Fostering a reading culture within the military environment.

The military environment is characterized by intense training, numerous missions, and strict discipline, yet a reading culture is persistently nurtured. From unit libraries and book collections to weekend reading sessions, many officers and soldiers have developed a reading habit.

The exhibition space displays outstanding works published by the People's Army Publishing House.

The military environment is characterized by intense training, numerous missions, and strict discipline, yet a reading culture is persistently nurtured. From unit libraries and book collections to weekend reading sessions, many officers and soldiers have developed a reading habit. What is particularly commendable is the emergence of young soldiers who love literature, are passionate about writing, and produce works that are relevant to contemporary life.

In many units, books are a means of supplementing knowledge and have become an integral part of the spiritual life of officers and soldiers. Joining this trend, Lieutenant Tran Viet Hoang, Deputy Political Officer of Company 7, Battalion 2, Regiment 4, Division 5, Military Region 7, has left a strong impression as a young soldier passionate about literature and eager to spread a reading culture to his comrades.

In every mission, the officer, born in 2000 and hailing from Ha Tinh province, is always resolute and serious. Whenever he has a little free time, he returns to his books and unfinished manuscripts. Many poems are written immediately after training, before the sweat from the training ground has even dried. For him, literature is not a separate realm from military life; it is a space that helps him understand more deeply his family, comrades, the responsibilities of a soldier, and the simple things in life. His poetry collection "Days Before the Mist," published in 2024, his epic poem "Flying Towards the Season," released in 2025, along with many works published in military and non-military newspapers, demonstrate the maturity of this young writer who rose from military life.

What's admirable about Hoang is the way he integrated his love of reading into the unit's life. As the Youth Union Secretary, he proposed establishing a reading schedule during the "eighth hour" and on weekends, encouraging soldiers to borrow books from the library and record their thoughts after reading each book. From these simple shared thoughts, officers can better understand the thoughts and feelings of the young soldiers. The unit commander acknowledged that exemplary soldiers like Tran Viet Hoang knew how to apply their writing and communication skills to propaganda and education work. As a result, their speeches and political activities were often relatable, easy to understand, and created empathy among officers and soldiers.

Also in the 5th Division was Lieutenant Lam Minh Thuong, a Khmer ethnic minority, who studied with Hoang at the Political Officer School and was also diligently pursuing his creative journey. Although he was admitted to the school based on his A-block exam results, in the military environment, through life experiences and the accumulation of life lessons, Thuong gradually developed a passion for poetry. Thuong's works were regularly published in the Literature and Arts newspaper, the Military Literature and Arts magazine, and the Song Huong magazine… bearing the imprint of ethnic culture while reflecting the depth of the soldier's soul.

Another figure quietly spreading a love of books within the military is Lieutenant Dang Viet Trung, Deputy Political Officer of Company 9, Battalion 9, Regiment 209, Corps 12. He won second prize in the 2020 National Excellent Student Competition in Literature. Despite his busy schedule, he maintains a habit of reading and writing, and introduces his soldiers to good books on history, literature, life skills, and military traditions. For Trung, each book helps soldiers live more deeply, with greater ideals and responsibility.

From such pioneers, the reading movement in the military is now being supported by many dedicated organizations and individuals. Dr. Nguyen Thuy Anh, Head of the "Reading with Children" Club, has organized numerous exchange programs to spread the value of books and reading culture to officers and soldiers in military units. Answering the question of how to balance duty and reading, Dr. Nguyen Thuy Anh stated that reading is not something to be done only in leisure time, but a way to enrich the soul even on the busiest days. A soldier asked a question that silenced the entire audience: "How can I help my child develop a reading habit when I'm often away from home?" Dr. Nguyen Thuy Anh suggested: A father can tell his child about a good book during a phone call, send them suitable books as gifts, or write letters sharing his feelings about what he has read. When a child knows their father loves books, a love of reading will naturally develop.

During a cultural exchange program on Ship 20, Brigade 172, Region 3 of the Navy, despite the limited space, books were present in many corners. The sailors shared that, along with their long missions, books are like companions, helping them alleviate homesickness and maintain peace of mind amidst the storms. Many books were passed around the ship, and those who finished reading recommended them to their comrades. This sharing transformed reading from a personal matter into a warm and trusting bond.

The development of a reading culture in the military demonstrates that when reading is placed in a disciplined, orderly, and properly guided environment, a reading habit can be formed and sustainably maintained. This is also a model worth referencing and replicating in schools, agencies, and communities today.

The development of a reading culture in the military demonstrates that when reading is placed in a disciplined, orderly, and properly guided environment, a reading habit can be formed and sustainably maintained. This is also a model worth referencing and replicating in schools, agencies, and communities today.

Mai Lu

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-doc-trong-moi-truong-quan-ngu-post963931.html