Young Translator's Enduring Dream

Lê Hồng Phương Hạ, a young Vietnamese translator, has made a significant mark with over 30 published books on diverse topics. Initially studying management information systems, she found herself lacking motivation and courageously shifted her path to contribute to spreading knowledge through literature.

“

The moment I found an equivalent idiom between English and Vietnamese in my translation as a freshman made me feel struck by Cupid's arrow. That moment planted the first feelings about translation in me, feeling happy when finding a way to translate a language into Vietnamese naturally and smoothly.

Hạ's journey into translation was sparked during her first year of university when she discovered an equivalent idiom between English and Vietnamese. This moment, she recalls, felt like falling in love, filling her with the joy of naturally and smoothly conveying one language into another. Her admiration for translators like Lý Lan, who translated the Harry Potter series, and Bích Lan, author of "Không gục ngã" (Not Falling Down), further fueled her ambition to see her name on book covers.

“

When reading the Harry Potter series, I admired the translation ability of translator Lý Lan. Then reading the autobiography 'Not Falling Down' by translator Bích Lan, I felt the work of book translation urged me and I wished one day to be named as a translator on the book cover.

Driven by this passion, Hạ pursued translation courses and worked as a collaborator for a knowledge-sharing social media platform. Her commitment deepened when she decided to re-enter university, switching her major to linguistics to gain a stronger command of Vietnamese for better translation. She considers "Phép màu của Chúa" (The Miracle of God), her first translated literary work at 21, to be particularly memorable. The story of a family nurturing love amidst loss resonated deeply with her personal experiences.

“

I like the book 'The Miracle of God' the most, it was the first literary work I translated at the age of 21. The story about the members of a family, after many losses, pains, and breakdowns, still nurtured love to warm each other like a 'miracle' on Christmas night.

Another impactful work was "Bật khóc ở H Mart" (Crying at H Mart), whose mother-daughter relationship dynamics mirrored her own. Translating this required balancing empathy with the translator's objective stance. To better capture the essence, she immersed herself in Korean culture by listening to music and watching cooking videos mentioned in the book. For Hạ, translation is a continuous learning process, offering exposure to new fields and perspectives. It cultivates meticulousness, perseverance, and dedication, allowing her to contribute to sharing knowledge and humanistic messages.

“

For me, it is the opportunity to learn through each project. Each book is a field with new knowledge and perspectives, rarely repeating, which helps me feel that I am working and developing continuously.