Author Hoàng Nam Tiến’s Story Of Converting Family Letters Into Published Work

Hoàng Nam Tiến serves as Chairman of FPT Software, FPT Telecom, and FPT Group. Presently, he holds the position of Vice President at FPT University, concentrating on postgraduate training initiatives. Apart from his established roles as an administrator, technology specialist, and educator, Tiến has taken on a new role as the author of the book Thư cho em.

After 18 months of work and 16 revisions, Thư cho em was born. It’s based on 400 letters exchanged between Hoàng Nam Tiến’s parents, Major General Hoàng Đan and An Vinh, during their time apart due to war, until they both grew old.

During his conversation with host Thùy Minh on the Have A Sip podcast, Hoàng Nam Tiến shared about an enduring love that withstood three resistance wars. He also conveyed a message of encouragement to the younger generation, hoping to spread Vietnamese wisdom globally.

A Couple’s Love Story Is Filled With Love For Their Country

As time passes, the letters may have aged, yet the beautiful and simple love story between two individuals remains unchanged. Handwritten letters serve as promises that have traversed significant historical events of the nation, from expressions like "Win this battle, I must marry you" before the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954, to sentiments like "See you on victory day" one month before the country’s unification day in 1975.

This reveals deeply meaningful scenes: A soldier, before heading off to war, writes a letter with hope for a triumphant return, cycled more than 1,300 kilometers to propose to his beloved, and patiently waits for their partner to prioritize work before starting a family. It embodies qualities of understanding, respect, tolerance, and mutual encouragement for personal growth and development.

His father believes that true love involves more than just gazing into each other’s eyes; it requires holding hands and moving forward together in harmony.

His father, a revolutionary soldier, held a straightforward aspiration: He went to war with the desire to secure peace for his small family and children. His messages to his beloved reflected this sentiment: "If I go to fight, you, my darling, will live in peace in Hanoi," or "I must fight so my children won’t have to."

Embracing ‘Chill’ with Purpose

Each individual interprets the words "ideal" or "mission" differently. Nowadays, when considering ideals, many tend to associate them with distant aspirations, like a shirt that’s too large for them.

Hence, they don’t often discuss ideals but rather prioritize self-indulgence, often using the phrase "Just chill" for encouragement. However, Tiến believes that the term "chill" is overused, leading many to drift aimlessly, letting days pass without purpose or motivation to strive for more.

Yet, you can still chill by calmly appreciating the scenery and capturing beautiful photos to share with friends worldwide, allowing them to glimpse the majestic and poetic essence of Vietnam.

This could involve visiting remote and breathtaking locations in Vietnam, such as the Tây Côn Lĩnh Mountain in Hà Giang, which is home to an ancient Shan Tuyết tea tree over 700 years old. Alternatively, you could venture to challenging areas to distribute treats and read books to children, spreading joy in the process.

He also advocates for living a happy life, pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, and taking on new challenges. "Living well" is also pretty simple: aim to plan at least one memorable event per week, whether it’s reading a book, dining at a new restaurant while traveling, or taking a road trip to unfamiliar areas.

Becoming ‘a Circle’ That Continually Adapts To Any Scenario

Formerly serving as Chairman of FPT Software and FPT Telecom, he played a pivotal role in the growth of FPT Group. During the early stages, when FPT Software only employed 5,000 individuals, he ambitiously aimed to expand the team to 30,000—a vision deemed unrealistic by many.

Through the collective efforts of the team, this ambition was realized, with FPT Software reaching its goal and welcoming its 30,001st member in March of this year. Tiến believes that pursuing a passion requires determination, perseverance, patience, and tenacity to achieve the final goal.

He likened stubbornness and personal ego to angles in a square, contributing to each person’s unique qualities and identity. However, he suggests that the laws of nature, such as the spherical shape of celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and countless planets, necessitate flexibility and adaptability for survival.

You may embody the sharpness of a square, steadfast in upholding your principles, but without alertness and the ability to "sway" according to circumstances, you risk being surpassed. Conversely, lacking firmness and boundaries can lead to being "rounded" and losing one’s identity.

Tiến elaborated on the concept of happiness, emphasizing that it is a continuous search throughout life.

He highlighted the significance of discovering a book that captivates you, evoking a sense of deep immersion in happiness each time you revisit its pages. Drawing from this notion, he delved into his parents’ handwritten letters, committing them to memory and immortalizing their wartime love story for today’s youth through the pages of the Thư cho em.

Translated by Thúy An

Watch the full episode here