Although the Vietnam War ended decades ago, its impact is still lingering, haunting the older generations. Yet, for those born into peace, the pain and suffering of war remain incomprehensible and distant. How could we help younger generations connect with the stories of the past, hence inspiring them to appreciate the present and contribute to a better future of Vietnam?
Nguyễn Một, a prominent figure in the Vietnam Writers Association and author of books like Đất Trời Vần Vũ and Chim Bay Về Núi, answers this question in his new novel Từ Chín Giờ Đến Sáu Giờ. The book, which he spent over 11 years writing, offers a raw, unflinching look at the realities of the war through the eyes of innocent lives.
In this episode of the Have A Sip podcast, Nguyễn Một shared his belief in the potential of the younger generation, along with his reflections on literature, love, and life.
Finding Meaning In Hardship
Born amid the bombings and stray bullets of wartime, Nguyễn Một’s life was marked by tragedy from the start. His father died before he was born, and when he was just four years old, his mother was killed by a stray bullet. To this day, he doesn’t know his own birthday, as reflected in one of his poems:
"Tôi lớn lên rong ruổi những cuộc tình
Chưa có cô gái nào biết tôi chào đời vào bình minh hay đêm tối
Bởi chính mẹ tôi còn không nhớ nổi
Thì làm sao tôi trả lời câu hỏi của em”
A loose translation:
Growing up, I wander along with love
But no lady knows when I was born, at sunrise or nightfall
A thing that even my mom can’t remember
Then how could I give you the answer
Because life was so harsh, he once dreamed of escaping to a different reality. Orphaned at a young age, he had no choice but to work multiple jobs—teaching and riding his bicycle for miles with a box of ice cream to sell in order to make ends meet. Faced with such adversity, he had no option but to accept his fate and focus on improving his life. He believed it was his mission to contribute to humanity and lessen its suffering through his words.
This belief inspired him to write Từ Chín Giờ Đến Sáu Giờ—a message for the younger generation. His book allows them to take a glimpse into the resilience of their ancestors in wartime, hence inspiring them to better appreciate the present and contribute to the future of their country.
Relentless Dedication To Every Word
During his challenging years to make ends meet, Nguyen Mot found solace in reading. He read everything he could find, from the text on bread wrappers to books in the library. His grandmother often teased him for being "obsessed with words."
When he transitioned to a writing career, his passion for words only deepened. That’s why it took him 11 years to wrap up Từ Chín Giờ Đến Sáu Giờ. In the process of writing this novel, Nguyen Mot put great effort in researching and even moved to Tây Ninh for quite a time to seek new perspectives for his work. He refused to let his writing be shallow or sloppy, reasoning, "If the words aren’t well-crafted, who will want to read them?"
Nowadays, young people are equipped with technology, which provides them with many ways to access information—from smartphones to televisions—beyond just reading books. With such easy access to information, it becomes increasingly clear just how vast the available knowledge is, making it impossible to absorb everything. Therefore, it's valuable for young people to take in even a small portion of this immense pool of knowledge.
He remains optimistic, stating, "We often complain that the young aren't as good as previous generations, but how can that be true when the world keeps evolving?"