"Writing history" in the middle of the jungle

Rooted in literature and history

One wet afternoon on the only road through Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Mr. Tuan took the opportunity to sit down and rest by a small stream while patrolling the forest. His backpack was placed next to a tree, his rubber sandals were covered in mud. He took out a small notebook and began to write. Amidst the sound of gurgling water and the strong wind of the forest, lines of words appeared, rough but full of emotions. He did not want those sudden emotions to pass by like a gust of wind from the jungle, because who knows, they might become the material for an upcoming short story.

Although he is a forestry officer, Tuan's passion for literature and history came to him very early. He said that he was fascinated with history from a young age, first through movies, then through literary works inspired by history. "Every event, every character brings me a strange attraction. History is not dry numbers, but behind it are fates, messages, and lessons that still carry the breath of the times. Literature helps me convey history so that ancient stories are not buried under the dust of time," Tuan shared.

Nguyen Anh Tuan gives books to children in the border commune of Thuong Trach, Quang Tri province - Photo: QN

In the 9C class specializing in Literature - History - Geography at Quach Xuan Ky Secondary School (2007), a special memory changed Tuan's direction. Initially, he was placed in the Biology team, but due to a mistake, the school switched to the Literature team. The teacher encouraged him: "Just try your best." Perhaps from that moment, as if by fate, the love for Literature and History took root in him.

Mr. Tuan graduated with honors in Economic Law from the University of Law, Hue University, 2011-2015. During his years of studying here, he was admitted to the Party, which was an important milestone in his self-improvement, not only in professional knowledge but also in life ideals and social responsibility. Tuan shared: “For me, being in the ranks of the Party is not only a great honor but also a motivation to live more responsibly, knowing how to put the common good above the individual. From the Party cell meetings, I learned perseverance, the spirit of sharing and the desire to contribute. That is the luggage for me to enter the work of protecting forests and writing literature with all the enthusiasm of a young Party member.”

In addition to his professional work related to forest management and protection, Mr. Tuan is currently Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union, Secretary of the Central Youth Union, and also undertakes many important responsibilities in the Party organization.

Keep memories through footsteps and writings

For nearly 10 years of working, Mr. Tuan has been recognized many times with certificates of merit and certificates of merit from the province and the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board. In 2023, he was honored as an Advanced Youth following Uncle Ho's teachings. However, when mentioning his own achievements, Mr. Tuan always humbly said that compared to his colleagues who are directly involved in the area, he is still small and has much more to learn.

In the primeval forests, Mr. Tuan always sees the shadow of history. There are days when he patrols the forest, his notebook has only a few lines, each letter still has the moisture of the forest. "The writer writes not only with pen, but also with sweat and footsteps", Mr. Tuan said. He still remembers one time when he went to the forest, the precious little notebook, where many memories and documents were kept, was suddenly washed away by the water, leaving behind an endless regret.

With the short story "Luy Thay Khoi Lua", Nguyen Anh Tuan (4th, from left) was awarded the B prize at the Literary and Artistic Creation Campaign to celebrate the 420th anniversary of the formation of Quang Binh province (old), held in 2024 - Photo: QN

Every time he met a witness who had been through the war, he listened attentively and then took notes to include in his work. A typical example is the short story “Phong Nha Love Story” about the love story of a young man with a “landlord background” and a young volunteer girl who overcame bombs and prejudice, which left an impression on readers.

In 2023, his essay “Sending Nostalgia to Distant Osaka” won first prize in the “Reunion Tet” writing contest organized by Dan Viet Newspaper. A year later, his short story “Fire and Smoke at Luy Thay” about a famous military project during the Trinh-Nguyen War won second prize in the Literature and Arts Creation Campaign commemorating the 420th anniversary of the founding of Quang Binh Province (old). There, readers can see both the smoke and fire of war and the anxious eyes of a mother waiting for news of her child.

“Nguyen Anh Tuan is a Forestry officer, but he is dedicated to historical topics, a rather sensitive field. With his efforts, learning spirit and persistently cultivating his writing, Tuan has many works that have left their mark, achieved success and created trust among readers. In particular, he has a harmonious combination of the responsibility of a young party member with the desire to create, turning each step and page into a story about responsibility, memory and ideals. Nguyen Anh Tuan is a young face who adds a voice to the flow of historical literature today,” said writer Nguyen Thi Le Na, Vice President in charge of the Quang Tri Literature and Arts Association, Editor-in-Chief of Nhat Le Magazine.

For Mr. Tuan, literature is also a way to preserve memories, along with the work of protecting forests and heritage. “I write with the hope of preserving some memories for today’s youth to remember. The words are often not complete, but to be able to hold a pen and record them, to me that is luck and happiness,” he confided.

Mr. Pham Hong Thai, Director of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board, shared: “Nguyen Anh Tuan is a young, responsible and enthusiastic cadre. In his work of protecting the forest as well as in his writings, Tuan always shows his dedication, passion and spirit of constant striving. In him, we clearly see his efforts to study and follow Uncle Ho's teachings through simple, persistent actions every day.”

Mr. Tuan's silent footsteps in the middle of the forest and the persistent writings on his desk remind us that love for the country and national history always begins with simple things like that.

Quang Ngoc

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/202510/viet-su-giua-dai-ngan-5560503/