That image piqued my curiosity. I learned about him through my teacher, classmates, and the stories he told. The more I learned, the more I admired his resilience in overcoming adversity. With his intense love for poetry, he brought his verses to many parts of the country. Few know that behind his disabled legs, impaired hands, and broken voice lies a resilient heart that has inspired countless young people to live positively.
Nguyen Van Thinh in his small room, composing poems by rhyming.
PHOTO: TGCC
The indomitable spirit of this young man who is 'disabled but not defeated'.
Nguyen Huu Thinh was born in 1981 into a poor family in Mau Duyet village, Cam Hung commune, Cam Giang district, Hai Duong province (formerly). His father, Nguyen Xuan Luat, was a veteran who fought in the Southern battlefield from 1973 to 1976. Of the four siblings, Thinh suffered the most severe effects of Agent Orange.
In his early years, Thinh grew up like any other child. The real tragedy struck when he was in the second grade. His bones gradually deformed, his limbs became contracted, and his spine curved, rendering him unable to walk. He needed his family's help with all daily activities. His parents sold all their valuable possessions and borrowed money from everywhere to pay for treatment, but his condition did not improve. Only later, with advancements in medicine, did his family learn the cause: the lingering effects of Agent Orange, inherited from his father.
Watching the neighborhood children happily going to school, Mr. Luat could only silently blame himself for not being able to give his son a healthy body. But it was during those seemingly hopeless months that Thinh chose not to surrender to fate.
Every day, he persistently practiced moving his arm little by little. There were times when the pain was excruciating, but he silently endured it because he didn't want to cause his parents more heartache. Then, a miracle happened when his right hand began to move again. He practiced holding a pen, carefully writing his first letters with his deformed hand. Next came the practice of crawling around the room, around the small house.
Out of love for his son, the father built him a wheelchair himself. That simple wheelchair expanded Thinh's world , allowing him to go out, meet friends, and nurture his desire to learn. Knowing his circumstances, many people donated books, notebooks, and pens. From those pages, Thinh practiced spelling each letter, even though his speech was still hesitant. Every day, the small room echoed with his hesitant but determined reading aloud, kindling hope and love in a home that had already experienced so much loss.
Nguyen Huu Thinh in a wheelchair
PHOTO: TGCC
Poems of dreams
The person who ignited his love for poetry was Mr. Nguyen Van Thinh, an old teacher in the village. Every day, on his self-made wheelchair, Thinh would go to the teacher's house to listen to lectures on poetry, on how to live, and how to be a good person. Those quiet lessons sowed in the heart of the disabled boy a dream that he himself didn't know when it had begun to sprout.
The poetry collections of Xuân Diệu, Hàn Mặc Tử, Nguyễn Du, and others, gifted to him by his teachers and friends, became his constant companions. With only a second-grade education, Thịnh carefully crafted each word. Initially, his words were disjointed, his poems lacking rhythm and rhyme. But he never considered giving up.
Some of his poems were revised dozens of times before he was satisfied. From four-word and eight-word verses, he gradually tried his hand at five-word, seven-word, and then six-eight-word verses. What's special is that Thinh's poems rarely speak of his own misfortunes. He chooses to write about his homeland, love, human relationships, and the kindness in life with a simple yet emotionally rich poetic voice.
During that journey, he gained a special companion. His childhood friend, Nguyen Thi Nhi, came to his house every day to help him transcribe his poems into volumes, and also to discuss poetry writing with him. This sharing gave Thinh joy and motivation to continue writing.
Seeing his nephew's passion for literature but finding handwriting too difficult, his uncle gave him an old computer. From then on, Thinh began learning to type, saving his poems, searching for materials, and sending his poems to literary forums. His world gradually expanded. His poems were published in special editions and newspapers, and later included in many anthologies. To date, he has written over a thousand poems and published several poetry collections such as "I Love You So Much in the Future," "Walking Across the Village Fields," etc., under the pen names Tan Sinh and Han Tuong Thi.
Another turning point came when he connected with poet Do Trong Khoi and other like-minded friends to establish the poetry website "Tam Thi Nhat Menh" (Three Poets, One Fate). From then on, the verses of this man, who had never walked on his own two feet, were able to travel far, touching the hearts of numerous readers across the country.
Nguyen Van Thinh poses for a photo with students and teachers from the town during a visit to his home.
PHOTO: TGCC
Life is about giving.
Every year, on December 22nd, many groups of students from across the province visit Mr. Thinh's small house. According to Ms. Thuy Linh, the homeroom teacher of a 5th grade class in the former Cam Giang town, this is an experiential activity for students to meet, listen to, and learn from an example of overcoming adversity. Without grand speeches, he simply recounts his journey of learning to write, composing poetry, and rising again after setbacks. These real-life stories instill in the students the belief that perseverance can achieve seemingly impossible things.
Whenever he publishes a new collection of poems, he dedicates it to friends, sends it to school libraries, and shares it with poetry lovers. For him, these are not just books, but spiritual gifts written from his belief in and gratitude for life.
Currently, with his father suffering from cancer due to war-related injuries, he continues to work tirelessly selling goods online to help support his family and earn extra money for his father's treatment. His life has never been without hardship, but what many admire is that he has never stopped living a meaningful life.
The war left incurable wounds on his body. But it could not take away his willpower, filial piety, and desire to contribute. From his small room, his poems quietly emerged into the world, carrying with them the faith, kindness, and strength of a man who had conquered fate with his own heart.
We invite you to participate in the 6th "Living Beautifully" contest, with a total prize pool of 400 million VND.
Entering its sixth season with the theme " Journey Without Limits ," the "Living Beautifully" contest organized by Thanh Nien Newspaper continues to expand its scope in seeking and honoring positive values in daily life. The contest includes a Writing category (essays, reports, notes) and a Photo category, with a total prize value of 400 million VND.
Entries should be sent to the email address: songdep@thanhnien.vn , or by mail to the Thanh Nien Newspaper Editorial Office: 268-270 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City (please clearly indicate on the envelope: Entry for the 6th "Living Beautifully" Contest - 2026. Note: This only applies to the Article category).
Deadline for submitting entries: October 31, 2026.
See the detailed contest rules at thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-chan-dung-lai-nhung-van-tho-di-xa-185260611153051906.htm
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