A colorful garden of young writers

Diverse and abundant

The list of newly admitted members of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association includes 6 authors under 35 years old: Doan Nguyen Anh Minh (born 1999, poetry); Luong Huynh Trong Nghia (born 1993, translation); Tran Quoc Tuan (born 1997, prose); Emma Ha My (born 2003, prose); Nguyen Thi Nhu Hien (born 1990, prose); and Huynh Huu Phuoc (born 1997, translation).

Young authors from Ho Chi Minh City at the Young Poets' Stage during Vietnam Poetry Day 2025.

Besides the names mentioned above, there are many authors born from 1990 onwards who are also striving and establishing themselves in literature. These include Nguyen Duong Quynh (1990), considered a "chameleon" in the young literary scene of Ho Chi Minh City today, with her diverse works in genres: realism, fantasy, detective, historical, children's literature, etc.; and Huynh Trong Khang (1994), a writer who caused a sensation with the release of his debut novel, *The Grave of Youth*, at the age of 22. To date, Trong Khang has added *Sleeping Echoes*, *Buddha in a Small Alley*, *Lonely Moon Sea* (winner of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association's Young Writer Award in 2023), *Butter Is Not for Eating*, *The Forest in a Bottle*… and has also recently released a children's novel, *A Flock of Sheep Flying Across the City*, published by Kim Dong Publishing House.

It's also impossible not to mention Tran Van Thien (born 1999, a graduate of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy). Although he hasn't had any published works yet, his writing ability and initial literary achievements are something everyone must acknowledge and look forward to seeing from this young writer. At the Ho Chi Minh City National University Young Writers' Award, Tran Van Thien consistently received high rankings: first prize in poetry (1st edition, 2022); first prize in short stories and second prize in essays (2nd edition, 2023).

In the realm of poetry, it's impossible not to mention Dang Van Hung (born 1992). Originally from Can Tho City, he moved to Ho Chi Minh City to teach, gradually integrating into the literary scene there. After *Blowing Flowers to the Sea* and *Where the Gardens Sleep*, he recently released his third poetry collection, *Song After the Rain*. Dang Van Hung's poetry captivates readers with its gentle, peaceful glimpses into life, conveyed through concise and evocative words.

In addition, there is Minh Anh (2007) with the A Prize of the 2023 Literature and Arts Award of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations for her poetry collection "A Day from Within"; and Vi Ha (born 2005, student at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City) with the Young Author Award of the Vietnam Writers Association in 2022 for her poetry collection "Searching for Shadows of People".

Tolerance and compromise

What is easily noticeable in the current landscape of young writers in Ho Chi Minh City is the diversity of creative trends. Alongside mainstream literature, there is a vibrant market-oriented literary movement (to use a more general term). These two literary movements do not clash but coexist. Authors do not differentiate between them but respect each other's choices. In the market-oriented literary movement, Lâm Phương Lan (born 1991, a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association) stands out with her series of works such as "Don't Be Angry at Fate," "Who Will Guide Me Through Pain," "The Stepmother," and "Stumbling at 20"...

There are also cases of "playing two roles at once," like author Yang Phan (1994), who won second prize (no first prize awarded) at the 7th Young Writers' Literary Contest with his novel Fragments of Memories. Before that, he used his real name, Pham Anh Tuan, for his psychological novels with detective elements such as The Trap, The Exchange...

In particular, young writers in Ho Chi Minh City demonstrate dynamism and creativity, with almost any theme or genre being explored by the city's young authors. Psychological and detective genres include works by Vo Chi Nhat (born 1993, currently a police lieutenant) with "The Beggar's Cry," "Ashes," "The Case Behind the Footprints," etc.; and Tran Dat Bach Duong (born 1996) with the novel "The Market Fire Project." Meanwhile, female authors like Emma Ha My are pursuing horror themes with "Number of Absent Students in the Classroom 0," "The Storytelling Hotline at 0h"; An An focuses on historical themes like "The Dream of the Early Le Dynasty"; and Nguyen Thi Nhu Hien concentrates on themes based on real life with "Rain Through the Rang Hillside," "Sitting on the Veranda Watching the Sun," etc.

Doan Nguyen Anh Minh (a fourth-year student in the Business Administration department at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking), who has published two poetry collections: "I Learn to Sing Like the Joys I've Chosen" and "No Longer Poetry, I Draw for You Stars I Can't Pluck from the Sky," shared: "What's special is that the flow of poetry in the city is very rich and diverse, coming not only from those born and raised here but also from many people from all over the country who come here to live and study. It is thanks to these conditions that young authors like us can easily connect and learn from each other's experiences."

HO SON

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/vuon-van-tre-da-sac-post793904.html