Love Nha Trang through different perspectives

Launched from February 3 to November 30, 2024 in Khanh Hoa Newspaper, the writing contest "Nha Trang - Memories and Aspirations" has received positive responses from readers inside and outside the province with more than 150 entries sharing memories and expressing aspirations for building a prosperous and happy Nha Trang City. With nearly 50 selected works published in the newspaper, each work is like a story, written with the special emotions and feelings of the authors for the coastal city.

Old corner turned over

Following the entries, it can be seen that the authors have closely followed the theme of the contest when focusing on praising the development achievements in the economic , cultural and social fields of Nha Trang City over 100 years of construction and development, the historical and cultural values ​​​​remained in the coastal city, the beautiful memories of the land and people of Nha Trang. The works also demonstrate the efforts of the government and people of Nha Trang City to build a civilized and modern city. Through the works, readers can imagine a Nha Trang in memory; the change of Nha Trang from a provincial town in the Central region in the post-war period to dynamic development, quickly rising to become a tourist city of Vietnam, a destination for domestic and international tourists, a city of events. Author Nguyen Vinh Xuong, through the work “Nha Trang - The city that has not stopped” , has recreated a Nha Trang that has overcome the years that the whole country has gone through the post-war period, the transformation after the hibernation of the subsidy period and then stepped into the breakthrough period at the beginning of the 21st century to open up new faces. Through the work “The city stretches to welcome the dawn”, author Thuy Ngan goes from the image of a peaceful city, to historical milestones, breakthrough decisions, opening up a big road to the future of the city...

Some entries in the contest were published on Khanh Hoa Electronic Newspaper.

Along with depicting the strong transformation of Nha Trang, the works also vividly reflect the cultural and historical essence of the city in its early days. Readers seem to be able to turn each vivid page of history about a beloved Nha Trang homeland in the past with memories of the Dong Bo base; about an ancient Phuong Sai town with boats on the wharf; about the historical and cultural sediments associated with the Cai Nha Trang estuary; about a mangrove forest that once existed here; or walking on Buu Doa street today, suddenly remember the legendary stories associated with the revolutionary life of the hero named Buu Doa who heroically sacrificed for this land... “For me, the place where Cai River Nha Trang flows into the sea is not only a famous beautiful scene bestowed by nature, but this is also a place where many elements, many layers of sediments typical of the long history and culture of a land converge. Every time I stand on Tran Phu bridge and watch the peaceful river flow into the sea, I often think of the dynamic development of Nha Trang in particular, Khanh Hoa in general, which is currently integrating into the development flow of the country. That association is the emotion that inspired me to write the article "Where Cai River merges into the ocean" - author Hoang Nhat Tuyen shared.

Touch the heart

The works have also touched the hearts of readers deeply with both familiar and strange perspectives, described in a language rich in images, depicting the love of the land and people here. There, Nha Trang appears with the simple beauty of rows of trees by the sea, along Tran Phu street listening to the sun and rain; with the peaceful pace of life in Cua Be fishing village; with cultural features bearing the soul of the coastal village and delicious dishes with the strong taste of the sea... In those small common corners, there is also a private corner of childhood memories nourished by the flavor of family affection, by the melody of the hometown river, the songs of human love... "Urban memories always have a part kept in the souls of residents through many generations. It is a deep flow, always overcoming all events, so that when there is an opportunity, it spreads. The contest "Nha Trang - Memories and aspirations" has created a timely occasion for the emotional veins of urban memories to flow. We see there countless images of the old days, stories of witnesses to the city's transformation over the years, and the rhythm of life, breath, echoes... of the streets from the past until today. The entries, truly precious, are all a part of history hidden in the life story of each individual with many memories, thoughts, contemplations and aspirations... for readers to understand more and love our city more deeply. Rarely has a contest created such a long-lasting echo in the readers' emotions, even after it has ended. Through the contest, we were able to share the story of our friends who grew up in this city with many memories, including the poem "The city has not stopped" by poet Giang Nam. Perhaps the love for Nha Trang mixed with the love of couples in this poem created very special emotions, and then followed us throughout our lives. Making us see that each stage of our lives is associated with a period of change in the city" - author Nguyen Vinh Xuong expressed.

Not only attracting a team of authors, artists, and students in the province to participate, the contest also spread to readers in many provinces and cities in the country to share their love for this land in their own way. Author Duc Minh ( Ho Chi Minh City) forever remembers a moment of dawn on the beach in Nha Trang, so that he always knows that even if he returns to the hustle and bustle of life in his crowded city, the memory of an autumn morning on the beach in Nha Trang will always be a beautiful memory, where he finds peace in his soul. For author Cam Thu (Quang Ngai), the love for Nha Trang gradually permeated her through the stories of a childhood friend about this beloved city - Nha Trang of a person who came and went, but each time he left, he loved Nha Trang more and more, calling his footsteps to return many more times... Many authors have continued their own emotional flow, or found harmony with other authors to have articles expressing many perspectives about the coastal city, touching the emotions and feelings of readers.

In addition, the works also express aspirations, demonstrating the vision of a modern, green and sustainable Nha Trang in the future. That is the aspiration for an international coastal resort city, a financial and commercial center of Southeast Asia stature; or the desire for more green spaces in the coastal city; the desire for everyone to join hands to preserve traditional values ​​by evoking the history of formation and development of the homeland rich and beautiful in values, identity and tradition... Those aspirations are not only personal but also demonstrate the spirit of solidarity and responsibility of the whole community in building a livable Nha Trang.

It can be said that the writing contest “Nha Trang - Memories and Aspirations” is not only a cultural playground, a place for Nha Trang people in particular, and from all over the country in general, to express their feelings for their homeland, to send ideas for the city’s future development, but also a bridge between Khanh Hoa Newspaper and readers, to spread and promote the land and people here. And above all, with the written pages, vivid and multi-dimensional perspectives, the contest not only brings many valuable documents, preserving beautiful memories associated with Nha Trang City, but also guides readers to unite and join hands to contribute to building their homeland on new paths.

The contest was organized by Khanh Hoa Newspaper in collaboration with Nha Trang City People's Committee to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the construction and development of Nha Trang City (1924 - 2024), 15 years of Nha Trang being recognized as a class I city under Khanh Hoa province (2009 - 2024). At the end of the contest, the Jury proposed that the Organizing Committee award 11 prizes to outstanding works. Of which, there is 1 first prize, 2 second prizes, 3 third prizes and 5 consolation prizes.

DANG QUYNH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202506/yeu-nha-trang-qua-nhung-goc-nhin-2417c76/