Writer Nhat Tien

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), 1963

Giot Le Den (The Black Tears), 1968

Tang Pham Cua Giong Song (The River’s Gifts), 1972

Tieng Ken (The Horn’s Sound), 1982

Mot Thoi Dang Qua (A Time Passing), 1985

Canh Cua (The Door), 1990

Que Nha, Que Nguoi (Home Country, Others’ Country), 1994, co-authored with writer Nhat Tuan

Mua Xuan (Rain of the Spring), 2013

Children Stories:

La Chuc Thu, 1969 (The Will), novel

Theo Gio Ngan Bay, 1970 (Floating With The Wind), novella

Qua Giang Sinh, 1970 (The Christmas Present), novella

Doa Hong Gai, 1970 (The Thorny Rose), novella

Ke Chuyen Tam Cam,1970 (Tam Cam Story Telling), short story

Ngay Thang Em Dem, 1972 (Tranquility Times), novella

Duong Len Nui Thien Ma, 1972 (Road to Mount Thien Ma), novel

Thuo Mo Lam Van Si, 1973 (The Time I Dreamt of Becoming a Writer), memoir

Plays & Play Novels:

Nguoi Keo Man, 1962 (The Playhouse’s Curtain Puller), play novel

Ha Son, 1973 (The Mountain Descending), play for Scout’s Fire Camp

Cong Ly Xa Hoi Chu Nghia, 1988 (The Socialist’s Justice), one act play

Mot Buoi Dien Kich, 1990 (A Performing Session), short story play

Mot Khoanh Doi Thuong, 2013 (Snapshot of an Ordinary Life), one act play

Ong Giao Hoi Huu, 2013, (The Retired Teacher), one act play

Narratives & Accounts & Chronicles:

Hai Tac Trong Vinh Thai Lan, 1981 (Pirates in the Gulf of Thailand), co-authored with Duong Phuc and Vu Thanh Thuy

Thuyen 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.

24 August, 1936 – 14 September, 2020