Hanoi in winter is chilly. The last golden leaves of the ancient trees blanket the sidewalks. I texted to arrange a meeting with former Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association , Phan Quang (Old Phan), at 3 PM. He replied: "Great, I'm looking forward to seeing you!"
At 3 PM, I rang the doorbell, the door opened, and I stepped into the home of 95-year-old Phan Quang, his hair white, his bearing sharp, his eyes bright, dressed in a long-sleeved suit. In his youth and old age, Phan Quang was a model of erudition, elegance, and humility; he never broke a promise, not even a minute late.
Old Phan:
- I'm getting old, and most of my friends have left. I really want to go back to my hometown of Quang Tri one last time, but my health doesn't allow it; I'm powerless to do so.
Old Phan looked out into the yard, where there were nearly a dozen baskets of his favorite orchids.
I understand his feelings, as he's entering the twilight of his life. Old Phan changed the subject, talking about writing an article for the Tet (Lunar New Year) issue of the newspaper.
Old Man Phan recalled his professional memories:
- Despite my advanced age, writing articles for Tet (Lunar New Year) remains my passion.
He recalled:
- In 1948, I left home to join the resistance in the base camp. I was assigned by the organization to be a reporter for the newspaper Cuu Quoc in Zone IV. The editorial office organized the publication of a Tet (Lunar New Year) issue, and upon reviewing the content, they found it was missing a short story for the culture and arts section. So, my boss assigned me to fill the gap. In just one night, I finished writing the story "By the Warm Fire." The article was approved for publication; it was the first Tet article in my life as a journalist and writer.
Old Phan continued the story:
- Vietnamese journalism differs from the rest of the world in that it produces special editions for the Lunar New Year. The atmosphere at newsrooms during the Lunar New Year newspaper season is very lively, like a festival. When I was Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, the Executive Committee initiated the organization of the Spring Newspaper Festival nationwide and in localities, with the Journalists Association taking the lead. The Spring Newspaper Festival has become a beautiful cultural tradition of the Lunar New Year for several decades now. Having apricot blossoms and peach blossoms without a spring newspaper is like missing the Lunar New Year!
Regarding the idea of organizing a New Year's newspaper publishing event, I asked Old Man Phan further:
- Over seventy years of journalistic work, which Tet (Lunar New Year) articles by Mr. Phan Quang have left an unforgettable mark?
Old Phan happily shared his thoughts:
- Each Tet (Lunar New Year) article is an unforgettable memory. The Tet article "I want an orange to offer to my ancestors," published in the Nhan Dan newspaper during Tet Dinh Dau, 1957, is one such example. During the Tet celebrations, President Ho Chi Minh inspected a shop selling Tet goods to the people in Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi. At a fruit stall, President Ho Chi Minh, playing the role of an old farmer from the province, asked to buy an orange for Tet offerings. The saleswoman calmly replied that Tet oranges were only sold wholesale, not retail. President Ho Chi Minh said nothing, returned to the Presidential Palace, and made a stern phone call to criticize the Minister of Internal Trade and the Chairman of the Hanoi Administrative Committee for their detached service and demanded immediate rectification.
Old Man Phan, a son who left his homeland from the Nhung River in Quang Tri, recounts writing a New Year's article celebrating the Year of the Dragon - 1976, when the country was free from enemy forces, the Hien Luong Bridge and the Ben Hai River were open for trade, the nation was reunited, the golden apricot blossoms of the South and the vibrant peach blossoms of the North were united as one family. The New Year's article for the Year of the Dragon was full of emotion, the heart of a son of Vietnam was stirred…
Recently, Phan Quang has made another mark by publishing a book titled "Phan Quang's Travelogue - Regret for the Rose," further showcasing the remarkable writing and creative power of this veteran writer. His sharp intellect and remarkable resilience in conveying his message have left behind masterpieces of journalistic and literary works.
Spring has arrived, and the Binh Thuan Journalists Association and media agencies in Binh Thuan province are focusing their efforts on producing the Tet (Lunar New Year) issue for the Year of the Dragon – 2024 – celebrating the Party, the Spring, and the renewal of the homeland and country. The Binh Thuan Spring Press Festival will open before the traditional Tet holiday; the National Press Festival – 2024 will be solemnly held in Ho Chi Minh City in early March 2024.
Spring is knocking on every door. Today, the Vietnamese tradition of celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) and welcoming spring is incomplete without Tet newspapers and spring newspaper festivals.
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