The historical day 30.4.1975 when the country was absolutely united, I was only 4 years old and had no notetion of war, although my parents still remembered exactly evacuated days when American empire raided Ha Noi Capital – Vietnam in December 1972. Grown up a little , I took notice that every occasion of memory the great national holidays I was met again legendary generals through books, newspapers, TV, listened them telling again their battle reminicences . And I’m curious to discover about their life at time of peace. Quite many years later when I became a journalist I haven’t remembered about my curiousness at childhood time any more. But then May 2009 when I carried out images of meeting Top –Ranking General Vo Nguyen Giap with officers of Vietnam Army Historical Institution at his own house in occasion of memory 55 years of Dien Bien Phu victory , and my curiousness stood up again. How is general’s retirement life ? How are their relationships with family, friends and former teammates? Aftershocks war affect their current life like? They are concerned about the hot issues of the country does not? Project “War commander at peacetime†is come out by that ideas. Choice is very difficult because how to choose the typical war commanders who contributed great in battle , and represented for many different arms . Next, to persuade generals so that they agreed to take a photo is very difficult because they wouldn’t like to appear in front of public in normal life , avoiding unnecessary “criticismâ€. Furthermore, at retirement but generals are very busy when they take advantage of time to go to visit their friends, old battlefield, do charity and travel foreign country. And the more exposure to the war commanders, the more I want to go deeper into their inner life, the secrets they keep ... How do they face to their disease, with death imminent.? Are there similarities between the image of a hero on the battlefield and 80-year-old old man is lying to face a wall in the storm sick? General Nguyen Hong Nhi told me that he did not fear death, because his survive through the war, which is a miracle of the life, so now he is ready to face death. General Nguyen Duc Huy said: sometimes he always lives in two world .The bustling world of today. And the other world, in which he and his comrades are living with memories, pride, love, pain and obsessions. The project started in 2009 and continues today. This project will focus on 12 army general, the meaning of 12 number: December is the month marks the anniversary of the founding of the People's Army of Vietnam. This project will last until the last minute in the life of the war commanders because I want to express the last point of the path. My series below is a part of “War commander at peace time†with images of five persons: Lieutenant General Nguyá»…n Quốc ThÆ°á»›c, Lieutenant General Nguyá»…n Văn Tình, Major General Nguyá»…n Hồng Nhị, Major-General Nguyá»…n Äức Huy, Major General Äá»— Văn Phúc.
Cultural Bachelor degree in 1996. Trained by famous photographer as James Natchwey, Gary Knight, Tim Page, Steve Northup, Gaby Sommer…in workshop of IMMF (Indochinal Memory Media Found). Currenly work as special reporter for Lao ??ng newspaper (one of the biggest newspapers in Viet Nam). 10 solo exhibions and over 30 group exhibitions (US, UK, France, Grecee,Spain, Urugoay, Argentina, Singapore, Rumania…), 6 books released (“My mum”, “Dharma and Life”…).
