Born in 1948 in Ky Anh, Ha Tinh, Duong Ky Anh was not only a gifted poet but also an esteemed journalist. He passed away at 8:30 AM on February 25 at the age of 77.

A childhood of hardship and the path to journalism

Duong Ky Anh was born into an intellectual rural family. His great-grandfather, Duong Xuan On, abandoned a government post to join Phan Dinh Phung’s Can Vuong movement against the French. His father, though a highly educated man, also chose the revolutionary path rather than pursuing an official career.

His childhood was marked by loss and struggle. At the age of eight, his mother passed away due to starvation, along with his infant twin siblings. Left to fend for himself, he resorted to begging to survive and at times had to sleep in cattle sheds. He worked various labor-intensive jobs, from plowing fields and thatching roofs to weaving conical hats and joining road construction crews.

After graduating from the Faculty of Literature at the General University, he enlisted in the military and became a missile operator.

He deliberately concealed his university degree to actively participate in the war, believing real-life experience would enrich his writing. To him, the military was a vast university where he learned discipline, resilience, and the courage to fight for what he believed in.

Following the reunification of Vietnam in 1975, he transitioned into journalism. His first attempt at a journalism career was at the Literary Weekly under the Vietnam Writers’ Association, reflecting his deep passion for literature. However, he ultimately joined Tien Phong as a reporter in August 1975.

21 years as editor-in-chief and a revolution at Tien Phong

In 1987, at just under 40 years old, Duong Ky Anh was appointed editor-in-chief of Tien Phong. When he took office, he made two clear statements to the editorial team: “First, whether I serve as editor-in-chief for one day or one month, I will do it my way. Second, if anyone does not wish to stand by my side, I am ready to let them transfer to another publication.”

At the time, Tien Phong was struggling. It was printed on low-quality black-and-white paper, had a dwindling readership, and was financially unstable. Duong Ky Anh himself had no personal transportation, not even a bicycle, and slept in his office due to the lack of housing.

Determined to transform the newspaper, he introduced bold initiatives. He partnered with the Supreme People’s Court to launch the supplement Love and Criminal Cases and collaborated with the Hanoi Youth Union to publish a youth and romance column.

In 1988, he initiated the first beauty pageant in Vietnam. Under his leadership, Tien Phong expanded with publications like Vietnamese Beauty, Tien Phong Sunday, Young Knowledge, Tien Phong Monthly, and even established Tien Phong Corporation, which operated a reputable chain of bookstores.

A poetic soul and a love for beauty

Despite his commitment to journalism, Duong Ky Anh remained a devoted poet. His poetry was concise, layered with deep meaning and philosophical reflection.

His ten-word poem The Road encapsulated an entire philosophy of life: "A traveler walks the road / Turns back / It is still the same road."

Many fellow poets hailed it as a work that, despite its brevity, resonates across lifetimes.

Duong Ky Anh published numerous poetry collections, short stories, and novels. His novel Xuyen Cam won a special prize in the prestigious Nguyen Du Literary Awards. He also received awards for poetry from Military Literature and Arts Magazine and Nhan Dan newspaper in 1978.

His love for beauty led him to spearhead Vietnam’s first beauty contest, earning him the title “father of the Miss Vietnam pageant.” He once remarked, “Because I am a poet who appreciates beauty, I thought of organizing a beauty competition.”

A peaceful retirement amidst nature

After retiring, Duong Ky Anh chose a tranquil life in a garden home in Soc Son, on the outskirts of Hanoi. There, he spent his days tending to his plants, enjoying the scenery, and continuing to write. Every day, he dedicated six hours to reading and writing poetry, considering it an intellectual exercise.

Even in retirement, he remained an active contributor to literature and journalism. He curated and published Great Poems from East and West, a collection of thousands of poetic masterpieces. He also continued to write about beauty pageants, authoring Miss Vietnam – Untold Stories.

Legacy and philosophy

Duong Ky Anh’s life was a constant journey toward truth. “I spent my entire life struggling to learn how to speak the truth - in literature, in journalism…” he once reflected. His daughter, Duong Anh Xuan, encapsulated his ethos in two verses from her poetry collection Days of Laughter: "A lifelong struggle / Learning how to speak the truth."

He firmly believed that journalism should be a force for good, fighting corruption to cleanse society, protect public trust, and safeguard national resources. He also nurtured young literary talents, launching Tien Phong’s Young Writers’ Competition, which has since become a platform for many renowned Vietnamese authors.

Duong Ky Anh’s legacy is not just his literary and journalistic contributions but also his unwavering determination, courage, and commitment to progress.

Minh Phi