When Gen Z writes about national culture

The ten-day 2025 Young Writers' Camp, themed "Gen Z writes about national culture in their own way," has concluded. What remains is the passion for writing and the love for national culture, nurtured by a young generation.

The trainees pose for a commemorative photo with the Thai Nguyen Literature and Arts publication. Photo: Viet Hung

This year's writing camp attracted 106 applications from various localities in Thai Nguyen province. After evaluation, the Organizing Committee selected 40 official participants, aged 14-18, from the Tay, Dao, and Kinh ethnic groups. The camp lasted 10 days (from August 6th to 15th), combining in-person classes at the provincial newspaper and radio/television headquarters with online learning via Google Meet. Simultaneously, they participated in field trips to the Vietnam Military History Museum and the Vietnam Ethnic Culture Village. There, they had the opportunity to observe, document, and experience culture and history in a vivid way, resulting in the creation of their works.

Sharing his feelings about participating in this writing camp, Duong Ngo Minh Duc (born in 2008), from Phan Dinh Phung ward, excitedly said: "This writing field trip is an opportunity for me to gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of different regions. This is a practical and beneficial trip that provides many lessons for young people, in the context of the country's integration and progress into a new era. Trips like this are very necessary and meaningful for us."

A highlight of the 2025 writing camp was the participation of many reputable writers, poets, and researchers: Artisan Xuan Bach, researcher Quyen Gavoye (France), writer Tong Ngoc Han, poet Nguyen Thuy Quynh, etc. During the exchange sessions, participants received guidance on writing techniques and direct feedback on their own works. This helped them gain more knowledge and take more solid steps in pursuing their passion.

After more than a week, 29 out of 40 students submitted 33 new works, including 9 poems and 24 prose pieces. Many short stories and essays had tight structures and a personal touch. Notably, some students even tried their hand at writing longer stories, showing early signs of novelistic style. The themes covered a wide range: from history, the environment, family, and friends, to love, dreams, and even concerns about preserving cultural identity in modern society.

There are young writers who boldly express their generational perspectives, leaving an impression with short stories that reflect the interplay between urban life and folk culture, opening up reflections on how Gen Z connects with traditional culture.

As an instructor directly interacting with the camp participants, writer Tong Ngoc Han was quite impressed with the young talents. She noted that the Thai Nguyen Young Writers' Camp 2025 had expanded its themes and genres. This included the first-ever appearance of novels, essays, and journalistic sketches alongside short stories, memoirs, and prose, as in previous seasons. For the first time, the theme of mountainous region culture was explored by many campers.

There are writers who, right from the start, have demonstrated outstanding creative abilities, such as Duong Tien Dat and Trieu Thu Phuong... Or the maturity and refinement of Duong Phuong Thao's writing style. In particular, during the writing camp, excellent works emerged, such as the short story "The Thread of the Mountain" by author Nguyen Khanh Linh. The 2025 Young Writers' Camp is a beautiful beginning for Thai Nguyen's arts and culture after the merger, added writer Tong Ngoc Han.

Spreading unique cultural values

Outstanding participants at the Creative Writing Camp received meaningful gifts from Thai Nguyen Newspaper and Radio & Television. Photo: Viet Hung

After a series of reunions and farewells, the closing ceremony of the training camp on the afternoon of August 15th, held at the Provincial Press and Radio and Television Hall, was filled with heartfelt emotions. The trainees listened attentively to the feedback on their works; many blushed with nervousness, but still bravely stood up to present their pieces, expressing their desire to continue their involvement with literature.

The instructors' thoughtful and frank feedback and suggestions helped the campers better understand their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to continue improving. This was not only recognition but also encouragement for them to continue nurturing their passion.

Speaking about this year's writing camp, poet Nguyen Thuy Quynh, President of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Association of Literature and Arts, expressed: This year, the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts, in coordination with Thai Nguyen Newspaper and Radio and Television, organized a young literary writing camp with the theme "Gen Z writes about national culture in Gen Z's way," aiming to awaken a passion for literature, a spirit of creativity, and encourage young writers to write about Vietnamese culture - people, identity, language, customs, community memories - using a fresh, creative writing style that reflects the spirit of the digital age.

At the same time, it aims to inspire and guide themes related to culture, traditions, and national identity, thereby contributing to preserving and spreading unique cultural values ​​within the community; and to build a generation of young authors who are proud of their roots and know how to rewrite the story of national culture in their own voice and perspective.

Due to the challenging circumstances of limited funding and the fact that the Association's permanent office is not located in a central area, the content had to be adjusted accordingly. Therefore, this year's Creative Writing Camp had less content compared to the previous season.

However, with dedication and responsibility towards the younger generation, the Standing Committee of the Association overcame difficulties and sought optimal solutions to carry out this very special activity. The success of the 2025 Young Writers' Camp lies not only in the number of participants and the number of entries, but also in the emergence of new writers, including promising writers from ethnic minorities, alongside the progress of writers who have been honed through previous camp seasons.

The 2025 Young Writers' Camp is clear evidence of the appeal of literature to Generation Z. The writings are filled with sincerity, innocence, and a passionate love for national culture. They also serve as a bridge between tradition and modernity – a place where Generation Z can find their identity and assert themselves.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202508/khi-gen-z-viet-ve-van-hoa-dan-toc-0ba6f9a/