Tuong, who has translated more than 50 books by internationally acclaimed authors into Vietnamese, said the grant is a wonderful New Year’s surprise. “There are no words to describe the happiness and pride I felt when I was told about the award,” the 77-year-old translator said.

Tuong said he has had a deep affection for French culture since he was a little boy. He has translated 20 famous French books including La Route des Flandres (The Fladers Road) by Claude Simon, L’Etranger (The Stranger) by Albert Camus, Les Boulevards de Ceinture (Ring Road) by Patrick Modiano and La P. Respectueuse (The Respectful Whore) by Jean Paul Sartre.

On behalf of the French government, French Ambassdor Herve Bolot will present the medal to Tuong during a ceremony at the French Embassy on January 16.

Established in 1957 by France’s Minister of Culture, the Order of Arts and Literature is given to recognise a significant contribution to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields. The order has three grades: commandeur (commander), granted to 20 recipients, officier (officer) to 60 recipients, and chevalier (knight) to 200 recipients every year.

Other Vietnamese artists, who also have won the order, include late cinematographer Le Manh Thich, fashion designer Minh Hanh, and choreographer Nguyen Cong Nhac.