Writer Hoang Phu Ngoc Phan: Years of collecting laughter

Audiences crowded into the theater and were moved to tears, laughing and crying at the talent of the cast Ly Hung, Diem Huong, Phuong Dung, Cong Hau, Le Cong Tuan Anh, Luong Thoai My...

Nhà văn Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Phan: Bao năm góp nhặt tiếng cười - Ảnh 1. — Writer Hoang Thieu Phu through the drawings of artist Angouleur Morris (Paris, France - 1999)

After leaving the Liberation Film Studio and working at Tre Publishing House, he focused on the field of satirical literature. This is the strength and specialty of Hoang Thieu Phu. It can be said that his name has become the pride of satirical literature, using laughter to contribute to changing society to become more and more positive and better.

When his famous work "Laughing" Stories (Tre Publishing House, 2007) was published, we saw the word "laughing" in quotation marks, as he explained: "I just wanted to borrow the satirical form of literature to easily generalize phenomena that deserve ridicule, blame, indignation, or sorrow... There are even stories that seem to have been written with tears."

Nhà văn Hoàng Phủ Ngọc Phan: Bao năm góp nhặt tiếng cười - Ảnh 2. — Writer Hoang Phu Ngoc Phan

Since 1984, considered the year that began the period of national renewal, Hoang Phu Ngoc Phan began writing "laughs". Through that, we can see that he has accompanied and reflected the changes of society very persistently. And, we can also see his writing ability, his ability to grasp current events very sensitively, and his humorous techniques with a very unique "deviant perspective". That is why when reading his works from skits, short stories, satirical poems... funeral orations, funeral orations... we always see deep and profound hidden meanings.

Regarding his profession, he once confided: "No matter what you do, "without a teacher, you can't do it". The person I admire as a "great master" is Tam Nguyen Yen Do Nguyen Khuyen. The laughter in his poems and literature is both popular and erudite; both explosive and profound. Only then will laughter have literary intelligence; otherwise, it will only meet the requirements of entertainment or "relieving one's breath".

"Good news travels fast", from writing for Tuoi Tre Cuoi , he continued to regularly collaborate with Thanh Nien Newspaper since 1993. Hoang Thieu Phu used to write for Thanh Nien 's comedy column with the pen names Ngoc Phang Lang, Ha Tien Co, which were very popular with readers. And it was from the short stories printed in Thanh Nien that he later chose to reprint in books.

The case of "writing from side to side" like Hoang Phu Ngoc Phan is a strange phenomenon in the literary profession, because criticizing bad things through laughter is a brave act. As an admiring reader and also a colleague, I would like to bid farewell to Hoang Phu Ngoc Phan with two verses of his own confession: "Many years of collecting smiles/Buying joy is also worth a "laugh" in the empty watch" .

Writer Hoang Phu Ngoc Phan (member of Vietnam Journalists Association, member of Vietnam Cinema Association, member of Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association) was born on November 25, 1940 in Quang Tri .

Before 1975, he worked at the Liberation Flag newspaper ( Hue ), then the Thanh Nien newspaper of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Youth Union of South Vietnam in R. After 1975, he worked at the Ho Chi Minh City General Film Enterprise (Liberation Film Studio). From 1986, he worked at Tre Publishing House. He passed away on October 25, 2025.

His main works: Collection of humorous stories Hoang Thieu Phu (1993), Quan Ong Do (2008), Under the light of fire pearls (2012).

Writer Hoang Phu Ngoc Phan was awarded the First Class Victory Medal; Second Class Anti-American National Salvation Medal; Medal for the Young Generation; Medal for the Cause of Literature and Arts.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nha-van-hoang-phu-ngoc-phan-bao-nam-gop-nhat-tieng-cuoi-185251026215930981.htm