Expressing gratitude through literary and artistic works

Through the expressive languages of poetry, music, fine arts, photography, and stage performances, many artists and writers in Dong Nai have paid heartfelt tribute to fallen heroes, wounded soldiers and revolutionary contributors. Their works embody profound artistic and ideological values. 

Artists and performers from the Dong Nai Arts Theatre perform songs honoring fallen heroes and martyrs to serve local audiences across the city.

Each work contributes to recreating the nation’s heroic memories, nurturing love for the homeland, fostering gratitude, and inspiring today’s and future generations to cherish and safeguard peace.

When memories of war live on inpoetry and music

Although the war has long been over, memories of those heroic years and the sacrifices made by previous generations continue to inspire many writers and artists in Dong Nai. In the poem July Rain, poet Mai Han Hanh of the Literature Division under the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association chooses a gentle, reflective approach rather than depicting the brutality of war. He portrays those who laid down their livesas becoming one with the country itself: "Blending into mountains, forests andrivers/Rooted deep in the green fields/Living within you and within me/Countless martyrs smile beneath the moon."

Many poems dedicated to wounded soldiers, martyrs, and Heroic Vietnamese Mothers have been written by formersoldiers who experienced the battlefield firsthand. One of them is veteran Nguyen Quoc Hoan, a member of the Literature Division of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association. Having fought in the resistance war against the U.S. imperialists, defended the Vietnam’s Northern border, and served on international missions in Cambodia, Hoan has spent many years workingalongside his fellow veterans to mobilize support for constructing the Martyrs' Memorial to the 113th Commando Unitin Ho Nai Ward. He has also participatedin the search and recovery of martyrs' remains, while tirelessly writing poetry and short stories, and delivering talks on revolutionary traditions to students and younger generations.

Today, literary and artistic works on wounded soldiers and martyrs by Dong Nai artists and writers are widely shared on digital platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, expanding their reach to wider audiences and extending their educational value by inspiring patriotism and civic responsibility among young people.

Hoan said: "For me, every poem and piece of writing about wounded soldiersand martyrs is like a stick of incense offered to my comrades who sacrificed their lives for the nation. I hope these works help younger generations understand that today's peace came at the cost of immeasurable sacrifice, encouraging them to treasure the past, live responsibly, and carry forward the legacy built by previous generations."

In the epic art program “Dong Nai – The Spirit of the South Rising with the Nation”, the image of the Sac Forest commandos is vividly brought to lifethrough the moving verses of Remembrance, written by the late Colonel and Hero of the People's Armed Forces Le Ba Uoc: "My heart overflows with longing and remembrance/ Flags flutter proudly in the river breeze/Forever standing proud, the Sac forest remains unyielding/ Every fallen soldier becomes a poem."

Music, too, has become a powerful expression of remembrance and gratitude. The song Mother, I Have Returned, composed by Dr. Vo Van Ly, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, based on a poem by Dr. Quan Minh Cuong, tells the story of a martyr whose remains were returned to his homeland by comrades more than half a century after his death. The song touches listeners’hearts through the soldier's longing for the mother and the sorrow of never having the chance to see his again after the war. Its simple yet deeply movinglyrics read: "When I returned, Mother was nowhere to be found/ A thousand times, I ask your forgiveness, Mother."

Meanwhile, The Silence of Space, a song composed by Cao Hong Son from a poem by writer Pham Thanh Quang, tells the story of a soldier returning home with only one arm. The image of a father longing to embrace and comfort his child, yet unable to do so, creates a poignant "silence" that lingers in the audience's mind. In another composition, A Farewell Song for My Husband, Son portrays the quiet sacrifice of women left behind during wartime through deeply moving lyrics: "Today we live in peace/ Remembering those years gone by/Hearing the song that saw my husband off to war." The recurring refrain — "He never came home, my dear sister!/He never came home..." —echoes like a prolonged sob, lingering in listeners' hearts.

Singer Uyen Dung, who has frequently performed songs about wounded soldiers and martyrs composed by Dong Nai musicians, shared: "Every song brings a unique emotional experience. Whenever I perform for audiences in Dong Nai, I feel as though I am telling the true story of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation's independence. That is why I sing with the deepest respect and gratitude."

Keeping the spirit of gratitude alive through art

While poetry and music preserve memories through words and melodies, painting, photography, theater, and dance recreate the war through images, movements, and powerful emotion.

Paintings by artist Dao Tan Hung of the Fine Arts Division, Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, about wounded soldiers and martyrs.

Former soldier and painter Dao Tan Hung has devoted much of his artistic career to creating works such as Blood and Flowers, The Open Door, and Three Farewells to My Son. Each painting captures a fragment of wartime memory, portraying both the courage of soldiers and the quiet sacrifices of wives and Heroic Vietnamese Mothers.

Similarly, the image of the soldier has also been vividly portrayed on stage through dance performances choreographed by Meritorious Artist Lam Dai and choreographers Than The Thoi, Viet Bac, Tran The Cu, and Nguyen Son. Through expressive movements, these performances retell wartime stories in ways that resonate deeply with audiences, particularly younger generations, helping them appreciate the true value of peace.

In photography, Nguyen Quang Hung, Head of the Photography Division of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, has spent many years documenting the armed forces and tribute activities throughout Northern communes and wards of Dong Nai. He has made numerous field trips to border communes, capturing images of efforts to locate and recover martyrs' remains, as well as activities honoring those who served the nation and strengthening military-civilian bond.

Hung said: "In 2026, we made two field trips to create works about soldiers, especially those serving in border areas, which inspired the creation of many new works. Especially, in the run-up to the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day, photographers in northern Dong Nai continued producing new projects dedicated to honoring those who sacrificed for the nation."

He also expressed hope that local authorities and organizations across the city would strengthen cooperation with the Photography Division of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association, creating more opportunities for artists to undertake fieldwork and and capture events, stories of historical and cultural significance and activities honoring revolutionary contributors. Such photographs, he said, are not only valuable historical records for today but also living memories that will live on for generations to come.

By My Ny - Translated by Mai Nga,Thu Ha