Saigon through the lens of Pham Cong Luan's childhood

Hanoi [Vietnam], April 12: Writer and journalist Pham Cong Luan has just released two new works: "The Eight Immortals of the Mouse Village" and "The Wanderer at the Train Station Market." This pair of works is deeply marked by the memories and culture of Saigon, intended for children and readers who have experienced childhood. On the morning of April 11th at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, journalist and writer Pham Cong Luan held a book launch and discussion for two books, "Eight Immortals of the Mouse Village " and "The Wanderer at the Train Station Market " (published jointly by the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House and Nha Nam Culture and Communication Company).
Both of these works feature the work of artist Duc Lam. In this project, the illustrations have played a significant role in transporting Vietnamese readers back to the years of the previous decade with their minimalist, witty, gentle childlike drawings and nostalgic watercolor style.
The work "Eight Immortals of the Mouse Village" bears a strong autobiographical imprint, and the author began writing it one evening in 2024 after completing " There Was a Time in Cholon" . The story's setting is inspired by the author's own living space 50 years ago in Phu Nhuan, around the streets of Tran Huy Lieu, Nguyen Trong Tuyen, and Hoang Van Thu today.
The work comprises 17 short stories revolving around a group of young friends in a poor working-class neighborhood, including Luan Mot, Chi Men, Vuong Hong Dinh, Vinh Cong Tu, Bon 35, Dung Hit, Ha Tien Co (Ngoc Thuy), and Dang. Through a childlike perspective, these simple stories reflect adult life while simultaneously depicting the process of growing up with lessons about friendship, family, and compassion.
Saigon nurtured them, the small neighborhood taught them how to love. Each of us was once one of those "typical children" of the "Eight Immortals" group. And then, upon reaching this page of the book, the "Eight Immortals" have grown up, and readers are reminded of how they themselves once matured.
In "The Wanderer of the Train Station Market," author Pham Cong Luan not only recreates the land but also sketches the culture, history, and lives of ordinary people. Their names are often associated with their professions; no one remembers their faces or counts their ages, but it is these people who have contributed to the prosperity and diversity of the city.
"Ga Market is a replica of the market near my house, filled with everyday stories, yet it remains a market on the other side of the mirror of imagination. The wanderer lives alone near the market in the old train station, taking care of the market's electricity and water maintenance and treating the vendors as family. He overcomes the trauma of an unhappy childhood, living peacefully, without expecting anything. The characters in the story are the market vendors, Miss Six selling fabric, the student named Hem, and the main character, who tells his story in the first person. There are some unexpected new characters. The story is sometimes a bit gloomy and dramatic, but there is no shortage of joy," the author shared.
The setting of the market neighborhood near the train station appears like a microcosm of society. Here, many lives are born, many people gather as a haven, and many dreams are kindled. All are enveloped and nurtured by the simplicity, modesty, and generosity of the people of Saigon.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper