"I have a special love for the land of Quang Tri."

As a social media content creator specializing in videos about travel, culture, and history, Dao Minh Tien (born in 1995), originally from Thai Binh province, has had the opportunity to travel to many places and meet many people. However, Quang Tri remains a land that leaves a special impression and deep affection in his heart. Recently, he returned to Quang Tri once again to create meaningful videos commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification on April 30th (1975 - 2025). On this occasion, a reporter from Quang Tri Newspaper met with him to hear his thoughts on the land and people of Quang Tri.

- Hello sir! First of all, thank you for taking the time to meet us today. Could you introduce yourself to the readers of Quang Tri Newspaper?

My name is Dao Minh Tien, a content creator better known as "The Cricket's Journey". I currently live and work in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province. Additionally, I am pursuing a Master's degree in Vietnamese History at Da Lat University.

- Building a TikTok channel with over 240,000 followers and 4.8 million likes is quite impressive. So, what led you to become a content creator?

In 2013, I passed the entrance exam to the Logistics Academy and was retained to work there after 5 years of study. Living and working in a military environment, I received a great deal of education about patriotism and national pride; I learned a lot about national culture, visited museums and historical sites; and listened to my teachers recount the great and glorious battles of our nation. The desire to one day be present at those places to listen, observe, and experience them grew stronger within me without me even realizing it.

During my summer vacation, I visited various places across the country and tried recording videos with my phone throughout my journey, then taught myself how to cut, edit, and produce videos. After posting them on social media, these clips received praise from many people. These tentative steps opened up a new path, and in 2021, I decided to quit my job and switch to becoming a content creator. Initially, I faced many difficulties and pressures, but the results I've achieved so far show that my choice was absolutely right. I'm happy to be living my passion and being able to bring positive value to myself, my family, and society. Being a content creator gives me the opportunity to meet many people, hear many simple, authentic stories from the people I visit, and grow every day. This makes me love Vietnam and its people even more. Of all the places I've visited, Quang Tri is the one that impressed me the most and holds a special affection for me.

So, what is Quang Tri like to you?

-Quang Tri reminds me that today's peace was bought with the blood and sacrifices of previous generations. Therefore, we must live in a way that is worthy of that great sacrifice; constantly striving to live and contribute to building a more prosperous future for the country. To date, I have visited Quang Tri three times and produced about 12 clips introducing viewers to the historical sites and landmarks there, such as: the Hien Luong - Ben Hai historical site; the Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery; Bodhi School; Quang Tri Ancient Citadel; Mui Treo...

Minh Tiến poses for a commemorative photo with the children on Hien Luong Bridge - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

When I visited Quang Tri, what I enjoyed most was the feeling of driving along the road, admiring the endless green rice fields, fully enjoying the sunshine, the wind, and the peaceful atmosphere. The people of Quang Tri are very friendly and sincere; they are always ready to help when I need it. Especially in the videos about Quang Tri, I always feel the pride of the people in their homeland, receiving interaction and heartfelt thanks from everyone for sharing and spreading positive images of their hometown far and wide.

- We understand that you have returned to Quang Tri once again to create meaningful videos commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country. How much time and effort do you have to invest to create such videos?

-Before a momentous historical event for the nation like the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, I felt I had to do something to contribute to spreading positive values ​​and evoking pride in every Vietnamese citizen. And the Hien Luong Bridge, where the Vietnamese people spent 21 years connecting the North and South, was the first thing that came to mind. The process from generating the idea to setting foot in Quang Tri happened very quickly, but luckily, during the short time I spent making these clips, I met many interesting people. There were the intelligent and mischievous children on Hien Luong Bridge; the veterans; the old man who had been sewing the border flag for so many years... Each person is a story, an embodiment of the present, the past, and the future. Here, I once again held the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam in my hands and ran across Hien Luong Bridge. Through my videos, I want to convey a message about my love for the national flag, for my homeland, and my appreciation for peace. Perhaps that's why making the videos went quite smoothly; I worked continuously on filming and editing without getting tired.

- Can you reveal any of your plans or projects for the future?

Besides creating video content, I am currently working towards publishing my first book, which will include experiences I've gathered from my travels. Simultaneously, I will strive to excel in my studies to gain valuable knowledge to support my daily work. In the future, I hope to be able to teach and inspire students with a love for history, my homeland, and my country. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country, I am undertaking the project "Carrying the National Flag from Quang Tri to Ho Chi Minh City." For me, carrying the flag and flying it in the places I visit makes the videos more emotional, and it's also a way for me to show my appreciation for those places. Especially, it's the most concrete way to express my national pride.

I love Quang Tri, so I will visit this land as soon as possible. Previously, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of several localities in promotional and advertising work. Therefore, I very much hope to have the opportunity to cooperate with the Quang Tri Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to more widely spread the image, people, and heroic historical stories of this land.

Thank you!

Truc Phuong (compiled)

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/toi-co-mot-tinh-yeu-dac-biet-voi-manh-dat-quang-tri-193044.htm