, the author shows the two-way cultural exchange, not only between the two countries but also between the Vietnamese-Chinese communities, which have a great influence on Vietnamese cuisine.
The Chinese edition of the work was published by CHI Culture Joint Stock Company - Chibooks, copyrighted by Guangxi Science and Technology Publishing House and officially released in China from November 2024. After nearly 1 year, the book has left a deep impression on Chinese readers through impressive sales, positive feedback and high appreciation from local media.
Translator Phi Thanh Doa, who translated the book into Chinese, expressed her emotions when recounting her journey of translating the book since 2021. As someone who used to live and work in Hanoi, she shared: “While reading the book, I felt like I was chatting with an old man from Hanoi, listening to him tell old stories. The cuisine in the book is a window that helps readers see the history and cultural changes of Hanoi in the 20th century.”
Hanoians, stories of eating and drinking in the past and Passing through the clouds are two works in the "Vietnamese Culture" book series, which were introduced at the book launch and author exchange ceremony at the China - Southeast Asia Book Culture Week in 2024.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nguoi-ha-noi-chuyen-an-chuyen-uong-mot-thoi-gianh-giai-sach-dong-nam-a-tai-trung-quoc-post802761.html
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