Pinning the medal: French Ambassador to Viet Nam Jean-Noel Poirier awards the Academic Palm to Buu Y at a ceremony in Hue. — Photo vanhien.vn

THUA THIEN – HUE (VNS) — The French government has granted orders to two local men from the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

French Ambassador to Viet Nam Jean-Noel Poirier arrived in Hue on Monday to grant the Legion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) to a retired official and Les Palmes Academiques (Academic Palm) to a retired French language lecturer.

Nguyen Van Me, former chairman of the province People's Committee, received the Legion of Honour for his efforts to boost co-operation between France and provinces in central Viet Nam in several fields since 1988, including education, health, society and culture.

Me gave the go-ahead for the Hue based French Cultural Centre 25 years ago, which has since helped spread French culture throughout the central locality.

Buu Y, who is a writer, a French language translator and a French lecturer, was granted the Academic Palm order for his promotion of the French language and culture in Hue. Y took part in translation work of many French books and studies. — VNS