My wife showed me a very interesting song, which is known as “Hello Vietnam”. It was a song well liked by Vietnamese community. It was sang by a Vietnamese Belgian Singer known as Quynh Anh Pham.
I understand that Quynh Anh was a Ethnic Vietnamese born in Europe, and the song was written for her by French-hit singer Marc Lavoine who was touch by the feeling of a small girl who had never seen her homeland.
Some interesting facts that I would like to share
1. The Movie by Coppola mentioned in the Lyrics is “Apocalypse Now” (1979)
Interestingly my first impression of Vietnam was taken ironically from the musical “Miss Saigon”. Later on in my life i discovered that it was really inaccurate and stereotypical in its depiction of Vietnam
When I visited Saigon in 2013, I tried hard to find the old American Embassy (where the infamous helicopter scene was based on) only to realise that it was demolished. The closest I got to the scene was the rooftop of the Independence Palace. I used to think that Vietnam was full of floating markets..and ladies wearing Ao Dai (most likely due to much travel shows that depicted that).
Later on I realised that the real Saigon is so much different from what I expected.
This song can be sang in 3 languages, English, French and Vietnamese. I have always been interested to find song that could be sang in more than 1 language. Therefore I would like to present this dedicated to everyone who is far away from home.
Personally i think the lyrics is very well written. I guess the song is best felt by people who live away from their home. I have decided not to try to link the lyrics and the translation as French and Vietnamese are all not my language of expertise.
Title : Bonjour Vietnam /Xin Chào Việt Nam/ Hello Vietnam
Singer :Quynh Anh Pham
Music :Marc Lavoine
Lyrics: Lavoine and Yvan Coriat
French Version:
Raconte moi ce nom étrange et difficile à prononcer
Que je porte depuis que je suis née.
Raconte moi le vieil empire et le trait de mes yeux bridés,
Qui disent mieux que moi ce que tu n’oses dire.
e ne sais de toi que des images de la guerre,
Un film de Coppola, [et] des hélicoptères en colère …
Un jour, j’irai là bas, un jour dire bonjour à ton âme.
Un jour, j’irai là bas [pour] te dire bonjour, Vietnam.
Raconte moi ma couleur, mes cheveux et mes petits pieds,
Qui me portent depuis que je suis née.
Raconte moi ta maison, ta rue, raconte moi cet inconnu,
Les marchés flottants et les sampans de bois.
e ne sais de toi que des images de la guerre,
Un film de Coppola, [et] des hélicoptères en colère …
Un jour, j’irai là bas, un jour dire bonjour à ton âme.
Un jour, j’irai là bas [pour] te dire bonjour, Vietnam.
Les temples et les Boudhas de pierre pour mes pères,
Les femmes courbées dans les rizières pour mes mères,
Dans la prière, dans la lumière, revoir mes frères,
Toucher mon âme, mes racines, ma terre…
Un jour, j’irai là bas, un jour dire bonjour à mon âme.
Un jour, j’irai là bas [pour] te dire bonjour, Vietnam (2 fois)
Vietnamese Version :
Bạn hãy nói cho tôi biết chăng, về họ tên mà tôi đã mang,
Về miền quê mà tôi ngày đêm luôn nhớ mong.
Lòng tôi mong biết đất nước tôi, đất nước đã có bao đời,
Được nhìn bằng đôi mắt của mình được trở về cội nguồn của tôi
Và qua phim Coppola,lòng thấy xót thương quê hương.
Bầy trực thăng bay trên cao, tàn phá xóm thôn nhỏ bé.
Ước mong về thăm chốn thiêng,Mong sao quê hương dang tay đón tôi.
Mong ước đến ngày trở về,
Lòng tôi yêu mến, Việt Nam.
Bạn hãy nói tới mái tóc đen, tới đôi chân nhỏ bé,
Và màu da đã ngày đêm cùng tôi lớn lên
Và mong sao đôi chân sẽ bước lên,Từ những nơi tôi chưa từng đến.
Để được nghe bài dân ca êm dịu lướt trên sông.
Và tôi mới biết, về đất nước tôi qua phim.
Người dân quê hương tôi cày cấy, vui trong lời hát.
Ước mong về thăm đất nước tôi.Quê hương bao năm tôi đã cách xa.
Mong ước đến ngày trở về,Lòng tôi yêu mến Việt Nam.
Tôi sẽ theo cha về thăm làng quê, tổ tiên.
Theo những giấc mơ bay trên mênh mông đồng lúa.
Tôi thấy bao thân thương nơi đây quê tôi.
Như cây có gốc, tôi yêu,vđất nước tôi !
Ước mong về thăm đất nước tôi,
Mong sao quê hương dang tay đón tôi.
Tôi sẽ thăm những dòng sông,
Đồng quê xanh mát Việt Nam.
Ước mong về thăm chốn thiêng,
Mong sao quê hương dang tay đón tôi.
Mong ước đến ngày trở về.
Lòng tôi yêu mến Việt Nam.
Lòng tôi vang tiếng Việt Nam.
Lòng tôi xin chào Việt Nam.
English Version:
Tell me all about this name, that is difficult to say.
It was given me the day I was born.
Want to know about the stories of the empire of old.
My eyes say more of me than what you dare to say.
(Chorus)
All I know of you is all the sights of war.
A film by Coppola, the helicopter’s roar.
One day I’ll touch your soil.
One day I’ll finally know your soul.
One day I’ll come to you.
To say hello… Vietnam.
Tell me all about my colour, my hair and my little feet
That have carried me every mile of the way.
Want to see your house, your streets. Show me all I do not know.
Wooden sampans, floating markets, light of gold.
(Repeat Chorus)
And Buddha’s made of stone watch over me
My dreams they lead me through the fields of rice
In prayer, in the light…I see my kin
I touch my tree, my roots,my begin
One day I’ll touch your soil.
One day I’ll finally know my soul.
One day I’ll come to you.
To say hello… Vietnam.
One day I’ll walk your soil
One day I’ll finally know my soul
One day I’ll come to you
To say hello…Vietnam
To say hello…Vietnam
To say xin chào (Hello In Vietnamese) … Vietnam
French Version
Vietnamese Version
English Version
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