Real Name: Bui Nhat Tien
Born: 8/24/1936, in Ha Noi
Died: 9/14/2020 in Irvine, California, just 18 days after his wife of 66 years, writer-translator Do Phuong Khanh.
Immigrated to the South: 1954, living in Dalat, later in Saigon
Escaped Viet Nam: 10/1979, Refugee at Songkhla Refugee Camp, Thailand, 9 months
Settled in California, US from 1980
Activities: Writing, Teaching and other Cultural, Educational and Social activities
Vice President, PEN International-PEN Vietnam Centre, 1968-1975
Member of the Republic of Vietnam’s Educational and Cultural Council, 2nd Term, 1974
Lecturer at Vietnam Armed Force’s Officers School of Political Warfare, 1968-1975
Managing-Editor of Huyen Tran Publishing Company, 1971-1975
Chief-Editor of Thieu Nhi Magazine, 1971-1975
Member of Boat People SOS Committee, 1980-1990
Literary Accomplishments:
Grand Prize Winner of National Literary Award 1960-1961, novel Them Hoang (The Solitary Terrace)
First appeared in Ha Noi, 1952, on the Giang Son Daily (Dr. Hoang Co Binh, Managing-Editor)
with the short story Chiec Nhan Mat Ngoc (The Jade Ring), Wrote plays for the Cai Tao Weekly (Pham van Thu, Managing Editor) 1953-1954
In Dalat, 1954-1955, wrote radio plays for the Voice of the Musketeers Army.
In Saigon, 1958, joined Giai Pham Van Hoa Ngay Nay (Today’s Culture Magazine), Managing-Editor Nhat Linh, with the short story The White Clogs and other novellas.
In Vietnam, 1952-1975, contributed to multiple publications: Giang Son, Cai Tao, Thoi Tap, Chanh Dao, Bach Khoa, Van, Tan Phong, Van Hoc, Dong Phuong…
In the US, from 1980 to Present, appeared on:
- Nguoi Viet, Saigon, Van Nghe, Hop Luu, Van Hoc, Viet Tide, Viet Stream (Orange County, US)
- Khai Phong, Chan Hung (Los Angeles, US)
- Viet Nam Hai Ngoai (San Diego, US)
- Dat Moi (Seattle, US)
- Ngay Nay (Kansas City, US)
- Xac Dinh (Virgina, US)
- Chuong Saigon, Viet Luan, Chieu Duong (Australia)
- Lua Viet (Canada)
- Doc Lap (Germany)
- Duong Moi, Que Me (France)
Published:
Novels:
- Nhung Nguoi Ao Trang, 1959 (The Persons in White)
- Nhung Vi Sao Lac, 1960 (The Lost Stars)
- Them Hoang, 1961 (The Solitary Terrace)
- May Hoang Hon, 1962 (The Sundowner Clouds)
- Chuyen Be Phuong, 1964 (Be Phuong Story)
- Vach Da Cheo Leo, 1965 (The Hanging Cliff)
- Chim Hot Trong Long, 1966 (Caged Bird Singing)
- Tay Ngoc, 1968 (Jaded Hand)
- Giac Ngu Chap Chon, 1969 (Shallow Sleeps)
- Que Nha Yeu Dau, 1970 (Dear Hometown)
- Mo Hoi Cua Da, 1988 (Sweat of Stone)
Short Stories:
Authored hundreds of short stories, many were featured in various Literary Collections…
Nhung Buoc Tien Cua Toi (My First Steps), 1951, a collection of short stories and poems, (lost)Anh Sang Cong Vien (The Park’s Light), 1963Giot Le Den (The Black Tears), 1968Tang Pham Cua Giong Song (The River’s Gifts), 1972Tieng Ken (The Horn’s Sound), 1982Mot Thoi Dang Qua (A Time Passing), 1985Canh Cua (The Door), 1990Que Nha, Que Nguoi (Home Country, Others’ Country), 1994, co-authored with writer Nhat TuanMua Xuan (Rain of the Spring), 2013Children Stories:
La Chuc Thu, 1969 (The Will), novelTheo Gio Ngan Bay, 1970 (Floating With The Wind), novellaQua Giang Sinh, 1970 (The Christmas Present), novellaDoa Hong Gai, 1970 (The Thorny Rose), novellaKe Chuyen Tam Cam,1970 (Tam Cam Story Telling), short storyNgay Thang Em Dem, 1972 (Tranquility Times), novellaDuong Len Nui Thien Ma, 1972 (Road to Mount Thien Ma), novelThuo Mo Lam Van Si, 1973 (The Time I Dreamt of Becoming a Writer), memoirPlays & Play Novels:
Nguoi Keo Man, 1962 (The Playhouse’s Curtain Puller), play novelHa Son, 1973 (The Mountain Descending), play for Scout’s Fire CampCong Ly Xa Hoi Chu Nghia, 1988 (The Socialist’s Justice), one act playMot Buoi Dien Kich, 1990 (A Performing Session), short story playMot Khoanh Doi Thuong, 2013 (Snapshot of an Ordinary Life), one act playOng Giao Hoi Huu, 2013, (The Retired Teacher), one act playNarratives & Accounts & Chronicles:
Hai Tac Trong Vinh Thai Lan, 1981 (Pirates in the Gulf of Thailand), co-authored with Duong Phuc and Vu Thanh ThuyThuyen Nhan – Vai Trang Bi Su, 2008 (Boat People-The Tragic Tales)Hanh Trinh Chu Nghia, 2012 (A Literary Journey)Nha Giao Mot Thoi Nhech Nhac, 2012 (Educators, A Sloppy Time) Su That Khong The Bi Chon Vui, 2012 (The Truth Cannot Be Buried)Mot Thoi… Nhu The, 2012 (A Time … As Such)Tu Hoi But Viet Den Trung Tam Van But Viet Nam, 2016 (From the Viet Writers Association to the PEN Vietnam Centre)Besides being a writer, he was also an educator. He taught and participated in Cultural, Educational and Social areas. He also wrote the Petition to alarm the world to assist Vietnamese refugees and immigrants in their search for a life in liberty and dignity. He later became a member of Boat People SOS Committee from 1980 to 1990. Its goal was to help the boat people and other refugees from Vietnam either on the open sea, in the refugee camps or in the US and to inform the public about the hardship and suffering that the boat people must endure in their search of freedom.