The city appears through children's eyes
Launched right on the occasion of the city celebrating the half-century milestone named after Uncle Ho, the poetry collection "City of Strange Things" co-published by Tran Le Books and Vietnam Women's Publishing House quickly attracted attention with its close and emotional approach.
For author Ho Huy Son, this is not only a collection of children's poems but also a thank you to the city he has been attached to for the past 17 years. Born in Nghe An but growing up in a living and working environment in Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Huy Son chose to tell the story of this urban area with a childish look.
In "City of Strange Things", familiar landmarks such as Turtle Lake, Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Tan Son Nhat airport or Nguyen Hue flower street appear through concise, musical poems. The city therefore does not appear from a rigid perspective of geography or history, but is like a colorful stroll for children.
The noteworthy point is that the author not only writes about the scenery but also skillfully incorporates cultural and human stories of Saigon. Images of people wrapping banh chung to send to flood victims or the term "sesame flower" of Southern people are incorporated into poetry gently and naturally.
Poet Le Thieu Nhon commented that Ho Huy Son has the important thing of a writer for children: Maintaining an innocent gaze and love for children. Thanks to that, his poetry does not impose moral lessons but opens up imagination for readers.
Besides the content, illustrations by young artist Lac An also contribute to creating attraction for the book. Bright colors make the city appear closer and more vivid in the eyes of young readers.
Book pages preserving Saigon memories
If "City of Strange Things" tells city stories with childish emotions, then the book series "From Saigon - Gia Dinh to Ho Chi Minh City" by Tre Publishing House opens up a journey to explore urban history and memories through many generations of scholars and writers.
Prominent among them are works by scholar Vuong Hong Sen such as "Saigon in the Past", "Sài Gòn tạp pín lù", "Saigon Under My Eyes". With a simple narrative, he preserves the everyday cultural features of old Saigon through each alley, folk hobbies or urban lifestyle.
The works of researcher Nguyen Dinh Dau or writer Son Nam continue to add perspectives on the Southern land opening process, cultural intersection and the generous personality of Saigon people.
In the field of memory literature, Le Van Nghia brings readers back to classrooms, small hamlets and the river of childhood through works rich in nostalgia about the city.
It can be seen that, from children's poetry to historical research, each book is recounting its own story about Ho Chi Minh City. It is not only the story of a city of more than 300 years old, but also the memories, feelings and attachment of many generations to the city named after Uncle Ho.
