Kim moved from Vietnam to Portugal in 2020 to pursue a bold PhD journey — one sparked by a challenge from a Japanese friend who claimed there was no real academic writing in Vietnamese.
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Determined to prove otherwise, she delved into the language’s past and discovered that, as early as the 17th century, Portuguese missionaries had begun romanising Vietnamese. That revelation became the starting point of her academic path. Along the way, she started drawing portraits of historical figures such as the young Jesuit Bernardino Reggio, blending imagination with research — and sometimes modelling her subjects after loved ones, including her boyfriend.
Beyond her research, Kim honours her Vietnamese heritage in many ways. She recreates the traditional five-fruit offering for the Lunar New Year (Tết), she insists on bringing at least ten kilograms of coffee from Vietnam, she treasures the traditional attire from the Nguyễn Dynasty, wearing it with pride, and shares delicate Vietnamese souvenirs with friends. Kim also writes poems in Portuguese inspired by Tết and draws calm from the Zen teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh.
KIM'S MOSAIC
Painting by Kim illustrating the Lunar New Year (Tết)
“I always try to come back for Lunar New Year (or Tết) but this year I could not go home for Tết. Nevertheless, I tried to create the Tết atmosphere in Lisbon, trying to get the five lucky fruits Mâm Ngũ Quả for the New Year’s Eve ceremony, and this painting completed the table of offerings.
The Mâm ngũ quả (Five-fruit tray) is a central Tết tradition in Vietnam. Placed on the ancestral altar, the five fruits – varying by region – honour ancestors and symbolise wishes for prosperity, peace, and good fortune in the year ahead.
I made my first poem in Portuguese for this occasion:
28 Tết
Há cartazes na estação de Metro “Feliz Ano Novo Chinês”
As pessoas caminham apressadas
Na pressa do costume
Eu caminho apressada
Porque dois itens da lista de compras
Estão em lojas diferentes
29 Tết
Haverá engarrafamentos
Mas será um engarrafamento normal de terça-feira
Nem todos estão com pressa
Por causa da Véspera do Ano Novo
29 Tết
A mãe e a avó vestem novos Áo Dài
A minha irmã fez canh măng
E eu aqui, a perguntar-me
Por que aceitei um novo emprego
E não posso voltar para o Tết?
29 Tết
As pessoas em Lisboa continuam ocupadas
Mas não por causa do Tết
Kim’s grandma and friend visiting her in Lisbon
“Two of the most special people who visited me in Lisbon. Both were able to come easily thanks to their American passports.
My grandma had a tough life, being a refugee in the US. Now retired in Vietnam, she’s finally able to travel the world with that same passport. I think I inherited my adventurous spirit and curiosity about other cultures from her.
I remember when I was a kid, she would always return to Vietnam with two big suitcases full of American snacks. Who else got to experience American snack culture so young? Now, every time I go grocery shopping here in Portugal, I think of her back then, wanting to share a piece of her life in the US with her family in Vietnam. I, too, want to show a piece of my life in Portugal when I visit home. Thus, I bring Portuguese beer and wine.”