The book launch ceremony "Say or Don't" by journalist Ly Sinh Su will take place tomorrow morning, June 18.

The book "Speak or Don't Speak" is 472 pages long and consists of four parts. Part I compiles 68 commentary articles and journalistic pieces published in the "Speak or Don't Speak" section of the Lao Dong newspaper from 1995 to 2012 under the pen name Ly Sinh Su. Part II includes 12 feature articles published in the Lao Dong newspaper and other newspapers under the pen name Tran Chinh Duc. Part III contains 57 essays – travelogues – under the pen name Ha Van. Part IV includes articles and commemorative photos from 12 friends and colleagues of journalist Tran Duc Chinh.

This book is a tribute and expression of appreciation from colleagues to journalist Tran Duc Chinh.

In 1994, the name Ly Sinh Su began appearing in the "Speak or Don't Speak " column of the Lao Dong newspaper. Ly Sinh Su became associated with commentary in a "provocative" style – daring to declare war on vices and the paradoxes of life. His articles appeared regularly in the weekend and monthly issues, as well as special editions, of several other newspapers.

Later, it was revealed that Ly Sinh Su – the author of hundreds of articles in the "Say or Don't Say" column of the Lao Dong newspaper – was actually journalist Tran Duc Chinh (also known by the pen names Ha Van and Tran Chinh Duc) – former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Lao Dong newspaper and Editor-in-Chief of Nha Bao va Cong Luan (Journalist and Public Opinion). He graduated from Hanoi University in 1967. From 1968 to 1972, he was a war correspondent in Vinh Linh (Quang Tri) and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He also studied at the Leeningrat University of Culture (formerly the Soviet Union). He worked at Lao Dong newspaper from the end of 1967, but only officially took charge of the " Say or Don't Say " column in 1994.

Journalist Tran Dinh Thao calculated that, during the first 10 years of his column " Speak or Don't Speak ," he consistently wrote one article a day, 30 articles a month, 360 days a year, and 3,600 articles in the form of journalistic short stories over 10 years. This doesn't include about 10% of his articles published in other newspapers, which is around 4,000 short stories.

"By my estimation, journalist Ly Sinh Su has had around 6,000 articles published, 'Say it or Don't do it,' meaning he has 'stirred up trouble' with society, with officials, with the system, with the wrongdoings in life, and has become 'addictive' for quite a few readers," said journalist Tran Dinh Thao.

And journalist Ly Sinh Su not only maintained the column "Say or Don't Say" for 10 years, but for 20 years. Even after retiring at the age of 70, he continued to regularly write articles for this column with an incredibly consistent, sharp, and skillful writing style.

Journalists Luu Quang Dinh and Do Doan Hoang, along with Ms. Mai - the wife of journalist Tran Duc Chinh, discussed and exchanged ideas about the making of the book "Speaking or Not Speaking," which is scheduled to be released on June 18, 2024.

Journalist Tran Dinh Thao shared that his colleagues who compiled this book have published the entire professional profile of journalist Tran Duc Chinh - a remarkable writer on current events and commentary.

“Journalist Ly Sinh Su is a writer beloved by readers, eagerly anticipated every day when they have a newspaper in their hands. His unique and distinctive writing style, yet clear, down-to-earth, and witty, captivates readers in a remarkable way, even though the articles are only the size of a hand on a newspaper page. This book reaches readers as Mr. Ly turns 80 years old and just in time for the commemoration of Vietnam's Revolutionary Press Day on June 21st this year,” journalist Tran Dinh Thao expressed.

Journalist Do Doan Hoang – who has always loved and respected journalist Tran Duc Chinh – Ly Sinh Su as his "teacher" – also confided: "For me, journalist Tran Duc Chinh was a teacher whom I respected from afar, yet he greatly influenced my career path..."

Journalist Huynh Dung Nhan confided: “ When I joined the Lao Dong newspaper, I truly admired Tran Duc Chinh – Ly Sinh Su for his mastery of writing. After more than 20 years of maintaining the column, he had written tens of thousands of articles. His writing ability made even us young writers bow in admiration. He was a genuine joker. He could joke about anything, find humor, or make light of things. He had a special talent for reducing the tension of issues, softening the stiffness of dry topics with subtle jokes. That was his unique style, the unique style of the column 'Say It or Don't Say It'. Satire without provoking anger.”

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/le-ra-mat-cuon-sach-noi-hay-dung-cua-nha-bao-ly-sinh-su-se-dien-vao-sang-mai-18-6-post299588.html