Live and dedicate yourself to your profession.

Researcher Cao Son Hai: Hoping to complete the unfinished tasks.

Born in 1935, researcher Cao Son Hai will turn 90 this year, 2025. Age doesn't seem to bother him. While other retired officials and civil servants enjoy their old age, shedding their busy lives and spending time with their children and grandchildren, for him, that moment marks the beginning of doing what he truly desires. More than 15 research projects were completed when he was in his 70s and 80s. In 2022, he was honored with the State Prize for Literature and Arts for his collection of three works: "Wedding Songs of the Muong People of Thanh Hoa ," "The Pon Poong Eng Chang Ceremony" (bilingual), and the narrative poem "Nang Ut Lot - The Lieu Islamic Religion" (bilingual)... This prestigious award is the "sweet fruit" of a lifetime of dedication to Muong culture.

Speaking about the plan for 2025, NNC Cao Son Hai said: "Our biggest hope is that in 2025, the Muong ethnic script of Thanh Hoa province will be approved for implementation."

According to researcher Cao Son Hai: The Muong people of Thanh Hoa currently number around 400,000. Their language is still Vietnamese-Muong, and they do not have their own written language. Despite lacking a written script, the Muong people have preserved tens of thousands of verses belonging to ritual songs (what we call funeral chants), as well as folk songs, proverbs, jokes, and fairy tales. The Muong language has shaped Muong culture, primarily defining the Muong people both physically and spiritually.

An ethnic group that has existed for thousands of years without a written language cannot record its history; everything is preserved through oral tradition from generation to generation. Therefore, the Muong language is "shrinking," and Muong culture is gradually "fading away." Understanding this, he began preparing materials many years ago, and since 2022, the Muong alphabet has been the focus of the author group's work. "The desire to preserve the language and have a written language to preserve it and develop the culture has long been a fervent wish of the Muong community. This heartfelt aspiration aligns with the policies of the Party and the State," affirmed researcher Cao Son Hai, stating that this is the greatest advantage in the process of creating the Muong alphabet.

“I am a Muong person; I have experience, roots, and knowledge. Therefore, delving into the very origins of Muong folk culture is my responsibility. If I don't get involved, who will?” This concern fueled his desire for the Thanh Hoa Muong script to be released soon, so that the Muong people can use, preserve, and spread the beautiful traditional cultural values ​​of their ethnic group.

People's Artist Hoang Hai: I have three major tasks for 2025.

At 85 years old, the 67-year artistic journey of People's Artist Hoang Hai is a testament to his tireless work ethic.

“My artistic journey has been intertwined with the upheavals of national history. Especially during the period of ‘breaking through walls to open up for commerce,’ art troupes nationwide faced significant difficulties. Among them, the Thanh Hoa People's Song and Dance Troupe (now the Lam Son Song and Dance Theatre), which he led, had to repeatedly change its ‘tactics and strategies’ to suit the artistic tastes of the people. After experiencing countless ups and downs, he summarized: “At this point, I have two great joys. Firstly, I have personally witnessed the growth of generations of artists in my province, many of whom I personally trained – the ‘red grains’ of art. Secondly, after major artistic programs like the ‘Huong Dang’ dance, which used folk songs and dances from Dong Anh as inspiration; The "Lam Kinh Horse Hooves" program brought together 150 dancers performing along the route from Ba Dinh Square to the Hanoi Opera House for 4 hours, showcasing the unique, captivating, and soulful essence of Xuan Pha dance... Many people have come to know Dong Anh lantern dance and Xuan Pha dance, thereby contributing to preserving the traditional cultural values ​​of Thanh Hoa province.

After being awarded the State Prize for Culture and Arts in 2022, People's Artist Hoang Hai continued his work diligently. In 2024, as the Head of the Vietnam Dance Artists Association branch in Thanh Hoa province, he conducted a survey of the folk dance movement in the province, organized the linkage of folk dance clubs, invested in staging performances into artistic works, and organized the first Thanh Hoa Folk Dance Art Festival.

Speaking about 2025, People's Artist Hoang Hai said: "This year is associated with the resounding victory at Ham Rong by the army and people of Thanh Hoa. I really want to create the dance piece 'Red Flower' about the heroic battle of the soldiers and militia at Ham Rong - Nam Ngan; and to create a music and dance program about the Ham Rong victory. In addition, the Thanh Hoa Folk Dance Artists Association will continue to organize the 2nd Thanh Hoa Folk Dance Festival."

To successfully execute all his plans, People's Artist Hoang Hai likened himself to a blackboard: once a task was completed, he would erase it, mark out other objectives, and work diligently. With his exemplary attitude, he not only earned the respect of his colleagues but also maintained a long and enduring career in the arts.

Writer Tu Nguyen Tinh: Writing is about finding your own name.

2025 is a special year for writer Tu Nguyen Tinh. It marks the 60th anniversary of his first day in the army and the 60th anniversary of his literary journey.

War is a source of fear for many. For writer Tu Nguyen Tinh, war was an opportunity for him to grow. In Company 4 at Ham Rong, he wrote articles, publishing his first piece titled "I Write for You" under the pen name Van Anh in the Thanh Hoa Cultural Friend magazine...; also in the military, on the very day the Paris Agreement on Vietnam was signed, January 27, 1973, he was admitted to the Party. He said: "I am a soldier, a writer." Throughout his ten years as a soldier, he was closely associated with the Ham Rong battlefield and the front lines of Thanh Hoa province. He went through various roles: artilleryman, artillery repairman, squad leader, then historian, journalist... poet, writer... Memories and the realities of life and combat overflowed, compelling him to pick up his pen. The blessing of life – "Surviving is already a blessing!" – compelled him to ponder and immerse himself in the theme of soldiers, searching for his own identity.

His passion for writing was to write about people, to express the feelings and thoughts of others in their lives. At the same time, writing was a form of liberation, a support system for him to pursue his youthful dreams, and a way to reflect on life.

The 18-year-old "country boy" who once dabbled in poetry has now amassed a collection of over 30 short stories, novels, essays, and poems. Notably, he received the State Award for Literature and Arts for his short story collection "The Love Story of Lung Mu." In 2025, he plans to publish a novel titled "The Dog Tag." Still on the post-war theme, it's not about American soldiers returning to Vietnam, but about a young volunteer who went to America to find her child's father.

Despite having achieved various successes and experiences in life, these authors, recipients of the State Award for Literature and Arts, continue to dedicate themselves. The past years were filled with sweat and tears, but this time, they get to live for themselves and do what they are most passionate about.

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/song-va-dan-than-voi-nghe-237953.htm