The collection of essays Rain in the salty land by Nguyen Chi Ngoan. Photo: Cultural sports. Little stories Spreading over 20 poems, there are strands of memories gathered about a poor countryside, sun-kissed but sparkling fields full of hope of the people of the countryside, full of love and kindness. The first sketch in the author’s painting is the East wind, which carries many happy memories of childhood. The space in the land of U Minh, the author’s hometown, opens up full of haunting, haunting tears filled the air. It is easy to recognize familiar images from a peaceful memory region that contains a longing bewilderment filled in childhood nostalgia. There was the sound of ducks calling in the afternoon, there were silences sobbing the familiar scent of the countryside deeply imprinted in the subconscious of children far from home. Like the smell of grandma’s eucalyptus oil, the mother’s braised fish sauce or the father’s bottle of massage, covering a clear life, full of Western breath, unique. With a gentle and simple voice, the author skillfully weaves each small story in the collection of prose as if telling his own story. The images in Nguyen Chi Ngoan’s prose appear so simple and true. “Sometimes my mother asked for a few slices of banh tet from a neighbor to dry, but we and I had more slices of crispy fried banh tet.” That lack still does not rob people of their generosity and affection: “Mother smiles, she dries them for the children in the neighborhood. They like it as much as they do now.” But in the harsh and intense color array of nature, “salty land” is not a punishment of heaven and earth, but it is just a challenge and puzzle that nature has bestowed, from which there are crystallization of species. firmly rooted trees rise above the land where one can find sweetness in every grain of salty soil. Young author Nguyen Chi Ngoan. Photo: FBNV. The heart of the people of U Minh land Perhaps, through this collection of poems, the author and young teacher Nguyen Chi Ngoan skillfully let us fly up and see the beauties of this life: “Even though the salty smell permeates every tooth root, we can see the beauty of this life. I still live in harmony with the land and people, just like the salty land still silently nurtures desires. Living in hardship but dreams still bloom. Through the little book, the author instills in us a feeling of loving others, loving life, and loving ourselves more. And when you open your heart to each page of the book, readers will see before their eyes the sunny rivers, as if they want to burn the hairs of children. There are no storks flying straight, no kite flutes in the salty dry fields or the shaded gardens of childhood. But the author is not pessimistic about “salty soil”. The passages carry the color of a sparkling sadness full of hope. I see that the author is deeply embracing the soul of his homeland. He diligently planted the green sprouts that rose like a sturdy cactus in the sand and windy desert. Choosing a separate intersection that is relatively sparse compared with contemporary 9X-age authors, Nguyen Chi Ngoan has blown a lively and passionate Western breeze with his closeness, traditional lifestyle and characteristics of Vietnamese people. river region, creating a very unique flavor for delta literature. The way the author chooses to return to the topic of awnings listening to the rain and sunshine, dinghy or white reed hills flickering in memory. With a very personal life material, the Western space appears gently, gently awakening the hearts of readers to find their own souls and forgotten memories in the chaos of life. The charming view can be touched to feel the way of life, the liberal and generous features of the river filled with emotions.

1. The dishes are mainly cooked with fresh ingredients liệu Due to the natural conditions in the river delta, the abundant agricultural resources, the people of the West have a variety of dishes and ways of eating. With many ways of processing, from simple rustic to sophisticated, but most of the food is cooked from fresh food caught on the spot. 2. Mainly eat fish, shrimp, eel, scorpion The daily rice dishes of Westerners are usually fish, shrimp, eel, trach, … which are easy to find, low in fat, easy to digest. Not only in the countryside but even in cities and towns, in restaurants and parties, these dishes are not absent. Westerners have a saying: “There is nothing as delicious as rice and fish / There is no love like mother and child”, this sentence shows their love and respect for their main food source, fish. 3. Variety of tastes In terms of taste, people in the Southwest generally like to eat spicy food (using chili pepper, ginger, garlic, lemongrass… to reduce the fishy smell of fish, eel, frog, turtle, snake); likes to eat salty foods (all kinds of fish sauce, dried fish…); likes to eat sour (sour soup, pickles…); likes to eat acrid (banana, acrid banana, cork fruit, cashew leaves, sesame buds) and likes to eat bitter (bitter fruit, bitter vegetables, snakehead nectar, goby bile…) 4. Favorite food is fish sauce The Southwestern people like most is copper sauce with popular salted fish such as choke, snakehead, catfish, perch, peg, Linh, shrimp, shrimp… The long-stowed fish sauce is more and more delicious, at that time there was fish sauce to make Eat, just have fish sauce as a dipping sauce with a special flavor than sea fish sauce. 5. Mam is also considered a “hunger relief” dish. Seventy years ago, when natural food sources were still abundant, in every family in the countryside, every family stocked a couple of khaps and jars of copper fish sauce. At the beginning of the rainy season, the fry just hatch, it is difficult to find food, so farmers often eat fish sauce with pumpkin stewed in coconut milk, simple but strangely delicious.

Loving a guy, a Saigon girl is like, is a friend in Hanoi but is addicted to eating Ba Chieu noodle soup, likes dating for coffee in District 2, on weekends for a fair market. Then I always love the green tamarind rows running along Vo Van Tan street, love the sudden rain, love the rustic and generous love here. Stepping on the street, there is always a call for “Aunt Ba”, two calls for “Uncle Tu” and then the sentence “yes” to confess “son”, why I feel enlightened, strange but … I feel sorry. Saigon girl is only 2 hours flying, but I still miss it strangely Saigon is sprawling and busy, but everyone who comes to play will feel “satisfied with the stomach”. Food in the land of Saigon is nothing to blame, North Central and South have enough nothing to miss: Hanoi pho, Hoi An chicken rice, Phan Thiet pancake, My Tho noodle soup or a plate of rice in the past. reputation … From popular to luxurious, you can eat whatever you want. Not to mention Saigon can also enjoy cuisine from all over the world imported here: eat French brunch, try spicy sour pad Thai, tasting Indian curry or enjoy Italian cuisine at a luxury restaurant. important. Admittedly, the cuisine here has never disappointed anyone. There is nothing more romantic than a sunset in Saigon Not all guests know that the specialty in this country is the sunset. About 4 o’clock in the afternoon, pass each other through the city streets, head held high to look at the sky, fluttering pink clouds. If there were no conditions, they screamed to each other to run out the window and onto the terrace to reward themselves with a spectacular stage. Asking Saigon people where to hunt the most beautiful sunset, it is Thu Thiem bridge, Cha La bridge, Ong Lanh bridge, or the road running along Van Don wharf. Saigon people looked at it and realized that the traffic flowed crowdedly, jammed along, but anyone passing Ong Lanh bridge saw the sunset so beautiful, they had to stop the car to admire a little, take a few photos and then return. . “Hey, listen …” The most wonderful thing is to go to the restaurants in Saigon alley, not only because it is delicious but there are real life stories every time, funny stories from aunts to uncles. Uncle, everywhere we hear a few laughter between the neighbors. Loving Saigon for its people, coming back here because of the intimacy they gave to the guests. Saigon people are proud, polite, talkative, are always amiable and “sweet”, but not sweet in the manner of commendable or polite. The sounds of yes, thank you, sorry … are already in the heart and are at the mouth. Honestly, injured the nature of Saigon people. Saigon is a funny place, the more you live, the more you want to go back. 2 hours flight time, 2000 kilometers is nothing when the Hanoi people come here always feel “satisfied with their stomach”. Listen, Vietjet has many incentives, competitive fares, flexible flight times with frequency Nearly 20 trips / day, not to mention the extra 20kg of checked baggage that has never been so reasonable and convenient to go to Hanoi or to Saigon! Fly with Vietjet from now until 15.4.2021, you will receive a 100.000 VND voucher upon successful booking and registration information at: https://evoucher.vietjetair.com/, the voucher will be used for the booking next flight before 30.6.2021. Take advantage of early flight booking, not when the tickets run out, the price increases or the flight time is over, you will regret it.

Founder Vu Phuong Thuy at Duyen Boutique. In the beautiful space of Duyen Boutique, Ms. Vu Phuong Thuy introduces us passionately about each scarf. The scarf is used to make the charm, the scarf can be transformed into a shirt, the scarf in the hair and the framed scarf hanging on the wall like an art-décor … Each Duyen’s scarf is a story told in visual language distilled from the past, such as the picture “Peacock” by Hang Trong, “Ly Hope for the Moon” or “The Poison Pig” Kim Hoang … for traditional handicrafts a new life, both modern, close and luxurious, but also like a cultural business card. STARTING SOURCE OF QUALITY FROM THE PAST It is known that she used to have a long time working as a reporter, television editor. So why did you switch to a very different field of business? When entering the business path, I always have the thought of a journalist who has worked for many years in the field of culture. When I was a reporter at Hanoi Television and VTC Television, I had many opportunities to interact with traditional craftsmen, conveying topics about folk culture to the audience. I especially love the traditional culture of my country, and always want to spread that love to many people. So, whether as a reporter in the past, or as a business person today, I still think my best role is as a “storyteller”, just one way or another. So in the field of design – silk scarf business that you pursue, what story are you trying to tell? The quintessence of Vietnamese culture has always fascinated me. I noticed the generosity and generosity of the Vietnamese people there. That is not a glossy but remote beauty. Drawings in folk paintings, patterns, lines of pots and jars still hide the “rustic” but still delicate enough to feel warm, warm, close and very lively. That is the spirit I want to convey in Duyen silk scarves. In a nutshell, do you want to bring traditional culture into contemporary life through practical objects? But why is it a towel and not a clothes, a tie…? Take a look at my towels, do you see that it has its own style? I also often get asked why not expanding, adding other products to rich, easy to sell. Actually, it’s not about choosing what kind of product is right or what is wrong, nor is it that the business of one thing is right but the general business is wrong. But I want when people talk about silk scarf is to say Duyen, when it comes to me is Duyen. Founder Vu Phuong Thuy The quintessence of Vietnamese culture has always fascinated me. I noticed there the generosity and generosity of the Vietnamese. Drawings in folk paintings, patterns, lines of pots and jars still hide the “rustic” but still delicate enough to feel warm, warm, close and very lively. That is the spirit I want to convey in Duyen silk scarves. And so we have the “Love Story of Heritage and Creation Quintessence”, right? Because there is a brand slogan that has the element of “love story”, the brand name is named “Duyen”? I don’t know if the word Duyen has many meanings in other languages, but in Vietnamese, as you know, the word Duyen has many very nice meanings. I chose the word Duyen because, according to me, the feature of Duyen makes people more attached to it than pure beauty. As in folk paintings, the charm is already in the way of making, in color, in the meaning. We will be the knower of that past quintessence with today’s contemporary creation. The skill of the ancient artist will be matched by the fluttering of the artists of this era … SLOW SLOW IS THE WAY SUITABLE TO HIGH-CLASS PRODUCTS Did you go to a design or business school? Because if you want to embark on something, you have to understand it well … In today’s open age, in my opinion, we do not necessarily start with a certain skill of ourselves. What we need is values, is the core idea. And the right companions will help us go further. I can do 1 thing by myself, but with 1 more valuable companion, 2 people can not only do 2 and will be 3 – 4 things. In Duyen silk scarf segment, I am the person holding the spirit, the brand’s spirit, and the direction of development. And my companions help me realize the idea into a real product. How did you find a team with you to have a team of many different roles and components? My point is relevance is more important than an excellent profile. This is very suitable for small businesses, startups. My staff is small, but multitasking and flexible. Don’t wait for a complete apparatus to be built to get started. Also do not choose people with a high job position history but just choose to follow the correct job description, or set multiple conditions. Because we need companions, we need a team to go together, not a monumental business organization. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the first time in the business? Was Covid-19 a shock to you, when Duyen’s product – which is easily popular with international tourists – suffers from silence due to tourism freezing? Doing business in a field that is not new is a silk scarf is inevitable. But the way of walking slowly, taking care of the product, so that customers have time to feel, experience, love and stick with the brand is still the way that is suitable for a high-end product like Duyen. On the other hand, doing with silk, printing on silk, stitching by hand, are all very elaborate steps that are difficult to do. I had to pay for product testing quite a bit. The product did not print, printed many errors, even finished the product line and then recalled it because the trial was not satisfactory. Regarding customers, as you said, international customers are the right target for products with such cultural elements. Covid-19 has made the market quiet for more than a year, making its voice more easily heard. Europe is also an opportunity. But Duyen is first of all a fashion accessory. I believe that the number of domestic customers looking for a fashion product that embodies a well-liked lifestyle is also significant. And that is also the object of Duyen towels. A young businessman that I interviewed once said: trading cultural products is quite difficult, because there are many meticulous steps that I have to directly engage in, not simply. buying and selling an item for a profit. Therefore, if you want to start, you must first have enough passion … This is absolutely true. I very much share what the young businessman was concerned about. On the other hand, I think her and I both realize that products of cultural value, handmade products need to be carefully crafted and placed in the position of premium products. If we can produce products with a high content of brainpower, creativity and sophistication, then we and our customers are no longer in the position of sellers and buyers, but those who share the same beliefs. passion. If you can be described about your products, what are the factors you like most? 100% natural silk, hand-stitched, or painted from the past? What I am most proud of is the predestination of Duyen! We weren’t the first to make silk scarves. We’re not the first hand-stitched silk scarf brand. We’re also not the only place to put traditional motifs into our products. But look at each of our designs, see how we transform from past patterns, feel how we bring contemporary soul into our products, hear us tell the meaning of each scarf. There are many factors that cannot be formulated to make the spirit of Duyen. DON’T START YOUR BUSINESS ONLY FOR PASSION What kind of women will your customers be? The people who choose Duyen towels are those who seek not only a beautiful and quality product, but also enjoy Duyen’s story. When they take the time to learn the meaning of Vietnamese folk art told through Duyen scarves, that means they are concerned first, and then respectful of things belonging to literary values. chemical, worth living. And I believe, if they choose a Duyen scarf because of its meaning, they will definitely want to share with others about the reasons for their choice. As a result, they also became the spread of traditional values ​​like me. After silk scarf will be the next product? What do you expect in the market for products with traditional cultural elements of Vietnam? Right now I am wholeheartedly devoted to Duyen silk scarf. I think it’s time to properly position the high-end for products with traditional cultural elements. To do so, first of all, the craftsmanship should be preserved intact. Next, there should be more creative stages, designs based on traditional craftsmanship, to enhance the aesthetics, quality and functionality of the product. And to have a market, it is necessary for business people to dare to invest in this difficult area as we are doing. “I always cherished my plan to bring Duyen to the world market. Marketing as a Vietnamese brand name, selling online on e-commerce channels, and gradually making a name for itself. We will tell the world the beauty of Vietnamese traditional quintessence in a very contemporary language ”. With a startup project in the fashion industry, what factors will be the key to success? In my opinion there are two factors you need to keep in mind. The first is that your fashion brand must have a personality. And the second is very important that not everyone understands: fashion is not just about clothes. Products are just one of a series of stages in a fashion business process. What advice would you give to young people who are looking to start up their own businesses, especially if they are women? I just have a little thing to share like this. There will be many people who start with passion, thinking that being able to do what they love is happiness. But when you get to work, you’ll have to deal with a thousand other headaches besides the ones you like. Then passion is good, but don’t take it as your only reason to start a business. In other words, love with reason. Analyze whether that love has a future, whether we have a long way to go with it, is able to bear fruit or not … All of these while not guaranteeing success, but will at least help. I firmly believe to walk. Thank you for taking the time to chat with VnEconomy. Wish you always luck, happiness and success!