‘My Viet Bac’: Memories of a land of affection by author Thang Sac
WVR - On April 22, at the Writers' Association Publishing House, author Thang Sac launched the collection "My Viet Bac", recreating memories of a challenging yet affectionate resistance era.
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| Author Thang Sac speaking at the launch of "My Viet Bac". (Photo: Thu Trang) |
The launch event was attended by former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers' Association; Madame Ho The Lan, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1987-1996; Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, along with a large number of diplomats, writers, literary critics, and literature enthusiasts.
Slices of memory from history
The collection My Viet Bac comprises 12 short stories and essays, beginning with a short story of the same name and concluding with pages about romantic affection.
Author Nguyen Xuan Thuy remarked that the book is like a “museum of spiritual memories,” where cultural assets are refined through the lens of someone who has traveled the world and returned to reflect on their roots.
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| The work "My Viet Bac". (Photo: Thu Trang) |
Instead of dry historical concepts, author Thang Sac takes readers back to vivid slices of life, from the detail of a child being breastfed by a foster mother during the resistance to haunting scenes of denunciation told through the eyes of a 7-year-old boy.
Critic Hoang Dang Khoa praised the author's ability to "thaw" history from conventional assumptions, not directly judging but creating pages full of humanity for readers to reflect and dialogue.
History in Thang Sac's literature is not confined like textbooks but always opens up as he conceives: “Memories not only come from the past but also walk into the present.”
Vietnamese identity – The pillar for diplomats
Author Thang Sac (real name Nguyen Chien Thang) is a unique figure in the Vietnamese literary community, where sharp political thinking and a refined artistic sensibility converge.
As a member of the Vietnam Writers' Association, he boasts a vast literary career with numerous notable novels, short stories, and essays such as Ngu cu; Chu Tu'; Con la ai; Lang gieng; Di trong loc xoay; Nhung doa sen mau xanh; Nhung ngay khong em; Chop mat cung so phan; Chuyen nghe, chuyen nghiep ngoai giao (co-authored), Chuyen ke cua mot dai su.
Thang Sac's creative mark extends beyond the page with the Mekong Literary Award 2010, and his works have been adapted into films and television. However, behind this literary legacy is a life devoted to the nation as a veteran diplomat, having served as Vietnam's Ambassador to France, Algeria, and Cambodia.
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| Madame. Ho The Lan reminiscing about memories with the author. (Photo: Thu Trang) |
At the launch event, Ambassador Nguyen Chien Thang's portrait became clearer through colleagues' stories. Madame Ho The Lan was moved when recalling a memory from 1973, when the young Ambassador quietly repatriated the body of a journalist colleague who perished in a plane crash from Algeria.
This inherent kindness is the red thread running from his life into his literature, helping him discover the shimmering beauty of humanity even in life's hidden corners.
Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu affirmed that Thang Sac chose to "make life into literature," quietly listening and understanding Vietnamese humanity. Despite having served in many terms in France or Algeria, he chose to return to his homeland, believing that a deep connection with the country is the most solid foundation for a diplomat.
“I write, therefore I am”
At the age of 80, Ambassador Nguyen Chien Thang shared profound reflections on his motivation to write. Borrowing the famous proposition of René Descartes, he affirmed: “J'écris, donc je suis – I write, therefore I am.”
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| The atmosphere was filled with emotion at the book launch. (Photo: Thu Trang) |
For him, writing is not just a passion but also a way to hold onto what time intends to take away. Despite having engaged in foreign affairs in France, Algeria, or Cambodia, he chose to write about the country because the memories here are profound enough to become literature.
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| A large number of diplomats, writers, literary critics, and literature enthusiasts. |
However, it is the diplomatic profession that provided him with the context and a compassionate perspective to reflect on his characters. His distinction between the pen name Thang Sac for fiction and his real name Nguyen Chien Thang for professional stories is a commitment to honesty and responsibility as a diplomat in life.
Touching the hearts of the young
The event not only impressed those of the same generation but also resonated with the youth. An Khanh, a former student of the Diplomatic Academy, expressed emotion over the harmony between historical experience and the author's simple language.
An Khanh shared: “Mr. Thang's prose not only touches emotions but also creates a space for young people to reflect on the complex yet compassionate reality through the character Linh in Passport of Love.”
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| Author Thang Sac taking photos with delegates and young attendees at the event. (Photo: Thu Trang) |
Concluding the book launch, the veteran Ambassador conveyed a message: “To love is to trust. Trust is the passport of love.”
This message is not only for couples but also a lesson for those in diplomacy: One must have faith in the identity, culture, and people of Vietnam to confidently bring the homeland to the world. Thus, the work My Viet Bac has become a bridge connecting trust and love between generations.
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