Ho Chi Minh City Literature Flow: Young Aspirations from the South

A new generation

As a large city in the country, Ho Chi Minh City welcomes many young people to live, study and work every year. Thanks to that, the city's young writers are constantly supplemented, bringing new vitality to the city's literature in particular and the country in general. After nearly 50 years of national reunification, the literary landscape of Ho Chi Minh City is constantly supplemented with young faces. They bring their youth into the bustling urban flow to write many works that are well received by the public.

Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh and young writers of Ho Chi Minh City at the 5th Ho Chi Minh City Young Writers Conference

Launched at the right time of the 5th Young Writers Conference, the anthology The Flow of Water (Literature Publishing House) although only listed 62 young authors, has partly shown a vibrant, passionate and continuous flow of Ho Chi Minh City's literary life, from famous 7X, 8X authors such as Nguyen Thi Chau Giang, Vu Dinh Giang, Ly Hoang Ly, Tien Dat, Tran Nha Thuy, Pham Phuong Lan, Ngo Thi Hanh, Vo Thu Huong, Phuong Huyen, La Thi Anh Huong, Tong Phuoc Bao, Bui Tieu Quyen, Van Thanh Le... to the youthful and creative faces of the 9X, 10X, considered the key force of this conference such as Huynh Trong Khang, Huy Bao, Nguyen Ngoc Minh Chau, Vi Ha, Tran Van Thien, Doan Nguyen Anh Minh, Minh Anh...

According to poet Le Thieu Nhon, Head of the Young Writers Committee - Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, compared to other regions, the most characteristic feature of young literature in Ho Chi Minh City is diversity. They find their own path to development in the most dynamic way that other localities do not have. In particular, this conference has most clearly identified a generation of global citizen authors who can write bilingually such as Minh Anh (born in 2007) and Cao Viet Quynh (born in 2008).

“Apart from the advantages, the most worrying thing about the young force is about critical theory and translation. Critical theory cannot wait for a day or two, but must live in the general flow of society to be able to participate. Regarding translation, the most regrettable thing is that the current translators do not improve their Vietnamese, their translations may be accurate in terms of language but lack the literary beauty that previous generations of translators did very well,” poet Le Thieu Nhon added.

A place that brings valuable experiences

It is a fact that few places have regular playgrounds for young writers like Ho Chi Minh City. A typical example is the children's literature contest For the future of the country organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association and Tre Publishing House. In addition to the participation of many professional writers, this is also an opportunity for many young authors. Some have received high prizes such as Nguyen Ngoc Thuan, Nguyen Thi Chau Giang, Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh...

The Young Writers Award (for authors under 35 years old) of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association was established in 2011. After more than 10 years, it has been awarded to many authors such as: Tran Minh Hop with the story collection The Girl Selling Red Umbrellas (2011), Bui Tieu Quyen with the short story collection Eastern Hill Grass (2014), Le Huu Nam with the long story Green Forest Secrets (2015), Ngo Thuy Nga with the poetry collection Silent Note (2016), Tran Duc Tin with the poetry collection O Dau Trong Nhau (2021), Huynh Trong Khang with the novel Lonely Moon Pool (2023), Nguyen Dinh Khoa with the long story Different Versions...

Some young authors from Ho Chi Minh City have also won the Young Author Award of the Vietnam Writers Association, such as Tran Duy Bao Khang (pen name Vi Ha) with the poetry collection Looking for the Shadows of People (2022) and Tran Duc Tin (pen name Khet) with the poetry collection Nine Branches of Yellow Skin (2022).

In particular, a highlight in the young literary life in Ho Chi Minh City is the 20-year-old Literature Writing Contest, which has contributed to discovering many young writers for the country in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular, such as Nguyen Huong, Nguyen Ngoc Tu, Nguyen Ngoc Thuan, Duong Thuy, Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh, Vu Dinh Giang, Hien Trang, Yang Phan, Nhat Phi... Unfortunately, in 2022, the award had to be temporarily suspended after the 7th award ceremony. However, immediately after that, the Ho Chi Minh City National University's Young Literature Award was established, continuing to be a literary playground for young authors. After 3 times of organization, the award has honored many new names such as Cam Van Luong, Tran Thi Thuy Dung, Tran Van Thien, Pham Nha Chi, Tran Trong Doan, Tran Minh Tam, Luong Phan Huy Bao...

Like many other young people, after graduating from the Faculty of Literature of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University), young writer Pham Anh Tuan (born in 1994, also known by the pen name Yang Phan) from Lam Dong chose to start a career in Ho Chi Minh City. Along with his work as an editor, he also actively participated in literary activities and received significant achievements: second prize (no first prize) at the 7th Literature Contest for 20-year-olds.

He currently has 7 books, the latest being the novel Variations of Solitude (Tre Publishing House) which was reprinted not long after its release. “If I had lived elsewhere, I might not have had such results. When I decided to choose to study in Ho Chi Minh City, I understood that this is not only the cradle of literature but also a place that brings me many impacts in life. Ho Chi Minh City gives me everything I need to develop my literature,” young writer Pham Anh Tuan shared.

In 2006, poet Pham Phuong Lan was born in Ha Tinh, then moved to Can Tho to live and when she was over 30 years old, she decided to move to Ho Chi Minh City to start a career. Although she had been writing before, as she admitted, it was only when she lived and worked in Ho Chi Minh City, living with the literary flow here, receiving feedback from the previous generation, that helped her improve and have more motivation to pursue literature more professionally. Her first collection of poems, Khong la gio may, was published after 2 years of living in Ho Chi Minh City.

“My literary friends in Ho Chi Minh City have given me a lot of motivation. I feel that the literary environment in Ho Chi Minh City is very positive when people not only accept differences but also give advice and guidance to each other. This is not the case everywhere,” poet Pham Phuong Lan expressed. She advised young writers: “The most important thing is to be steadfast in your goals. If you decide to go the long way with literature, love and be steadfast in your choice. If you consider literature as a career and a passion, you will go the long way with it.”

- Poet LE THIEU NHON, Head of Young Writers Committee, Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association:

This force of young writers forces the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association as well as those interested in developing literature to think of a long-term plan for training and development. In the last term, the association tried to maintain a writing camp for young writers every year, but it was still not enough. Young writers need more activities, such as round tables on young literature, professional activities must be organized regularly. In addition to literary round tables, there needs to be a forum for young literature.

- Young writer NGUYEN THI NHU HIEN:

Currently, there is a lack of playgrounds for young writers, especially those who are just starting to write. They mainly post articles and participate in literary forums on social networks, because their strength is being able to bring their articles to many readers and immediately receive interactions and feedback. However, over time, many writers who used to actively participate in literary forums have gradually disappeared, and many have stopped writing altogether.

Because posting on forums is mostly “for fun”, interactions are mostly “compliments for fun”, and not receiving royalties also discourages young writers. Hopefully, newspapers and magazines will have more space for young writers to send their brainchildren. And also hope that in the future, there will be more highly specialized literary competitions for young writers. This will both stimulate creativity and discover talented writers…

HO SON

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dong-chay-van-chuong-tphcm-khat-vong-tre-tu-phuong-nam-post795123.html