The children's poetry collection "Tet in Truong Sa, My Homeland" by poet Lu Mai was released to readers in the days leading up to the New Year 2026. The book was published and distributed jointly by the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House and Thao Nguyen Culture and Communication Co., Ltd. - Carobooks.
"Tet in Truong Sa, My Homeland" is a collection of children's poems and stories, with the central character being 6-year-old Hat Dua, a "little citizen" born and raised in the Truong Sa archipelago. Through Hat Dua's innocent and clear voice, the book unfolds before the eyes of children on the mainland a Tet holiday in this remote, windswept place, both familiar and new, simple and sacred.
In this poetry collection, the author chooses four-word and five-word verses, creating a flexible, playful, clear, easy-to-read, easy-to-remember, and easy-to-recite rhythm. Each poem is like a small wave, gently caressing the soul of a child, then spreading naturally. The collection's main colors are white, blue, and pink. According to the author, white represents clouds, sand, coral, and pristine mornings; blue represents the sea, the sky, the navy uniform, and unwavering faith; and pink represents cherry blossoms, the morning sun, and the dreams of children floating on the waves.
The gentle, clear colors, as if filtered by the sea breeze and spring sunshine, create a pure, peaceful world of Tet, very close to the sensibilities of children. Each page is like a window opening to the tranquil, bright, and serene sea and islands. Children read the poems and can "stroll through poetry," enjoying the Tet atmosphere at the forefront of the waves with both sight and emotion.
With a lasting commitment to the theme of islands and the sea, Lu Mai has dedicated a collection of poems specifically for children. The author expresses: “I wrote this small book with the hope of portraying Truong Sa as a beloved place, filled with children, families, spring, and Tet (Vietnamese New Year). When I think of children, I always believe that they perceive life through emotions. From small details, their faith and love will naturally blossom. The character of the little girl, Hat Dua, is based on the prototypes of the children I met, talked to, and played with in Truong Sa. Besides that, I always feel compassion for the Tet celebrations of the soldiers on the distant islands. They “Guard the islands so the people can celebrate Tet/Guard the sea and sky so the Fatherland can enter spring,” as the Tet couplet at the forefront of the waves says. I hope readers can feel that, to have a fulfilling Tet, there are those who silently stand guard amidst the spring.”
The poetry collection guides the reader through familiar images of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) that are deeply imbued with the colors of the islands: wrapping banh chung (traditional rice cakes) amidst the salty sea breeze; peach blossoms swaying in the waves at the pier; a five-fruit platter different from that of the mainland, including both "real and fake" fruits; a peculiar New Year's pole reaching high in the sun and wind of Truong Sa; lanterns lit from the twelfth lunar month; spring ships bringing Tet gifts from the mainland to the islands; the vibrant red national flag against the blue sky; a Tet feast by the waves…
In Lu Mai's poetry, Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) appears simple, quiet, and warm, warmed by camaraderie, family, and unwavering faith in the beloved homeland. The poet doesn't take the position of an adult to "explain" Truong Sa to children, but instead assumes the role of a 6-year-old girl named Hat Dua (Watermelon Seed) as the narrator. Hat Dua recounts Tet on the island in the innocent, surprised, and sometimes whimsical language of a child, with many poignant moments. This is what makes Truong Sa feel so close, like a small, bustling countryside filled with laughter and cherished memories.
The author also skillfully conveys subtle messages, suitable for children's reading pace, yet profound enough to move adults in each verse. These include love for the homeland, expressed through familiar images such as the red flag fluttering in the sea breeze, the ship carrying spring from the mainland to the island, and the small island shining brightly amidst the vast ocean…
It is an expression of gratitude to those who are guarding the nation's seas and islands, through placing images of naval soldiers in the Tet atmosphere, such as standing guard by the waves, celebrating New Year's Eve far from home, protecting the islands in spring, and blending in with the people.
It is the ever-present, warm feeling of family. Despite being far from the mainland, Tet in Truong Sa still includes a reunion meal, the embrace of adults, and the laughter of children. Family in the poetry collection blends with love for the homeland as a spiritual anchor. It is a sense of community, a sense of the blood-bond between the island and the mainland, expressed through images of ships arriving at the islands in the spring, Tet gifts crossing the waves, and New Year's wishes sent to the distant islands...
Regarding the poetry collection "Tet in Truong Sa, My Homeland," Ms. Minh Man, Director of Communications at Thao Nguyen Culture and Communication Co., Ltd., shared that the book helps children feel that Truong Sa is not far away, that Tet is Vietnamese Tet wherever they are, and that in today's peace, countless people are silently sacrificing and preserving it. The company chose to exclusively publish the work because of its humanistic, educational , and high aesthetic value, which aligns with the company's direction of creating children's publications that are rich in depth and reflect Vietnamese identity.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ngap-tran-mua-xuan-bien-dao-trong-tap-tho-tet-truong-sa-que-em-726672.html
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