Journalist's family

I was fortunate to work at Lao Cai Newspaper for over 10 years, during which time I had the opportunity to witness and work alongside many colleagues, especially married couples who share the same profession.

For families where both husband and wife work in journalism, behind every broadcast news report and published article lies countless silent efforts, careful planning, understanding, and sharing. They are both life partners and colleagues, shouldering the pressures of work together and maintaining a peaceful home amidst the hectic pace of journalism.

“Today, the journalist couple Minh Dung and Huyen Trang had a small filming session to contribute their opinions to the draft Resolution of the National Assembly amending and supplementing some articles of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 2013. Minh Dung and Huyen Trang are husband and wife, and according to new plans, these two journalist friends will soon be working in Yen Bai. So they decided to take a commemorative photo together…”, that was the sharing of Ms. Truong Thi Van Anh, Secretary of the Lao Cai City Youth Union, on her personal page after working with the two journalists Minh Dung and Huyen Trang of Lao Cai Newspaper last May.

Reporter "pair" Minh Dung and Huyen Trang pose for a photo with their interviewee, Ms. Truong Thi Van Anh (wearing a team uniform).

Perhaps, Ms. Van Anh is one of the few people who know the journalist couple Minh Dung and Huyen Trang, because their names aren't particularly prominent and they always remain quietly behind each piece of work. For the past ten years, they have supported each other through countless hardships to maintain their small family and still maintain their passion for journalism.

I started working at Lao Cai Radio and Television Station (now Lao Cai Newspaper) with Mr. Do Minh Dung and Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang in July 2013. Mr. Dung is from Yen Bai City, 15 km away from Ms. Trang's hometown in Ha Hoa District, Phu Tho Province. Being far from home and working in the same profession, they gradually became close, chatting and sharing daily. Their feelings blossomed from their similar thoughts and shared work experiences, and two years later, Minh Dung and Huyen Trang officially got married. Once, I jokingly asked, "Who pursued whom first, Mr. Dung or Ms. Trang?" Both laughed and replied, "Neither of us pursued the other; we both fell for each other naturally. It's truly an irresistible destiny."

This year marks 10 years since they moved in together. Ten years, seven moves, from cramped rented rooms to finally settling down in a small apartment in the Lam Vien apartment complex. Ms. Trang said: "Ten years may seem fast, but sometimes when I think back, I can't believe we've been through such a difficult journey."

After joining the agency, the two were assigned to different departments: Trang worked as a reporter, and Dung as a cameraman. When mentioning cameraman Minh Dung, colleagues all acknowledge his enthusiasm and responsibility for his work, his willingness to endure hardship, and his readiness to travel to remote villages and hamlets in the highlands—there are few places in Lao Cai that he hasn't visited. Despite the hard work, traveling extensively, and enduring the sun and rain, Minh Dung still looks much younger than his 40 years.

Ms. Trang said: "Living with Mr. Dung has made life much easier. I've learned his carefree and less-overthinking nature."

For the first two years after their marriage, Dung and Trang devoted all their time to work. Then, in 2017, when their son Do Nhat Minh was born, followed by their younger brother Do Minh Quan in 2020, their lives became much busier and more hectic.

Having started their careers far from their hometown, with both sets of grandparents living far away, the couple had to manage on their own. They hired a babysitter for a while, then enrolled their child in preschool, with the couple taking turns picking up and dropping off the child. On many days, when both were away on business trips and couldn't arrange time to pick up their child, they would ask acquaintances or neighbors for help. Not to mention when the child was sick, the couple would take turns taking time off work to care for him.

Journalism has its own unique working hours and nature; during the day, journalists go to the field to gather information, and at night they write and edit news articles to continue their work the next day. "Many times, I still have to finish articles at home to meet broadcast deadlines. I'm in a hurry, and my children keep nagging me, making me angry, so I end up scolding them. After finishing work, I feel very guilty towards them," Trang confided.

Dung is a cameraman, and Trang is a reporter. They have been together for 10 years.

After working as a reporter, Huyen Trang transferred to the radio news program production department, also working as a news announcer. With their father away on business, after school, the two children would often accompany their mother to the office. Their mother would go into the recording studio, while the two brothers waited outside, under the watchful eyes of the technicians. Huyen Trang laughed, recounting, "Because they followed me around so much, my eldest son, Nhat Minh, memorized the melody of the song 'Liberation of Lao Cai' – the theme song of the news program. He even knew exactly when the weather forecast was coming up."

After 10 years together, despite facing many hardships, Dung and Trang have never raised their voices at each other. Perhaps the greatest happiness for couples working in journalism is the mutual understanding, empathy, and willingness to support each other in work and life.

When he first got married, Dung didn't know how to pick vegetables, cook rice, or clean the house, but now it's different; he's proficient at everything. Whenever he gets home early, he picks up the kids, bathes them, cooks dinner, folds and arranges clothes... he does it all. His mother was surprised when she came to visit, not expecting her son to change so much!

Ms. Trang happily shared her story.

"Honestly, if I hadn't changed, we probably wouldn't have been able to stay together until now," said Dung.

Although they also work in journalism, some couples at Lao Cai Newspaper are like a compass – one standing, the other turning. It might seem easier, but in reality, they struggle to balance work and family life. The family of broadcaster Huy Truong and reporter Hoang Thuong is a prime example of this challenging journey.

The family of journalist Huy Trường and Hoàng Thương.

I asked Ms. Thuong, "On weekend mornings, if you don't have work commitments, what does your family usually do?" She replied, "If we don't have any schedules, we all allow ourselves to sleep in a little longer, then go out for breakfast together." It sounds simple and heartwarming, but for this family, such leisurely mornings are rare.

Huy Truong is a radio announcer, so most mornings during the week, he has to leave home very early to go to the office to prepare for the first news broadcast at 7 a.m. Thuong, as a reporter, also frequently has to travel to different locations. Therefore, peaceful mornings together are rare amidst the hectic pace of journalism.

“Do your children understand their parents’ work?” I asked. “They understand now,” Ms. Thuong replied. Then she recalled a time when her children were young, watching the news on television and seeing their father present, but… he was still at home. Her children innocently asked, “Why is Dad on TV but still here with me?” At the time, the program was pre-recorded, but for children, that magical thing fascinated and intrigued them.

Now that programs have switched to live broadcasts, the children are older and understand their parents' work better, but as a lovely habit, whenever their father or mother closes the door to the reading room, they just need to say, "Let me read," and the children automatically turn off the TV, stay quiet, and give their parents space to work. "We are truly happy to see our children being so sharing and understanding," Mr. Truong said.

Mr. Truong and Ms. Thuong's family have also been together for over 15 years.

Both of them work in journalism, so going to work early, coming home late, working nights, and being on duty during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year) has become a daily routine. Sometimes, both are busy; for example, Mr. Truong is involved in producing many news reports in a day, while Ms. Thuong is away on business, sometimes for several days, leaving the children to rely on their grandparents and relatives for support.

Over 15 years together, there have been times when the couple has clashed, misunderstood each other, and experienced periods of tension due to work pressure, children, and lack of time for each other. But in the end, they chose to sit down, reflect, and make amends.

Ms. Thuong shared: "We always tell ourselves that, starting from nothing, we now have a stable home, healthy children, and a harmonious marriage – that's already a very precious achievement."

Through the stories of my two colleagues' families, I realized one thing: as long as there is passion for the profession, sharing, and understanding in daily life, all difficulties will eventually pass. This is also the most solid foundation for them to continue supporting each other in their careers and in life.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/gia-dinh-nha-bao-post403596.html