Due to an unexpected accident, Le Nhat Anh suddenly passed away in the early days of spring (March 8, 2025), when his creative ability and passion were still at its peak, leaving behind much grief for his friends and relatives...

I first met Le Nhat Anh at the Creative Camp of the Union of Literature and Arts Associations of Da Nang in Vung Tau in 2020. At first glance, everyone could easily mistake him for a photographer and tour guide. Because even though he was only a member of the Literature and Arts Association of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, he was very active, often meeting and kindly taking Da Nang artists to visit this place and that place during the camp days. Until one time, through a poetry and music exchange session, we learned more clearly: in addition to photography, Le Nhat Anh is also a poet with many published works that are loved by readers. Poet Vu Thanh Hoa introduced him: “Le Nhat Anh writes in a variety of ways: six-eight verse, free verse, prose… And whether it is love poetry or poetry about current events, in general, he exudes a straightforward, straightforward temperament. Who knows, if Le Nhat Anh expressed his thoughts and views in a more roundabout, multi-dimensional way, he might have encountered fewer consequences?”

Some of Le Nhat Anh's poetry collections have been published such as: "Autumn through the alley" (Thanh Nien Publishing House, 2003); "Ngay cua anh" (Hoi Nha Van Publishing House, 2013); "Chuyen cua nui" (Hoi Nha Van Publishing House, 2018); "Chieu khong de lam tho" (Hoi Nha Van Publishing House, 2021)... His poems have also been widely set to music by musicians such as: "Gio dem" (music by Minh Hue), "Yeu cai nguoi 50" (music by Minh Hue)... Right during the exchange at the Creative Camp of the Union of Literature and Arts Associations of Da Nang in Vung Tau, Le Nhat Anh's poems were also successfully set to music by Da Nang musicians such as: "Vung Tau ngay vong em" (music by Phan Thanh Truong), "Bau oi!" (music by Quang Khanh)...

From left to right: Le Nhat Anh, Tran Trung Sang, Nguyen Ngoc Hanh.

As a poet with a talent for photography, Le Nhat Anh has a strong point in the topic of homeland sentiment. Through his trips and experiences along the length of the country, he always observes, takes photos and thinks with emotional and subtle perspectives. And one thing worth noting is that among the published poetry collections, he devotes a large amount of space to the topic of the Central Highlands, where he was born and raised. Indeed, if you had not breathed the air and sky of that homeland, it would not be easy to find the emotional verses below:

"The plateau is sunny and windy but quiet"

Who will pay for the hot mountain?

The forest is left with one tree.

Ede belly remembers the mountain day.

The basket has a tapered base.

The highland girl went down the street with sad eyes…”

Sometimes because of too much attachment and love, the poet shared to the point of choking and sorrow:

"The land of the highlands is strangely sunny and rainy

The water on the mountain flows forever downstream

The stove of the highland people keeps the fire

Fermented forest wine jar.

The land of the upstream is choked with emotion.

The desolate mountain has no trees in sight.

The barren field forgets the fruits

Where did the mountain girl go from the village to the city?

The son grew up in the foggy, red-soil homeland, and when he grew up, he struggled and experienced every road in the country, but he always loved, missed, and returned to the highlands, because that was the most peaceful place:

"I follow you through the hard times

In the past, in the countryside, my hands also used to hoe and plow.

The soul loves the mountain so it should return.

A little peace with the sunshine and wind of the highlands"

Whether it is early morning, night or rainy day:

"Dak Mil town, early morning coffee

The endless green hills

Serepok flows to neighboring countries

About Buon Don listen to elephant stories.

Evening in Buon Ma Thuot

Heavy rain, silent rain on the road

The wind is lost across the late street

"The rain in the highlands wet all day love".

Nguyen Binh, a fellow poet who perhaps sympathizes with Le Nhat Anh's poetry the most, commented: "Le Nhat Anh has used his abundant life experience in the process of working as a photographer to write poetry, so his poetry is always fresh, not repetitive, each poem has a theme, has a distinct nuance. The poetic language is simple, not flowery, creating a natural, friendly poetic voice, closely linked to the life of the people, especially the ethnic groups in the Northern Central Highlands."

Not long before leaving this world, Le Nhat Anh and a group of friends had a trip across Vietnam from the South to the North. Of course, he did not miss the opportunity to visit his hometown Tien Phuoc (Quang Nam) and stop by Da Nang to visit the literary friends he had met. And today, among the poetry collections Anh had given away and still kept in my hands, I suddenly felt so sad when I came across these verses:

"Today I go back to the mountain

I give half the way

Yeah maybe tomorrow

Never met in life"

Well, maybe tomorrow… but how could it happen so quickly? Farewell Le Nhat Anh, my talented artist friend, half way… to the mountains, to the peaceful homeland you always dreamed of…

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202504/nua-doan-duong-tien-ban-415061c/