From August 25 to 28, Thiềng Liềng Island, Thạnh An Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, garnered aspiring young writers during the creative writing camp “Taking Off with Literature” 2025, a highlight of “Youth Literature Award” of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM). After three seasons (2022-2024), this year’s program offered fresh creative experiences, with poetic material fueling the imagination of talented young writers.
Organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-HCM (USSH, VNU-HCM), with strong direction from the Board of Rectors, close coordination of the Office of Communications and Event Management, and academic guidance from Dr. Hồ Khánh Vân, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Literature, the camp was a strong success, bringing together outstanding young writers who achieved high rewards from the previous seasons.
The journey began with a solemn visit to the Memorial Temple of the Rừng Sác Revolutionary Martyrs, which was once a tragic yet heroic battlefield. This serves as a profound reminder that all literary creativity must be nurtured by the roots of history and culture of the nation. Participants also visited Thiềng Liềng Border Guard Station, meeting officers and gaining deeper insights into the work of safeguarding peace.
Participants offer incense at the Temple of the Fallen Heroes of the Rừng Sác Revolutionary Base - Photo: Văn Học Trẻ
University leaders, faculty members, and participants visit the Thiềng Liềng Border Guard Station - Photo: Văn Học Trẻ
Under the guidance of leading experts, including literary researcher Phan Nhật Chiêu, journalist Dương Thành Truyền (Chairman of the Members’ Council, Youth Publishing House), writer Trịnh Bích Ngân (Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association, Standing Committee member of the Vietnam Writers’ Association), and poet Phan Hoàng (Executive Committee member of the Vietnam Writers’ Association), participants engaged in a series of literary seminars, providing fresh perspectives and inspiration for the young pens.
The program commenced with the seminar “Vietnamese Language - The Source of Literary Creativity”, where journalist Dương Thành Truyền emphasized that language is what nourishes emotions and identity. Through the seminar “Creativity on the Borderlines of Genres”, Scholar Phan Nhật Chiêu guided young writers to continuously innovate so that literature never becomes “rigid” in terms of genre choice. Concluding the camp was the seminar “From Playground to Runway: How Can Young Literature Take Off?” featuring poet Phan Hoàng and writer Trịnh Bích Ngân, who highlighted three golden keys for young literature enthusiasts to truly take flight: passion, competence, and a unique literary style.
Journalist Dương Thành Truyền, Chairman of the Members’ Council of Trẻ Publishing House, speaking at the seminar “Vietnamese Language - The Source of Literary Creativity” - Photo: Văn Học Trẻ
Scholar Phan Nhật Chiêu, former member of the Council for Literary Criticism and Translation, Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association (7th term), sharing at the seminar “Creativity on the Borderlines of Genres” - Photo: Văn Học Trẻ
Writer Trịnh Bích Ngân, Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association, Standing Committee Member of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, and poet Phan Hoàng, Executive Committee Member of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, speaking at the seminar “From Playground to Runway: How Can Young Literature Take Off?” - Photo: Văn Học Trẻ
Thiềng Liềng itself became a living source of creativity, as it allowed participants to draw inspiration from experiencing the daily lives of local residents, visiting salt fields, mangrove forests, or the Ngũ Hành Temple, and climbing Giồng Chùa mountain.
The participants experienced the salt fields, explored the mangrove forests, and together conquered Giồng Chùa Mountain - Photo: Văn Học Trẻ
As night fell, the island transformed into a stage of poetry and emotion.
Participants and speakers recited poetry, transforming personal emotions into a shared voice - Photo: Văn Học Trẻ
The Gala “Taking Off with Literature” - creatively staged by Dr. Hồ Khánh Vân and the Communications Office - blended performances by the campers with heartfelt reflections from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Hoàng Dũng, Vice Rector of USSH, who affirmed: “‘Taking Off with Literature’ is not only a creative playground but also a dedicated effort to nurture and develop youth literature.”
Performances evoked a wide range of emotions: innocence with Lý Thiềng Liềng, poignancy with Nguyễn Ngọc Tư’s Ơi Cải về đâu, and joy with Voices of East Asia. The evening concluded with a surprise birthday celebration for students and faculty born in autumn, adding warmth and lasting memories to the event.
Dr. Lê Hoàng Dũng affirmed: “Taking off with Literature is not merely a creative playground, but also an effort and dedication to nurture and develop youth literature.” - Photo: Văn Học Trẻ
The Gala “Taking off with Literature” brought a wide range of emotions to participants, faculty, and guests - Photo: Văn Học Trẻ
The camp ended, but the journey of youth literature continues. From Thiềng Liềng, young writers discovered new wings - wings of life and aspiration - ready to soar higher across the boundless sky of literature.
Some images of the event:
Source: AN NAM - VĂN HỌC TRẺ
Translated by: Như Quỳnh Lý