Spring of female writers of Van Khoa - seen from a cultural address

According to the book Modern Vietnamese Writers (Writers Association Publishing House, 2020), out of a total of 1,623 members (including more than 200 female members), there are 134 members from the Faculty of Literature, Hanoi University of Science (now Hanoi National University). Of these 134 members, there are 35 female writers from three main majors: Poetry (15), Literature (11), Theory - Criticism and Translation (9). Spring comes, my heart wants to sketch out sharp sketches of the formation of a block of strength and their talent within the tradition of the Faculty of Literature. So when talking about "Writers of the Faculty of Literature", people often think of writers from Hanoi University of Science. As history has recorded: On October 10, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh signed a decree to establish the University of Literature (at that time called the Faculty of Literature, a short time later, the document of the Ministry of National Education stated that it was the University of Literature under the Vietnam National University in Hanoi).
In the field of prose, a team of 11 female writers emerged with names that have become familiar to readers nationwide: Hong Due, Vu Thi Hong, Le Phuong Lien, Le Thanh Nga, Nguyen Phuong Lien, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hai, Nguyen Thi Thu Hue, Thu Trang, Vo Thi Hao, Vo Thi Xuan Ha, Vu Minh Nguyet. Among them, there are those who lived through the war in the "red fire and cold water" period such as Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hai, Hong Due (1944-2015), Vu Thi Hong. Their works therefore have the bitter taste of life, the nobility of the spirit of dedication, a writing style that is always calm, simple, and self-possessed, not at all noisy and bustling like the younger generation later. They wrote about a time to live, a time to love in the midst of bullets and fire. The characters in their works are ordinary people, with many experiences, carrying within them the extraordinary qualities of the times. Their literature tends towards beauty and heroism. The later generations such as Le Phuong Lien, Thu Trang, Le Thanh Nga, Nguyen Thi Thu Hue, Nguyen Phuong Lien, Vo Thi Hao, Vo Thi Xuan Ha, Vu Minh Nguyet, were widely exposed to the atmosphere of Literary Renovation, so their pens seemed more enthusiastic and liberal. Their writings aimed at all aspects of everyday life, but at the same time did not forget to raise a strong and passionate feminist voice. In the literary world, it is confirmed that the "array" of female prose writers with many achievements today often cannot lack the names of female writers from the Faculty of Literature such as Vo Thi Xuan Ha, Vo Thi Hao, Nguyen Thi Thu Hue. Some people call this the "Xe - Phao - Ma" trio in the short story village. In our opinion, saying that is not too much. The literary research community still confirms that "Prose is the facade of Literature Renovation". Some people even compare "Vietnamese literature with a female face" (meaning to talk about the humane, delicate, balanced, harmonious qualities and many spiritual elements of literature). Female writers have strengths in short stories – a genre that directs the writer’s perspective towards the beauty of balance, harmony, and moderation. Female writers of the Faculty of Literature have truly contributed to “raising” the national short story in modern times. If we talk about the future of the Vietnamese short story genre, it is the female writers of the Faculty of Literature who have made many efforts to design and weave that future.

In the field of poetry, the female poets of the Faculty of Literature, Hanoi University of Science have emerged with the names of Bui Sim Sim, Bui Thi Xuan Mai, Doan Thi Ngoc Bach, Doan Ngoc Thu, Ha Phuong, Hoang Kim Dung, Le Minh Hoai, Le Thu, Nguyen Thi Hong, Phan Huyen Thu, Tran Thi Thang, Truong Thi Kim Dung, Tuyet Nga, Y Nhi, Trang Thanh. The "senior" class in poetry such as Le Thu, Y Nhi, Nguyen Thi Hong, Ha Phuong are prominent poetic faces in the modern literary world. For example, poet Le Thu, in 1975, directly participated in the liberation and takeover of Quy Nhon town, Binh Dinh. She was a delegate of the 9th National Assembly (1992-1997), former President of the Binh Dinh Literature and Arts Association. Poet Le Thu owns 10 poetry collections. Her poetry is imbued with the inspiration of civic lyricism, but does not diminish her own lyricism. Poetry does not escape life because it is firmly rooted in the evergreen tree of life. Y Nhi is a talented poet. She is considered one of the poets of the post-war Renovation period. Her poetry is passionate but not weak, deep but not mysterious, has the beauty of loneliness but not isolation, and many beautiful sorrows. She has written 10 poetry collections and received the Vietnam Writers Association Award in 1986 for her poetry collection The Woman Sitting Knitting. In 2015, she was honored to receive the Cikada Literature Award from Sweden. Few people know that she is also a fan of football, often cheering for national teams with handsome players such as France, Italy, and Spain. The younger generation of poets who thrive in the atmosphere of literary Renovation include Tuyet Nga, Doan Ngoc Thu, and Phan Huyen Thu. Someone called this the "three-legged stool" of contemporary female poetry, which is not too much. However, the one who caused the most stir in the poetry scene was Phan Huyen Thu with three poetry collections that heated up public opinion every time they appeared (Lying on the Side, Hollow Chest, Independent Scar). If possible, it should be considered that these are the poet's explorations and experiments that may not have reached their destination. Tuyet Nga received the Vietnam Writers Association Award in 2003 for her poetry collection Illusion. Tuyet Nga is a poet of many identities. The overcoming of fate reflected in her poetry is profound and subtle. Doan Ngoc Thu can be considered a "2 in 1" phenomenon (journalism and poetry, both fields are outstanding). There are people who have become famous in silence such as Le Minh Hoai, Truong Thi Kim Dung, Hoang Kim Dung, Bui Thi Xuan Mai, Doan Thi Ngoc Bach. Their poetry is modest, discreet, elegant, and profound. Poetry is like whispering voices, soulmates and confidants. There are many aftertastes and reverberations. Many people are worried about "Where is poetry going?" in the context of audiovisual culture overwhelming reading culture. But if it is good, poetry still exists properly as a noble and sacred art of language. Fortunately, female poets of the Faculty of Literature are the owners of many good poems (although poetry is difficult to sell today, it is Beauty, a precious Gift of nature to mankind).
The team of literary theory, criticism, and translation has fewer young people than poetry and prose. It is also a natural rule, because this field requires a high level of accumulation, a lot of experience, and patient training in writing, and often appears late in the literary world. Fortunately, in the team of literary theory, criticism, and translation today, female writers from the Faculty of Literature, Hanoi National University have made many important contributions. Their names have been shaped in the readers' memories: Bich Thu, Luu Khanh Tho, Ly Hoai Thu, Mai Huong, Ngoc Trai, Nguyen Thi Minh Thai, Thanh Duc Trinh Bao, Thieu Mai, Ton Phuong Lan. Writer Ngoc Trai, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Van Nghe Newspaper, is now in her 90s. She does not write many criticisms, not continuously. But as the ancients said, "Quý quý là tinh, không quý hồ nữ" (Quý sách nhà văn Nguyễn Tuân) is widely received by readers and has been reprinted many times. The work demonstrates a professional and careful working style, combining "literary" and "real life" qualities. She was also an active social activist in the Vietnam Red Cross Society. Writer Thieu Mai (1935-1995), former Head of the Criticism and Theory Department of the Literature and Arts newspaper, was a methodical, serious, disciplined, and profound critic. During her lifetime, she always kept in mind that "Literary criticism is like a winding river between the two banks of Science and Art" (Confession). The "group" of female critics emerged after Doi Moi (1986), including Mai Huong, Ton Phuong Lan, Bich Thu, Nguyen Thi Minh Thai, Ly Hoai Thu, and Luu Khanh Tho. These are 6 female writers with high academic titles and degrees (all Associate Professors and Doctors). They are lecturers at Hanoi National University and senior researchers at the Institute of Literature. They escaped the so-called "academic institute", or even as someone said, "academic tycoons" to live with contemporary literature. Their subject is modern Vietnamese literature (in different movements, styles, and genres). Their works do not have the grand scale of the "bearded" generation. Of course. In return, there is the depth and sophistication of poetry appreciation and literary criticism. The concept of "Generation of writers after 1975" was recently raised in a national scientific conference, I think, with the names of female writers from the Faculty of Literature, Hanoi University of Science (Writer Bich Thu wrote a full and profound essay - Female research and criticism writers after 1975). Writers Bich Thu and Ly Hoai Thu both received the Award of the Central Council for Literature and Arts Theory and Criticism in 2015 and 2016. Literary translator Thanh Duc Trinh Bao focuses on modern Chinese literature in the translation process. It is a great literature, close to us because of cultural similarities. Literary translation is a difficult artistic labor. Many readers love the translation of the Lu Xun Literary Award-winning collection of Chinese Short Stories by translator Thanh Duc Trinh Bao.
Spring is coming, Tet is coming, I would like to share with readers near and far an image of 35 female writers from the Faculty of Literature, Hanoi University of Science (now Hanoi National University), we can also affectionately call them female writers of the Faculty of Literature./.
Hanoi, December 2023