Born in 1947 in Quang Nam province , Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoang received a formal education at Hanoi University of Technology. After many years of study and work, he chose Dong Nai as his place of residence. For nearly 80 years, he has maintained diligence, a spirit of self-learning, and an unceasing desire to seek out the good and beautiful in life. For him, each day is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and live fully with passion. It is this optimism and positive attitude that has shaped Nguyen Dinh Hoang into a simple yet artistic figure, peaceful yet always radiant with love for life and people.
Love of poetry and the creative journey
Born in Central Vietnam, a land of sun and wind, where small rivers are muddy with silt during the rainy season and dry up completely during the dry season, the people there must live patiently and persistently, like the purple myrtle trees on the sand dunes. Perhaps that is why Nguyen Dinh Hoang came to poetry very early. For anyone who grew up amidst the rivers and waterways of Central Vietnam, to some extent, carries a poetic soul within them.
His poetry is full of the wrinkles of memory, the breath of days spent far from home, full of the images of his mother, his grandmother, and the old riverbank waiting for someone to return.
Slowly returning to my windy hometown river.
The bluish smoke from the kitchen embodies a delicate bond of affection.
My grandmother used to wake up early to greet the dawn.
The place where my mother endured a lifetime of hardship.
I returned to the riverbank, where my mother wept every night.
Eyes welling up with tears, waiting for father to come home.
Twenty years away from my hometown.
Mother waited anxiously for father by the windy riverbank…
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| Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoang, the diligent "calligraphy laborer". Photo: Hien Luong |
The Central region is harsh, yet it was there that a poetic soul quietly took root. In his memory, his homeland was not only the place where he was born but also the source from which his words flowed silently. And perhaps, it was from those days spent beside the rivers of his homeland, where the water flowed tirelessly like the story of the land and its people, that his poetry grew richer and deeper. The river became his confidant, the place where he entrusted his feelings, the place where his verses were cleansed to become pure and serene. Therefore, today, when recalling that journey, he wants to borrow the familiar image of the river to tell the story of his heart.
I was born in the central coastal region.
Drought, torrential rain, floods, storms
Despite the hardships and difficulties, the human kindness was genuine.
Like corn kernels and potatoes, they are loyal and flavorful.
I've been away for so many years.
Memories remain vividly etched in my mind from those waterwheels.
Childhood dreams have taken flight.
My mother toils under the weight of everyday life.
Like a silkworm spinning its thread, Nguyen Dinh Hoang has published seven volumes of poetry, containing approximately 100 poems, and 18 volumes of essays about his travels, his hometown of Dong Nai , and himself. Each volume represents a quiet yet enduring journey, where he imbues it with everyday experiences, deeply humane emotions, and anxieties about life's changes. For him, poetry is not about showing off but about sharing; not about showing off, but about allowing readers to find themselves in words as light as a breath, as deep as a lingering trace in the soul.
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| Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoang (left) and Mr. Nguyen Van Liet, two people who always talk about poetry whenever they meet. Photo: Hien Luong |
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoang said: For him, the love for Dong Nai is a very natural, deep, and enduring feeling. Returning to Bien Hoa and Tran Bien (Dong Nai), he feels familiar with everything from the streets and corners to the rhythm of everyday life; everything is close and endearing. Even when the streets become quieter on holidays, he still feels a very special sensation: Bien Hoa is still there, tranquil yet warm, like an inseparable part of his flesh and blood.
"For me, Bien Hoa and Tran Bien are not just places to return to, but places where every street and every quiet moment evokes a feeling of closeness that is hard to forget," Mr. Hoang said.
When writing becomes the soul
Besides writing poetry and prose, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoang is also a calligrapher, providing calligraphy services at various cultural events. Some people choose calligraphy to beautify pages. But he chooses it to beautify people's hearts. For 25 years wielding a brush, he has been a diligent calligrapher. Each downward stroke is a breath. Each upward stroke is a message. For him, giving calligraphy is not just about giving a material object, but about bestowing kindness, goodness, and hope for a better life. Calligraphy must be heartfelt to be beautiful. Giving calligraphy is giving faith. And a calligrapher is not just a writer, but also a bridge connecting the invisible thread between tradition and the present.
"The tradition of calligraphers in the past was to convey thoughts and moral principles through each stroke of the pen. Calligraphy is not just about writing beautifully, but about writing with the soul of the person holding the pen, so that even though each person is in a different space and speaks a different language, they can still feel and understand," Mr. Hoang confided.
Mr. Ngo Tuan Hien (residing in Tran Bien ward), a student of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoang, shared: “I studied calligraphy with Mr. Hoang not only to improve my handwriting but also to learn the heart and meaning behind each character. Every work he wrote conveys a philosophy of life, clearly reflecting his character and the depth of culture that he always cherishes.”
Enthralled by digital technology
With music, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoang has always maintained an enduring and fresh love, regardless of time. At nearly 80 years old, he remains passionately exploring and experimenting, especially boldly venturing into the world of digital technology to create his works.
While many older people are hesitant about smartphones, Mr. Hoang is proficient in music production and arrangement software, and even uses artificial intelligence (AI) as a companion. Technology has opened more doors for his melodies. From his small room, he patiently adjusts each note, listens to AI suggestions, and transforms them into pieces with his own unique style. Age cannot hinder creativity, and technology, if it dares to advance, will always be a friend to every generation.
"For me, AI is a supporting tool. I use it to make music, to handle the technical aspects. Thanks to it, I save time, and I can dedicate more time to my emotions and creative thinking," Mr. Hoang shared.
Mr. Nguyen Van Liet, former Vice Chairman of the Union of Science and Technology Associations of Dong Nai province, commented: "In innovation, people are still at the center, while technology is just an assistant. Mr. Hoang knows how to utilize technology while still maintaining the depth of his creativity, which is very commendable and inspiring for the younger generation."
He not only demonstrated adaptability but also inspired others that technology excludes no one; as long as the heart still beats, we can still create and keep up with the new pace of life every day. And it was this very spirit of learning and creativity that led him to many interesting encounters in his daily life.
Having been associated with Dong Nai for over four decades, he left a quiet but enduring mark through his poetry, prose, essays, and calligraphy. He wrote extensively and received awards, but never considered that the ultimate goal. For him, the greatest recognition was being able to continue creating and living with words with all the sincerity of his heart.
"Life without poetry would be so barren. Poetry helps me retain the purest part of myself," he said.
The story of poet and writer Nguyen Dinh Hoang is a beautiful source of inspiration for artists today: quiet, persistent, constantly reinventing himself, yet still maintaining the integrity of a writer.
Hien Luong
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202512/mot-doi-giu-lai-chu-va-tho-f680d49/
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