The sweet reward after hard work.
The home of writer Nguyen Hien Luong is nestled on Tran Phu Street, Yen Bai Ward. The interior is simply decorated, always adorned with fresh flowers, reflecting the owner's optimism and love of life. Born in 1954, the year of the Wood Horse, writer Nguyen Hien Luong began his literary career in his forties. However, his love for literature seemed to have been present since his school days. His time in the military and many years working in the education sector provided him with a wealth of life experience, useful for his writing. Since becoming a member of the Provincial Union of Literature and Arts, and then a member of the Vietnam Writers Association, he has truly lived his passion. Two poetry collections, one collection of essays, two novels, one collection of literary criticism, and seven collections of short stories have been published, along with numerous provincial and national awards, a testament to a brilliant literary career.
Last year, writer Nguyen Hien Luong released his second novel, "Going to Battle." The more than 300-page book is about the Yen Ninh Battalion, the outstanding sons of Yen Bai province in the resistance war against the US to save the country. As the new year begins, the writer has many plans: "This year, I will write the second volume of the novel 'Going to Battle,' reflecting some of the battles fought by the Yen Ninh soldiers on the battlefield and the soldiers of Yen Ninh in the post-war period."
As the head of the Lao Cai Provincial Poetry Association, writer Nguyen Hien Luong also has his own plans for creative activities: “We will go to Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai, or the border region to bring new inspiration to our members. The association will also have a plan to nurture and discover young talents, building a successor team.”
Breathing life into musical notes.
Musician Nguyen Ha Thanh, Head of the Arts Department of the Lao Cai Provincial Ethnic Arts Troupe, was born in 1978, the year of the Earth Horse. His family has a tradition in the arts; at the age of 5, his father taught him to play the guitar, and his mother taught him to dance. After finishing junior high school, he became an actor with the Yen Bai Provincial Ethnic Music and Dance Troupe, where he has worked for over 30 years.
In 2004, he passed the entrance exam to the Vietnam National Academy of Music, a crucial stepping stone in his musical journey. In 2015, he released his debut work titled "Love of the Lake and Sea," a gentle and profound melody praising the beauty and simple life of the people living along the shores of Thac Ba Lake. He recounted: "I composed this song when I started getting to know my wife – a Tay ethnic girl from the eastern part of Thac Ba Lake. Frequently passing through the lakeside area and admiring the peaceful scenery, I was inspired to compose this song. After that, I also composed several other works about the eastern part of the lake."
Over the years, musician Ha Thanh has explored, collected, and researched folk culture to create high-quality works for the people, participating in professional and popular competitions. He often uses folk elements from the Northwest region in works such as: "Instrumental," "Harvest Festival in Cao Lan Village," "Keeping a Promise," "Echoes of Au Lau - Dien Bien," "Opening Spring," "Words from the Northwest Mountains," "Casting Nets Under the Moonlight," etc. He has won numerous awards at the National Music Festival, the National Propaganda Competition, and the Provincial Literature and Arts Award.
Not only focusing on composition, but in his role as the Head of the Lao Cai Provincial Music Association, musician Ha Thanh, along with the association's leaders, has also developed plans for field trips to create compositions both within and outside the province; encouraged musicians to participate in composition campaigns at the provincial, sectoral, and national levels; and discovered and nurtured talented and dedicated authors to be admitted into the association and the Vietnam Musicians Association.
Young talent in photography
Photographer Tuan Vu, born in 1990 (Year of the Horse), is young both in age and in his career, yet he has already proven his artistic talent. He was introduced to his father's film camera at a young age, but only pursued professional photography after graduating from university and taking a job at the Provincial Union of Literature and Arts in 2014. "After my photography trips, I received in-depth guidance on post-processing from senior photographers. This made me appreciate and become even more passionate about this art form," shared photographer Tuan Vu.
Born and raised in the Northwest highlands, Tuan Vu's chosen subjects often revolve around the daily life, customs, traditions, and cultural beauty of the mountain people. The young artist always lives life to the fullest with his passion, even though the journey of searching for beauty is often fraught with difficulties. For Tuan Vu, creating photographs is not just about having works to enter competitions; each trip is an emotional journey, a deeper understanding of the beauty of the regions he visits, and a deeper understanding of the land and people there. Therefore, Tuan Vu fondly remembers his trip to Truong Sa: “Truong Sa left me with so many emotions. I was so proud to see the national flag flying in the East Sea. I admire the soldiers who are on duty at the forefront, upholding the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.”
Looking back over the past year, Tuan Vu has achieved considerable success, including: receiving a Certificate of Commendation from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Bai province for outstanding achievements in literary and artistic activities in Yen Bai province 50 years after the country's reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025); winning the C Prize in the 2025 Lao Cai Provincial Literature and Art Award; and having several works participate in national and regional exhibitions in the Northern mountainous region.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dau-nam-xong-dat-nghe-si-tuoi-ngo-post893734.html
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