CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAM DONG LIBERATION (April 3, 1975 - April 3, 2025): Lam Dong Literature and Arts 50 Years After National Reunification

Photographers create photos during a field trip to Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park. Photo: Q. Uyen

• LAND OF ART

Before 1975, in Da Lat, there were many famous poems and love songs: "Da Lat moon fog" (poem by Han Mac Tu, composed in 1933); "Da Lat night fog" (poem by Quach Tan, 1939); "Ai len xu hoa dao" (song by Hoang Nguyen, composed in 1956); "Da Lat sunset" (song by Minh Ky - Da Cam, 1968); "Thanh pho buon" (song by Lam Phuong, 1970)... In the period of 1975 - 1986, many waves of youth volunteers and cadres from different regions were mobilized to Lam Dong to work and build new economic zones; among them, there were many artists. During this period, artists and writers composed many literary and artistic works about the country, people and praised the restoration and construction of Lam Dong in the first years of liberation, which were full of difficulties and hardships.

On April 11, 1987, Lam Dong Literature and Arts Association was established. Initially, there were 79 members working in 4 majors: Literature, Photography, Music and Fine Arts (then called Visual Arts). The first Congress of the Association (1988 - 1993) gathered many of the first artists such as: Ha Linh Chi, Lam Tuyen Tinh, Huynh Chinh, Tran Huu Luc, Pham Kim Anh, Truong Quynh, Nguyen Thai Huyen, Nguyen Trung An, Hoang Nhu Thuy An, Pham Vu, Pham Vinh, Xuan Trang, Nguyen Diep, Do Tu Nghia, Tran Ngoc Trac, Pham Quoc Ca, Nguyen Mau Siec, Le Van Son, Ta Kim Khanh, Luu Huu Nhi Du, Huong Thuy, Duong Tran, Tu Xuan, Nguyen Thi Thanh Toan, Le Ba Canh, Hoang Ngoc Chau, Nguyen Tung Chau, Nguyen Luong... (Literature); Vu Long, Vi Quoc Hiep, Le Sinh Thuc, Dang Ngoc Tran, Nguyen Van Lai, Dang Viet Nga, Dinh Thanh, Tran Du Hong, Pham Mui, Nguyen Dang Loc... (Fine Arts); Ha Huy Hien, Trong Thuy, Manh Dat, Song Tra, Dinh Nghi, Duy Thanh, Nguyen Tanh, Cong Huan, Krajan Dick... (Music); Bui A, Nguyen Ba Mau, Dang Van Thong, Tran Duc Loc, Nguyen Song Ba... (Photography).

In the following years, the Association established additional branches: Folk Arts and Literature (VNDG), Ethnic Minority Arts and Literature and Literature (DTTS) and District and City Arts and Literature and Literature Associations. The following group of artists was large in number and full of creativity. Currently, the whole province has 254 members active in 11 branches.

Vietnam Poetry Day is organized annually by Lam Dong province.

• OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS

Up to now, Lam Dong Literature and Arts Association has gone through 7 congresses, although there were difficult times, even temporarily suspended activities; however, under the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee, Lam Dong Literature and Arts Association has gradually consolidated, developed, increasingly asserted its role and function as a "bridge" between the government and the artists and between artists and the people; gathering artists to live, create, publish works, serve the political tasks of the locality and the country...

In recent years, the force of artists has continued to develop, actively participating and winning hundreds of awards every year in literary and artistic composition competitions, festivals, and exhibitions held in the province, outside the province, regionally, nationally and internationally. The literary and artistic works of artists have reflected and honored the achievements in socio-economic development, Party building and political systems at all levels, national defense and security work of Lam Dong and the outstanding achievements after 40 years of implementing the country's renovation...

The Literature major has the largest number of members, generations of writers have successively composed tens of thousands of works, serving the political tasks of the locality and the country, praising the beauty of the rich and beautiful land and people of Lam Dong; honoring humanistic values, guiding people towards truth - goodness - beauty.

Fine arts, present since the establishment of Lam Dong Literature and Arts Association, many generations of painters and sculptors with passion for art have contributed much to the beauty and development of the Southern Central Highlands region with many potentials and strengths; evaluated by the Vietnam Fine Arts Association as outstanding in the region, especially with its own unique expressive style...

Photography, with many great artists, appeared before and after the establishment of the Association until the following generations of artists, with their own talent, thoughts, emotions and "perspectives", recorded beautiful, vivid moments of nature, landscapes, people... contributing to bringing the image of Da Lat - Lam Dong to many international friends. Many artists have been awarded international titles, won many prestigious international awards over the years...

Music, also present since the founding of the Association, generations of musicians and artists have continued to write many songs, love songs praising the homeland of Lam Dong - Da Lat and each locality in this rich, prosperous, beautiful land, with beautiful musical works in terms of lyrics, smooth in melody that captivate people. Many songs of musicians and artists have crossed the mountains, reaching music lovers at home and abroad; currently playing an important role in developing Da Lat as the "Creative City of Music", honored by UNESCO in 2023...

The public visits an exhibition of paintings by Lam Dong artists. Photo: Q. Uyen

In addition, the majors: VNDG, Ethnic Minority Culture and Arts, Research, Theory - Criticism of Culture and Arts have also been constantly developing, contributing to the development of Lam Dong Culture and Arts 50 years after the country's reunification. In this field, with the contributions of lecturers from Dalat University: Le Chi Dung, Pham Quang Trung, Nguyen Tuan Tai, Pham Quoc Ca, Nguyen Manh Hung, Phan Thi Hong, Le Hong Phong, Le Thi Quynh Hao, Nguyen Canh Chuong...

Up to now, in addition to about 500 publications published by its members, the Literature and Arts Association has compiled and published dozens of anthologies of literature, poetry, photography, fine arts, music, VNDG... Some typical publications include: "The Land Calls Silently", "Like Brothers in a House" (1982), "Dalat Poetry" (1986); "Dreamy Da Lat" (1993); "Dalat in Poetry" (1996); "10 Years of Lam Dong Prose" (1988 - 1998); "Dalat in Poetry - Poetry in Da Lat" (2003); "30 Years of Lam Dong Poetry" (1976 - 2006); "30 Years of Lam Dong Prose" (1978 - 2008); "Fresh Land, New Fire" (2020); Lam Dong Literature and Arts Association 35 years of formation and development (1987-2022)... At the congresses, the Association compiled and published anthologies of many authors such as: poetry, prose, fine arts, music, photography, VNDG Lam Dong in the periods: 2012 - 2017, 2017 - 2022, 2022 - 2027.

In particular, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification, the Association has compiled, edited and published the Anthology: "50 years of Lam Dong Literature and Arts after the country's reunification" (1975 - 2025). The publication has compiled the works of generations of Lam Dong artists and writers, actively contributing to the development of Lam Dong homeland over the past 50 years.

Lam Dong literature and arts have “merged” into the flow of Vietnamese literature and arts 50 years after the country’s reunification. Lam Dong artists have been contributing important achievements to the country’s literature and arts.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202504/chao-mung-50-nam-ngay-giai-phong-lam-dong-341975-342025-van-hoc-nghe-thuat-lam-ong-50-nam-sau-ngay-dat-nuoc-thong-nhat-2a2261b/