The "storyteller" using leaves and plants.

Unable to speak or hear since childhood due to wartime bombings, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang (residing in Group 7, Hamlet 11A, An Minh Commune, An Giang Province) chose a different way to "speak up." His voice is expressed through the undulating green of the fences and the three-arched gate made of leaves, through the simple yet heartfelt drawings of his homeland, making anyone passing by want to stop and admire them.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang stands beside the three-arched gateway made of greenery, which he himself shaped, in Hamlet 11A, An Minh Commune.

Mr. Hoang's small house is nestled beside the road in Hamlet 11A, An Minh Commune. The old house, with its faded cement floor, is an inheritance from his parents. Without a wife or children, with limited health and deafness since childhood, his life could easily have been one of quiet solitude. But this 61-year-old man chose to live differently, diligently sowing seeds of beauty.

Every 7-10 days, Mr. Hoang takes out his pruning shears to trim the plants, keeping the archway beautiful and tidy.

When we arrived, Mr. Hoang was hunched over by the fence, his familiar pruning shears in hand. Seeing strangers, he simply smiled, a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling, and continued his work as if that were his way of greeting us.

About 10 years ago, when An Minh began building a new rural area, Hamlet 11A implemented a road expansion project. The people contributed their labor and effort. Although Mr. Hoang didn't hear about the campaigns or express his support, he quietly did his part.

Mr. Hoang always remained optimistic despite the many difficulties in his life.

Mr. Hoang carefully planted the tiny saplings he had grown himself along the roadside, meticulously arranging each root in a straight line. People say that at the time, no one thought those small green sprouts would ever grow. Yet now, they have transformed into a unique three-arched gateway at the entrance to Hamlet 11A, becoming the most beautiful structure in the hamlet. The three arches of trees are bent evenly and connected by smooth, trimmed branches, resembling a welcoming gate for the residents returning home.

Many visitors, upon arriving in the hamlet, stop their cars to admire the gate, exclaiming, "Who built this gate? It's so beautiful!" The locals just smile and say, "It's Mr. Hoang's!"

For many years, every 7-10 days, he would take out his pruning shears and trim the trees. Without instruction, documentation, or blueprints, everything was shaped by his aesthetic intuition and skillful hands. For him, trees have voices, souls. He observes the shape of each branch, measures it by eye, bends it according to his feeling, and then neatly cuts it into surprisingly natural circles and curves.

In front of his house was a lush garden of vibrant yellow apricot blossoms. What delighted many people even more was that each tree had a different shape; some were upright and graceful, others had a slanted, romantic form, and some were even shaped like winding dragons. Many people came to his house to admire the apricot blossom garden and marvel at his artistry.

Mr. Hoang with a portrait of his father, which he painted with simple yet emotionally charged brushstrokes.

Not only was Mr. Hoang skilled at gardening, but he was also a talented painter. He could paint portraits, temples, shrines, and rural landscapes. His brushstrokes were simple yet refined, as if he poured both the "hearing" and "speaking" of his life into each painting. People in the hamlet often asked him to recreate images of the old temple roof or familiar corners of the village. He never accepted money, only smiled and handed over the painting with both hands.

Mr. Hoang's life was simple: an old house, a few sets of clothes, a small kitchen corner, a pencil box, and a few bottles of acrylic paint. But those who lived near him all remarked, "He wasn't rich in money, but rich in compassion." He couldn't speak, but his dedication to each tree, each branch, each painting spoke louder than a thousand words.

Mr. Hoang is intently working on his new artwork.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, Mr. Hoang still quietly stands at the village gate every day, gently pruning the trees, imbuing them with his love for the place where he was born and raised. And so, everyone who passes through Hamlet 11A carries within them a moment of reflection, a touch of warmth from the unique voice of Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang – the voice of the trees, the leaves, and a soul that is never silent.

Text and photos: DANG LINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nguoi-ke-chuyen-bang-cay-la-a469226.html