Writer Minh Chuyen - the "history writer" through works of art

Writer, journalist, director Minh Chuyen, who has made many outstanding contributions to Vietnamese literature, art and cinema, was honored bythe President's decision to confer the title of Hero of Labor.

This is a well-deserved recognition for his tireless contributions over the past half century.

The "history writer" through works of art

Meet writer, journalist, and director Minh Chuyen while he is busy preparing for the Ceremony to receive the title of Labor Hero, scheduled to be held on May 25, at the Minh Chuyen Post-War Works Museum (Tho Loc village, Minh Khai commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province).

Previously, he was awarded the title of Hero of Labor by the President in Decision No. 997/QD-CTN dated October 9, 2024 for his outstanding achievements in creative labor, contributing to the cause of building socialism and defending the Fatherland.

Writer Minh Chuyen shared from a student of the Faculty of Literature, Hanoi University, in 1967, he joined the army and fought in the Southeast battlefield.

During this time, he both wrote about the loss and sacrifice in the war and fought with a gun.

His early works such as "The Road Up the Red Slope," "After the Gunfire," "The Man Who Chose Death," "Hair," and "The Haunting of War" deeply portrayed the reality of war and the sacrifices of soldiers.

After the country's reunification in 1976, he became a reporter for Thai Binh Newspaper, then moved to work at Vietnam Television and the Vietnam Writers Association Film Studio.

During these years, he devoted all his heart and soul to writing about post-war topics, the pain and profound memories of the resistance war against American imperialism to save the country.

With a simple and unique literary style, writer Minh Chuyen delves into real characters and stories, and the pain of post-war.

He devoted himself to thorny topics, with the desire to clarify the identity and relieve the pain of returning soldiers.

Writer Minh Chuyen presents books to the delegation of officials and students of Hanoi University of Business and Technology. (Photo: Vu Quang/VNA)

His works such as "Procedures for Being a Living Human," "Returning to the Temple," "Animal-Colored Child," "Returning to Human Life," "Agent Orange Souls," "Tears in Peacetime," "Post-War Vietnam..." have created a great resonance, strongly impacted society, and contributed to the implementation of the policy of gratitude.

A typical example is the work "The Wanderer is Not Lonely" published in 1992, a famous memoir, written about the wounded soldier Nguyen Dinh Thuc.

This work was adapted by Thai Binh Drama Theater, "shocking" the Vietnamese drama stage and national television at that time, bringing tears to millions of viewers.

In 1993, the Government established a charity fund named after his work (The Not-So-Lonely Fund); in 1995 it was changed to the Gratitude Fund.

To date, the fund has received thousands of billions of VND in support from readers and people nationwide. In addition, many works by writer Minh Chuyen have been translated and preserved at the Harvard University Library and the US Library of Congress.

Some of his works are included in textbooks (new set in 2018) taught in schools across the country.

On October 25, 2018, writer Minh Chuyen was recognized by the Vietnam Record Organization with Record No. 2165/QD-KLVN in 2018, affirming that he is the person who composed the most literary, cinematic, and television works about post-war Vietnam.

Four years later, on July 4, 2022, the Asia Records Organization certified writer Minh Chuyen as the person with the most literary and cinematic works on post-war themes in Asia.

“Red address” of traditional education

Nearly 80 years old and over 50 years of holding guns, writing, writing for newspapers, creating literature and art, writer, journalist, director Minh Chuyen is the owner of a huge fortune of works on the subject of war and post-war.

To help preserve and send a "historical message" to future generations to know the devastating consequences of the war and educate revolutionary traditions, in 2018, with the help of the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee of Thai Binh province, the Minh Chuyen Post-War Works Museum was built.

Writer, journalist, and senior director Minh Chuyen in his early days of holding a film camera in Tay Ninh in 1970. (Photo provided by the character)

The project is built on an area of 1,550m2 including: Martyrs Temple, ecological lake, Truong Son mountain range (simulated) and the building preserving the work.

The museum currently displays over 1,000 documents, literary and artistic works and over 200 documentary episodes broadcast on Vietnam Television, directed and written by writer Minh Chuyen, helping today's young generation better understand the value of peace.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh, during his visit to the Museum in 2024, expressed his pride in writer and journalist Minh Chuyen and affirmed that the Museum has great significance, contributing to educating the revolutionary tradition and patriotism for the younger generation, and is a "red address" for each generation and young people to study and cultivate historical knowledge.

Associate Professor, Doctor, writer Le Bich Hong commented: "A person who works with all his heart, intelligence and conscience, accepting all disadvantages just to become useful to life and to his fellow human beings is a truly talented and honest person. Writer, journalist, director Minh Chuyen is such a person!"

Professor Nguyen Cong Nghiep, former Deputy Minister of Finance, author of the memoir "Minh Chuyen - Post-war Writer" commented: What made Minh Chuyen famous was not only the quantity of his works, but also their value and especially the way he created them.

Each of his works is a feat, he struggles, researches, works tirelessly, devotes himself with passion and persistent creativity, discovers and pursues it.

He is like a sculptor who diligently searches for precious soil all year round, then plunges into "molding" it into humane works, imbued with humanity, works that always aim for sympathy and love for soldiers and the unfortunate fates of the post-war period...

With his contributions and dedication of his strength, intelligence and conscience to the pains of the post-war period, writer, journalist and director Minh Chuyen has been awarded 62 national and international awards in literature, art, cinema and television, such as: State Prize for Literature and Art in 2017; International "Golden Cup" Award for the work "Father and Son of Soldiers" at the Pyongyang Film Festival, North Korea in 2006; Asian Record Certificate for literary and artistic creation in India in 2022; Vietnam Literature Association Award for the work "Remnants of War" in 1998.../.