In this week's episode, viewers will journey through the stories of Vietnamese soldiers. The image of the Vietnamese soldier will be vividly and emotionally portrayed through the lenses of cinema, poetry, painting, and untold personal stories from special guests.
The Aspiration to March Forward
The first chapter of Time, oh Time! Telling a Story will highlight this spirit through majestic cinematic scenes and stirring poetry. Major General Duc Trinh will share insights on the spirit of volunteerism and the aspiration of young Vietnamese to fight during the fierce years of war. His own story of falsifying his age to enlist in 1974, fighting in the Southern battlefields, participating in the liberation of the South, and later performing international duties in Cambodia, stands as a testament to this spirit.
People’s Artist Tu Long will offer another perspective on the volunteer spirit of the soldiers, not only their heroic will to fight but also their optimism and love for life.
Songs like Marching Song, Uncle Ho Still Marches With Us, The Girl Opening the Road, Truong Son East, and Truong Son West were born amidst the smoke of war, greatly uplifting the spirit of soldiers and people alike. Theatrical arts such as spoken drama, cheo (traditional opera), and cai luong (reformed theater) also reflected wartime life and boosted morale. Art troupes fearlessly performed right on the frontlines.
The voluntary spirit of the soldier became an endless source of inspiration for Vietnamese cinema.
A special report will revisit outstanding films depicting sacrifice, bravery, and the post-war trauma of soldiers, such as 17th Parallel, Nights and Days, The Wild Field, Saigon Rangers, The Scent of Burning Grass, Rising Wind, Sharing the Same River, The Returnee, Red Rain, The Tunnel...
A highlight of the program will be the appearance of the filmmaking team of The Tunnel: Sunlight in the Dark, including director Bui Thac Chuyen, actor Thai Hoa (as Tu Dap), and young actress Ho Thu Anh, who will share behind-the-scenes stories about the production. A special surprise awaits the team – a heartfelt gift from young audiences, honoring both the film and the nation's history.
Post-war – The Soldier and Silent Sorrows
As the war faded into history, its scars continued to linger in the hearts of returning soldiers. Time, oh Time! Telling a Story will continue with tales of loss, trauma, and deep gratitude toward those who sacrificed everything. The song Round Footprints on the Sand by composer Tran Tien, performed soulfully by Hoang Viet Danh with melancholic guitar, will open this emotional chapter.
The program will bring touching stories of veterans carrying invisible scars that cannot be healed. Writer Dang Vuong Hung will share his two-decade journey collecting wartime letters and diaries – vivid historical testimonies of high ideals, sacrifice, and patriotism. He will recount the letters that moved him the most, especially about student-soldiers like martyr Nguyen Van Thac, with his famous diary Forever Twenty. Hung dreams of building a “Memory Museum” on social media, making history easily accessible to younger generations.
Meanwhile, artist Dang Ai Viet will reveal her 10-year journey crisscrossing Vietnam by motorbike, painting portraits of Heroic Vietnamese Mothers. She will share the hardships and profound meaning of her quest, her faithful motorbike companions, and her emotions while sketching these revered figures. Her life story, from a female anti-American warrior to a singer and then a celebrated painter, will serve as a powerful source of inspiration for viewers.
The Hearts of Soldiers
Though the war is over, the heart of the soldier still burns fiercely, continuing to serve the country in peacetime. The final chapter of Time, Oh Time! Telling a Story, will feature soldierson new battlegrounds. Wherever they stand, they carry an unwavering spirit, dedication, and always place the homeland above all else.
This week’s journey will conclude with touching images of the silent yet profound contributions of soldiers in times of peace, reaffirming that “the hearts of soldiers” remains an endless inspiration for both art and life, carrying stories of everyday humanity beyond their duties of national defense.
Like the story of a naval officer who, stationed on a remote island, sacrificed his happiness for duty. Years of service far from home cost him his marriage, yet he quietly supported his ex-wife through cancer treatment in Hanoi, simply because “she gave her youth to him and is the mother of his daughter”.
Photographer Nguyen Tien Anh Tuan, known for his close ties with the image of soldiers, especially Air Force pilots, will share memorable moments from his career. He not only captured the brave, modern, and elite images of fighter pilots but also their tender, warm family moments, showcasing their strong yet humble character. He will also recall the silent sacrifices during peacetime, such as the tragic helicopter crash in Hoa Lac, where he lost a close friend. The Su-30 fighter insignia on his jacket is more than a memento, it’s a mark of his journalistic journeys and passion.
With the theme The Hearts of Soldiers, this week's Time, oh time! Telling a story promises to bring audiences a wide range of emotions.
Tune in to the broadcast at 9:30 PM, April 27, on VTV3!
