Vietnam Education Publishing House, Chilean Embassy launch translation of children's literature series Papelucho 

The diary chronicling Papelucho’s experiences and reflections has resulted in a series of 12 books originally published starting in 1947, with two posthumous books released in 2017.

The Vietnam Education Publishing House and the Chilean Embassy in Vietnam last Friday held a ceremony to celebrate the launch of the Vietnamese translation of children’s literary work Papelucho in Hanoi.

Attending the ceremony on behalf of the co-organizers were Sergio Narea Guzmán, Ambassador of Chile to Vietnam; and Andrés Alejandro Meza Aslamos, Deputy Ambassador.

Representing the Vietnam Education Publishing House were board member cum editor-in-chief Pham Vinh Thai, board member Pham Van Thang, and heads of its divisions.

According to the organizing committee, building on past cooperation, the Vietnam Education Publishing House and the Chilean Embassy in Vietnam signed a translation and cultural cooperation agreement on October 31, 2024, to translate Papelucho from Spanish into Vietnamese.

Papelucho is an 8-year-old boy featured in the book series by Chilean author Marcela Paz.

The series recounts the adventures of this energetic, thoughtful, humorous, and imaginative Chilean boy. Never hesitating to get into trouble, he often discovers bold and creative solutions to his predicaments.

The Papelucho series, a classic in Chilean children’s literature, has been translated into numerous languages worldwide. It comprises 12 books published since 1947, with two additional volumes released posthumously in 2017.

Plans to publish all 12 Papelucho books

Speaking at the event, Pham Vinh Thai, editor-in-chief of Vietnam Education Publishing House, highlighted the organization's diverse publishing efforts. These include producing textbooks, educational materials, and books on Vietnamese language, literature, culture, and history for international audiences, as well as collaborating with leading global publishers.

“In the near future, we plan to publish the complete set of 12 Papelucho books. We hope the Chilean Embassy will continue to partner with us to fully introduce this inspirational and deeply humanistic series. We also look forward to collaborating on promotional activities to spread the series’ positive values,” said Thai.

He expressed optimism that, with the Vietnam Education Publishing House’s reputation and the Chilean Embassy's active support, not only the Papelucho series but many other high-quality translated works will be made available to Vietnamese children in the coming years.

Over the years, the Vietnam Education Publishing House has introduced Chilean literature to young Vietnamese readers, including three acclaimed children’s books by Chilean author Roberto Fuentes translated into Vietnamese.

Similarly, exceptional Vietnamese children’s literature has the opportunity to be introduced to Chilean readers, strengthening cultural and diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Sergio Narea Guzmán, Ambassador of Chile to Vietnam, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the collaboration and trust extended by the Vietnam Education Publishing House. He emphasized that this publication represents a significant milestone in fostering cultural understanding between Vietnam and Chile.

The first translation of Papelucho was completed in a short timeframe, thanks to the dedicated efforts of translators from the Spanish Department of Hanoi University, with support from editors at Vietnam Education Publishing House and staff at the Chilean embassy.

The translation and publication of the Papelucho series are part of a cultural project jointly organized by the Chilean embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam Education Publishing House, with sponsorship from the Department of Culture, Arts, Heritage, and Public Diplomacy (DIRAC) under Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.