Literature has accompanied me through the joys and sorrows of youth.

Author Vinh Thong. Photo: NVCC

Author Vinh Thong has just released the poetry collection “The Rain Fades, the Flowers Shine”, published by Thuan Hoa Publishing House. In addition to poetry, the book also devotes many pages to looking back on Vinh Thong’s 15-year writing journey, since his first article was published in 2010, when he was only 14 years old. About this publication, author Vinh Thong said:

- “The Rain Fades, the Flowers Shine” is a selection of 37 poems, mostly composed in recent years and published in newspapers and magazines. In addition to the main content of poetry, the book also has an appendix to look back on 15 years of writing (2010-2025), as a little bit of my confidences and gratitude to my writers and readers.

I launched this work because I respect the “job” - the “career” that I have a “fate” to be attached to, and I respect the memories, whether happy or sad, that I have experienced. All of them are a part of my youth, which now I can only preserve partly through the pages of a book. Next year, I will turn 30, like a new stage in my life, so “looking back” on the past stage is also meaningful.

* Looking back on that 15-year journey, what do you think, Vinh Thong?

- I started practicing writing poetry and had my first works published in newspapers at the age of 14 (2010). Seeing the words I wrote appear in the newspaper, or receiving royalties, that was a great joy of student life. Although becoming a professional writer, publishing books, winning awards... is the dream of every writer, I did not know what my writing career would be like.

And yet 15 years have passed so quickly! Up to now, I have published 12 books of my own, including 4 poetry collections, 2 short story collections, 1 essay collection, 1 travelogue collection, 4 research collections, co-published over 50 anthologies by many authors, won 7 awards for literature and art (including 2 Central level awards). I have come a long and far way, with so many changes that I never thought of at the beginning.

However, it is not only the success on the page or the awards that are valuable, I have received much more from literature. Those are friends, relationships, feelings, and unforgettable memories. If at first, writing for me was simply a poetic experience; then over the years, literature has accompanied me through the joys and sorrows of youth. Now looking back, it has become an indispensable part of my youth.

* There were doubts about the 8th grade boy who knew how to write poetry, essays, and research. How did Vinh Thong face that?

- Indeed, in the early days of writing, many people suspected that the works under the pen name Vinh Thong were not written by me, but that someone behind the scenes had written and created the image of the student to attract attention! Some people even “attacked” me on my personal weblog. At that time, perhaps the terms “cyber violence” or “virtual bullying” were not as popular as they are now, but I was a victim of that phenomenon.

However, I was fortunate to have the trust, encouragement and support of my predecessors, most of whom had direct contact with me (not “heard somewhere” on the Internet). These artists knew my abilities, always followed me, and were ready to speak up to protect me from suspicion.

If others do not believe, we cannot justify forever. I have continued to write and publish my works one after another until now. After 15 years, people have not found “someone behind” me. For those who do not believe in me, my works are a confirmation of my ability as an author. For those who believe in me, my works are a thank you, proving that their trust is not misplaced.

* Vinh Thong is versatile in many genres, from literature to research. After all, which genre has retained Vinh Thong the longest and what are his future plans?

- I think that each topic needs to choose the appropriate genre. Even the same topic but from different perspectives can be expressed in different genres. For example, when coming to a land, the writer can express his feelings in poetry, but to analyze the traditional values of that place, a research paper is needed. Because of the different roles, it is difficult to say which genre is the most favorite.

However, the genre that has “held” me the longest is probably poetry. My first compositions were poems, and I am still attached to poetry to this day. In joys or sorrows, memorable moments, sudden thoughts or emotions… poetic ideas can appear quickly and poetic language can be expressed easily. Of course, being attached regularly and long-term does not mean that I am “easy” with poetry, in the sense that “I write poetry everywhere” is not true. I am selective and moderate when composing.

Regarding future plans, I think that at the beginning of participating in any activity, people all have dreams of this kind or that, and to be honest, I am no exception. But at some point, when everything is complete and full, I am now satisfied with what I have done. Of course, saying that does not mean I stop trying, but I still write, no longer dreaming much. Who knows, that creates a leisurely mindset for the writer, not being "blocked" by dreams, but just moving forward gently.

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