The program featured two speakers, representing two different approaches to the work. The son of poet Hai Nhu, architect Vu Ky Hanh, shared insights into the context of the poetry collection's creation, its formation process, and the author's feelings and concerns when writing about President Ho Chi Minh from a family perspective.
In addition, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Lai, Lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking, shared her perspective on research and teaching, as well as the significance of engaging with President Ho Chi Minh's legacy for today's young generation.
The exchange began with a poignant moment when architect Vu Ky Hanh presented his father's poem, "The Alley." The simple yet emotionally rich verses allowed the poetry lovers present to feel the humble yet immense greatness of Uncle Ho: “Into the alley where cars cannot enter/I want to take you to visit this alley/The alley is only wide enough for one person to pass through/Our Uncle Ho, my dear, just entered here…/That afternoon, an afternoon when the year was ending/The alley was muddy from the rain - we were afraid of getting our feet dirty/Uncle Ho had a thousand things to do, no one expected him to come/Suddenly looking up, we saw Uncle Ho in the courtyard!”
Speaker Nguyen Thi Thu Lai stated that, during his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh considered Vietnam his home, his family, and his descendants the Vietnamese youth. Therefore, every time a young person sacrificed their life, he felt as if he had lost a part of himself. That's why, every time Tet (Lunar New Year) came around, he would visit the poorest and most disadvantaged families, those working with their hands, to offer encouragement.
"Therefore, the poem 'Alleyway' was chosen to open the program at a time when the whole country was entering a new spring season, so that everyone could see the deep affection and love that Uncle Ho had for his people," Lecturer Nguyen Thi Thu Lai analyzed.
"The Alley" is one of 39 poems selected for inclusion in the poetry collection "Ho Chi Minh - The Man Who Believed in Humanity," published by the National Political Publishing House at the end of 2024 and recently reprinted.
The poetry collection is considered a valuable publication in the work of propagating and educating cadres, Party members, and the people about Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics, and style. The work contributes to enriching the methods of approaching and learning about President Ho Chi Minh's spiritual legacy through literary forms.
Sharing at the exchange, architect Vu Ky Hanh said that in an interview with Nhan Dan Newspaper, poet Hai Nhu stated that he did not work in journalism or as a historian; he wanted to return literature to literature. In writing about President Ho Chi Minh, poet Hai Nhu wanted readers to learn lessons and relate them to themselves, to examine their conscience, and to reflect on him to improve themselves. For poet Hai Nhu, besides his works about the country, its people, and love, the theme of Ho Chi Minh is inexhaustible as long as his heart continues to be moved.
Lecturer Nguyen Thi Thu Lai added that poet Hai Nhu writes about President Ho Chi Minh in his own unique way, each poem reflecting on his reflections and the moral lessons he imparts through his literary portrayal of Ho Chi Minh.
Through these poems, the image of President Ho Chi Minh emerges with noble qualities and profound thoughts, but depicted through simple, everyday details—where greatness is expressed through the depth of his personality.
“Hai Nhu’s way of crying, expressing joy and sorrow, loving and pondering over President Ho Chi Minh is a very critical way of loving. Because the poet deeply respects and loves President Ho Chi Minh, she always finds his values by questioning herself. And another special point is that when reading Hai Nhu’s poetry, readers can easily imagine that the poet herself has done that, that she learned from President Ho Chi Minh to be able to write such verses. The poet Hai Nhu is speaking from her own heart,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Lai further analyzed.
Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Trong Lam, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House, once stated that, in addition to studying Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics, and style through his research works and writings, approaching them through literary creations, especially poetry, opens up a path of appreciation with a rich and far-reaching impact.
Memorable and relatable verses have the ability to linger in the reader's mind for a long time, creating a natural and lasting impact. He noted that the poetry collection "Ho Chi Minh - The Man Who Believed in Humanity" portrays President Ho Chi Minh as both simple and approachable, yet radiating profound thought and great character. From small details of life, readers can clearly perceive a man who dedicated his life to the nation and humanity.
With those values, the work won the B Prize in the Award for creating and promoting literary, artistic, and journalistic works on the theme "Studying and following the thoughts, ethics, and style of Ho Chi Minh" in the second phase, 2021-2025.
Organizing a cultural exchange program during the Lunar New Year at the 2026 Year of the Horse Book Street Festival is not only an activity to introduce books, but also a cultural space for the public to pause after a busy year. The program contributes to creating a profound cultural space, evoking reflection on faith in humanity - a core value in Ho Chi Minh's thought and also the overarching message of the poetry collection.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/doc-tho-hai-nhu-de-tin-o-con-nguoi-post943672.html
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