Ho Tan Vu, Le Phi - from the foggy region to the journey back

Journalist Le Phi (left cover) and the author of the article at the launch of the story collection "Going Backwards"

I have known Ho Tan Vu since 2005-2006, when he had just quit his job as a marketing staff of a ballpoint pen manufacturing company to pursue journalism. At that time, he was taking the first steps in writing articles for the Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper, and then, his life-filled reports conveyed in soft literary language led him to Tuoi Tre Newspaper, until today.

Journalist Ho Tan Vu (right cover) at the launch of the novel "Foggy Area, Deep Tunnel and Deserted Island"

As for Le Phi, I first met him when he was a student interning at Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper - where I was a resident reporter. Later, Phi joined the Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper, became colleagues, worked together, struggled together, and played together with all our heart.

Another thing in common is that Vu and Phi, along with me and 16 other reporters, were all on the voyage from Tien Sa port to Hoang Sa during the Hai Duong 981 incident. The first reporters to be present at this event.

Journalist Le Phi at the book launch on the morning of July 5

Both Vu and Phi were absent for a long time. And then, both reappeared with a collection of novels and short stories. Ho Tan Vu with the novel Vầm sương phủ, Thâm Thâm và Đảo Không . Le Phi with the short story collection Đi lại . One chose the midland and mountainous space of Quang Nam; the other was attached to the countryside of Chua Khe, Nghe An. Although different in writing style, approach, character building, and literary terrain, the common point is easy to recognize: both stepped from the reality of journalistic life to enter the literary realm - where the "truth" is not only told, but also felt, lived, and thought about, conveyed through fictional language.

As journalists, both Ho Tan Vu and Le Phi have traveled a lot, met a lot, have a rich life experience, and have written about stories that are very similar to the material in their novels and short stories. But the special point lies in the fact that they do not mechanically transform journalism into literature. The truth they bring to literature has been filtered, fictionalized, and pushed to the level of symbolism.

Both authors are “people of the Central region” – not only geographically, but also spiritually. In Ho Tan Vu, there is an extension of the Quang Nam writing style – quiet, thoughtful, rich in memories and especially the human condition in the fog of memories.

In Le Phi, it is easy to recognize the underground literary stream of Nghe An with its tradition of reflection, awareness of the ego and desire for change. Phi is not pathetic but always gives the characters choices, even the opposite choices. Phi's language is simple and rough, but always has a soft spot - that is the quiet belief in humanity.

NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ho-tan-vu-le-phi-tu-vung-suong-phu-den-chuyen-di-nguoc-post802612.html