At the age of 86, Professor and Doctor Trinh Quang Phu has spent nearly six decades writing about President Ho Chi Minh.

He is regarded as one of the Vietnamese authors who has written the most extensively - and most successfully - about the late leader.

A literary talk discussing President Ho Chi Minh through the research lens of Professor Trinh Quang Phu was recently held at Nguyen Tat Thanh University in Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of the launch of his two latest works, Nguoi di muon trung non nuoc (The man who crossed countless mountains and rivers) and the memoir-style book Theo dau chan Nguoi (Following in Uncle Ho's footsteps).

Professor Trinh Quang Phu, still sharp-minded and passionate at 86, shared that he had several opportunities to meet Ho Chi Minh and began writing about him in 1969.

He said he still vividly remembers the late leader’s teachings - from lessons in humility to the spirit of devotion and wholehearted service to the people.

At first, the professor simply fulfilled his responsibilities as a journalist, rushing articles back from the battlefield.

Over time, however, writing about President Ho Chi Minh gradually became what he described as a noble mission that he would pursue for the rest of his life.

What has continuously driven him to study and write about President Ho Chi Minh for decades, he said, is the feeling that “there are still so many things left to discover” about the leader’s life.

At the event, he highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s spirit of self-learning.

During many years traveling abroad in search of a path to national liberation, President Ho Chi Minh learned everywhere he went, mastered foreign languages quickly and always took advantage of every circumstance to absorb knowledge.

“His greatest university was books and life itself. We learned from him and want to spread that spirit to young people today,” Professor Phu said.

Professor Trinh Quang Phu is also among the writers with the largest number of published works about President Ho Chi Minh.

Many of his books have been reprinted several times and translated into foreign languages.

He has not only written prolifically, but also with profound admiration and a strong sense of civic and cultural responsibility toward the image of Vietnam’s beloved leader.

To date, he has published around eight books about President Ho Chi Minh.

His first was Mien Nam trong long Bac (The South in Uncle Ho’s heart), followed by works such as Nguoi la niem tin (He is our faith), Bac Ho o Phan Thiet (Uncle Ho in Phan Thiet), Duong Bac Ho di cuu nuoc (The path Uncle Ho took to save the nation), and Theo Bac di khang chien (Following Uncle Ho into resistance).

Later came notable titles including Tu Lang Sen den ben Nha Rong (From Lotus Village to Nha Rong Wharf), Theo dau chan Nguoi and most recently Nguoi di muon trung non nuoc.

One of the most notable aspects of his career is his success in the memoir-style literary genre, which stands between literature and history, balancing factual authenticity with artistic creativity.

This approach has helped his works about President Ho Chi Minh resonate widely with readers.

Writer Trinh Bich Ngan, chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association, said the author’s contributions extend beyond the sheer number of books he has produced about President Ho Chi Minh.

She noted that his work has inspired artists across many fields, including music, theater and literature.

More importantly, she said, the books have helped “pass on the creative flame,” enriching literary portrayals of President Ho Chi Minh’s life and legacy while continuing the tradition established by previous generations of Vietnamese writers.

Colonel and writer Tran The Tuyen, former editor-in-chief of Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper, said the professor’s two newest books not only provide additional materials and perspectives on President Ho Chi Minh but also help spread the leader’s noble values to current and future generations.

The literary talk took place close to the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birth, giving the event added cultural, historical and educational significance.

It was not only an opportunity to look back on the achievements of a writer deeply devoted to the topic of President Ho Chi Minh, but also a chance to reaffirm the enduring value of the leader’s ideology, morality and lifestyle in modern society.

Tuan Chieu