vietexplorer0019

THE HANOI CHRONICLE — War inflicts immeasurable loss and suffering, and the agony of mothers who lose their children is perhaps the deepest wound of all. During those dark years, young students across Vietnam set aside their books and pens, bid farewell to loved ones, and marched to the front lines. Many did not return. Portrait of Colonel Tran Hong, a journalist and photographer. Photo: QDND They left behind grieving mothers who spend their remaining years in silent wait, their hearts heavy with longing. Each passing day is etched with sorrow, a pain that time cannot heal. Through his lens, Colonel Tran Hong, a journalist, and photographer, captures the spirit and sorrow of Vietnamese women. Over 2,000 photographs bear witness to the deep suffering of mothers who have given everything, reflected in their simplest form. “They say that losing a child means losing the future,” shared Col. Tran Hong. “But in this nation, Vietnamese women gave their children to the country.” A ...

Artist Dang Ai Viet (b. 1948) embarks on a remarkable journey across Vietnam, aiming to honor and remember the thousands of women who lost loved ones during the war. Viet has dedicated her life to painting portraits of these heroic Vietnamese mothers, with a goal to capture their strength and resilience. Her travels are a continuation of her fight for these women, as she rushes to meet them and hear their stories. A Life of Service and Art Dang Thi Bong, known artistically as Dang Ai Viet (“I Love Vietnam”), has led an extraordinary life. At just 15 years old, she joined the resistance war against American troops, and later became a singer with the Liberation Art Troupe. However, it was her attendance at a painting class held in the war zone in 1964 that changed her life forever. From that moment on, she dedicated her artistic talents to bearing witness to the brutality of war and honoring those affected by it.  Painter Dang Ai Viet shares her journey and her passion...