Writer Tong Ngoc Han: 'Literature is like climbing a mountain; I only give up when I'm exhausted.'

Over the past ten years, writer Tong Ngoc Han has made an impression on the literary world with her works that capture the essence and breath of life of people in the mountainous regions. Tong Ngoc Han's life has been as complex and full of ups and downs as her writings.

"At times, I felt like I was being dragged along by fate."

+ Reading Tong Ngoc Han's writing, it's easy to think that to create such dramatic characters and lives, she must have experienced a great deal of bitterness in her literary and personal life.

Writer Tong Ngoc Han.

Five years ago (around the end of 2020), when a close friend who lived far away heard that I had returned from brain tumor surgery, she texted me asking, "Is there anything else Hân hasn't experienced yet?" I told her, "This is probably the last time."

I'm just saying this, but I can't know for sure if this "storm" is over. I'm just hoping so. Life is full of ups and downs, but they all pass. There's a great Latin proverb: "If you want to go, fate will lead you; if you don't want to go, fate will drag you."

At times, I felt like I was being dragged along by fate. That was the year I left my hometown for Lao Cai . More accurately, it was an escape, a safe haven. Lao Cai embraced and sheltered me and my small family.

I was hospitalized for emergency surgery after being diagnosed with a ruptured ovarian cyst and severe blood loss at Bao Yen Hospital (Lao Cai province). Just two years later, a fire reduced my wooden house on the banks of the Chay River to ashes.

My small family and I, penniless, drifted to Bao Thang - Lao Cai, staying at my uncle's house for about a year. Then, in the summer of 2002, I went to Sa Pa and stayed there until I returned home (2017). If my husband hadn't fallen seriously ill, I might not have returned home around that time.

I've had my share of ups and downs, but I'm quick to forget, rarely complain about the past, and certainly don't want to dwell on my hardships.

Works by writer Tong Ngoc Han.

Life has been full of ups and downs, but my literary journey has been smooth sailing. From my very first works, my first book, to this day, readers still ask when I'll release another book. Literature reflects people and their destinies; that's something I can't hide. But perhaps this is the first time I've recounted such specific stories.

I once told my daughter, "If one day a tumor grows inside me, it will definitely be in my brain." Two years later, the excruciating pain made me shudder at my premonitions. I went to the hospital and discovered I had a brain tumor; the doctor recommended surgery.

Writer Tong Ngoc Han was born in 1976 in Dong Linh commune (Phu Tho province) and is a member of the Vietnam Writers Association. She has published 3 novels, 15 short story collections, 2 children's story collections, and 2 poetry collections. Many of her works have won major awards, including: the award in the writing competition on the theme "For National Security and Peaceful Life" organized by the Ministry of Public Security and the Vietnam Writers Association (2011-2015) for the novel "Ghost Soldiers and the Stinging Poison"; the Third Prize in the "Golden Pen" award from the Ministry of Public Security (2017) for the short story "The Red Border"; and the A Prize in the Fansipan Award (2012-2017) organized by the People's Committee of Lao Cai province for the novel "Blood Jade"...

I don't want to be dragged along by fate anymore, especially since I've come to literature. I'll obediently let fate lead me. Because I believe that good deeds are rewarded. I believe I will wake up safe. Fate can't possibly treat me so badly forever.

When fate takes something away from me, it must compensate me with something else. And so, as everyone can see, I've steadily progressed, overcoming adversity step by step.

"Literature makes you more resilient."

Life is certainly not easy for anyone. After experiencing a major health setback five years ago, did writer Tong Ngoc Han return to writing, or was it literature that kept her anchored in this life?

The work "The 9th Nude" by writer Tong Ngoc Han.

It was my burning desire to live, to live so I could continue writing. The surgeon who operated on my brain tumor that year was very young, about ten years younger than me. Before administering anesthesia, he asked me, "Are you scared?" I replied, "No, this is my fourth time on the operating table, what's there to be afraid of?"

If you are passionate about literature to a certain extent, you will find that literature makes you more resilient and courageous in life, no longer afraid of anything, not even death!

+ The inner thoughts and reflections in Tong Ngoc Han's writings throughout this period of her life seem to be reflected in her latest work, the short story collection "The 9th Nude"?

Of course, a writer is the secretary of their time and the secretary of their own life. Writers and literature reflect each other. My most recent book is "The Ninth Nude," which I personally selected to publish. This is the first time I've paid to self-publish a book.

In previous projects, I only sold the publishing rights to distributors and publishers; I didn't really interfere with the printing process or pricing, only focusing on the manuscript before sending it out. Therefore, I can say that this is the book I'm most satisfied with among my 20 books.

Of course, when making my selections, I considered many factors, from subject matter to content and message. For each category, I chose one or two stories that I considered the best. How they are judged is up to the readers.

However, from what I know, the book has received positive feedback from readers. And I also have the confidence to continue writing and creating more books.

+ Not only the writing itself, but I also feel that the person and the stories about life and literature of writer Tong Ngoc Han always radiate a warm energy!

I don't have much time because I'm juggling selling goods, writing, and other things, but I still make time to listen to the stories of my readers and new writers. Many people who used to be my readers have now become writers themselves.

Many people who are unable to write tell me their stories and hope I will recreate them in literary works. Of course, for young people who are open-minded and eager to learn, I am always happy to share my twenty years of writing experience.

Over the years, as the saying goes, "good wine needs no bush," and some of your works have been translated and included in libraries abroad. You must be moved to see your books in faraway lands, right?

Occasionally, friends abroad would take and send me photos of one of my books that they happened to find in some national library. Or, of course, I would be very happy when my work was included in Vietnamese language teaching curricula overseas.

That's something I never thought about back when I used to rest my school notebook on my lap to write stories. I remember in 2013, an old classmate sent me a short story in Russian that had been printed in a newspaper. At the time, I couldn't read it, I could only see that the author's name was the same as mine.

I traced through the lines and found Sa Pa and the names of my characters. It was definitely my story. I asked how she was so sure it was mine, and she said she remembered that Hân was very good at literature in school, that's all.

Or perhaps a friend was reading a newspaper on a flight from Vietnam to Australia, saw my short story in English, and took a picture of it to show off. It seems that, in the eyes of my old friends, my name is something very prestigious and memorable.

Literature is like… climbing a mountain.

+ Will readers who love your writing be able to enjoy more new works from Tong Ngoc Han in the future?

I've been participating in the novel, short story, and essay competition on the theme "For National Security and Peaceful Life" for 10 years, and this is my third time entering. The previous two entries were novels: "Ghost Soldiers and the Stinging Leaf" and "Forest Disturbance." Both won prizes, albeit not high ones.

However, this competition showed me and confirmed that I can write novels, not just short stories. As for this novel, "Strangers of the Same Bloodline," I can't say anything yet.

This competition attracted many veteran authors in this field, many of whom are from the police force. And even the younger authors are far more talented than me.

Literature is like climbing a mountain; I only give up when I'm exhausted, not because many people have overtaken me. Currently, I have one novel and three short story manuscripts that I haven't planned to publish yet. There's no rush. After my 20th book (The 9th Nude), I also need a "resting place."

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Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nha-van-tong-ngoc-han-van-chuong-giong-nhu-leo-nui-toi-chi-bo-cuoc-khi-kiet-suc-post648391.html