1
INTRODUCTION
1. The reason for selecting the topic
1.1. The short stories in the Mekong Delta are associated
with many writers such as: Son Nam, Trang The Hy, Nguyen Quang
Sang, Anh Duc, etc… and recently Nguyen Ngoc Tu, who are
admired by readers.
1.2. Compared to other genres, the short stories in the
Mekong Delta from 1975 until now have grown in number and have
had the unique contribution of content as well as arts, especially the
representation of life, soul and personality of the Mekong Delta
people during this period.
However, so far there is no systematic and comprehensive
study of the short stories in the Mekong Delta from 1975 until now.
For the above reasons, we went into the research on the
survey of the features of the short stories in the Mekong River
Delta from 1975 to present.
2. The history of the research problem
Through our research, we have found the studies of the short
stories in the Mekong Delta after 1975 as follows:
The short stories in the Mekong Delta from 1975 until now –
Achievements and concerns (Hoai Phuong) ; Looking for ‘‘the
portrait’’of the short stories in the Mekong Delta (Vo Tan Cuong),
The prose in the Mekong Delta: a prose area with a lot of
originalities (Chiem Thanh) ; The character and bravery of the South
prose (Ho Tinh Tam) ; The prose in the Mekong Delta – a way of
development (Nguyen Thanh) ; A separate taste of delta stories
(Tuong Vi) ; The outstanding contribution of short stories in the
2
Mekong Delta after 1975 (Through the Collection of short stories in
the Mekong Delta 1975 – 1995 and the Collections of 18 writers in

movement and main characteristics of this category.
4. The object and delimitation of the study
The survey object of the dissertation is the short stories in the
Mekong Delta after 1975 in the following collection and book of
short stories:
- The collection of the short stories in the Mekong Delta from
1975 to 1995, the Publishing House of Writer Association,1996
-Collection 18 of the writers in the Mekong Delta, Mũi Cà
Mau Publishing House.
-The short stories of three female authors in the Mekong
Delta, Literature Publishing House.
-The Western short stories, Tre Publishing House - Ho Chi
Minh City.
- The short stories in Tien Giang, Dong Thap, An Giang and
The short stories by Nguyen Ngoc Tu.
-Besides, the dissertation also extends the scope of the
survey of a number of short stories in the Mekong Delta before 1975
and short stories in other regions to have a basis for contrasting,
comparing and helping clarify the characteristics of the short stories
in the Mekong Delta from 1975 to present.
-Selecting the survey of the short stories in the Mekong Delta
from 1975 to now, we have access to a wide and not quite stable
object. Thus, the dissertation only examines the issues that have been
shaped mainly in terms of content and arts of the short stories in the
Mekong Delta from 1975 to present.
4
5. The methods of the study
The dissertation applies the main following methods:
- Method of system
- Method of type

The Mekong Delta has an area of over 39,568 km2, including 13
provinces: An Giang, Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Dong Thap, Hau
Giang, Kien Giang, Long An, Tien Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, and
Can Tho city, with the population of 21 million people.
Mentioning the Mekong Delta, we can talk about a real
interesting and fascinating history – changing waste land into
cultivated areas in South Vietnam in general and in the Mekong
Delta in particular. Before the seventeenth century, this area seemed
to sleep in a wild and quiet area with indigenous scattered population.
In the XVII century, the Vietnamese came here to explore this land.
The most typical features in the Mekong Delta are easily
associated with the waters with a interlaced network of rivers,
streams, and canals. The production activities and daily activities of
the local people are always attached to any fluctuation of the water
stream and tide. The rivers and canals here also provide freshwater
sediment accretion and cooling water for the gardens full of fruit
trees, lush paddy fields and innumerous fishes and shrimps. Many
families settle in the boat which is treated as their home. Many boats
come together to create floating residential areas.
During the course of history the Mekong Delta has always
undergone the events concerning the destiny of the whole nation.
This is where co-reside many ethnic communities such as the
Vietnamese, Chinese, Khmer and Cham, so it is the place where the
6
process of cultural exchange between peoples occurs. That process
has cultivated humanistic values and formed the cultural values of
particular identity to this land.
The notable feature of the culture in the Mekong Delta is the
one of the waters. This is expressed through the customs, practices,
rituals in daily life and productive labor, especially geographical

good one for bound resettlement and then write about it.
There are also some native writers who have written
extensively on the Mekong Delta, but later moved to Ho Chi Minh
City such as: Son Nam, Anh Duc, Nguyen Quang Sang With short
stories by these writers, we temporarily classify them into the second
interpretation.
In fact, through the collections of short stories in the
Mekong Delta so far, we find that the selected stories are in the
second interpretation.
From two above interpretations, we have the concept that the
short stories in the Mekong Delta in the second interpretation. Maybe
at a certain angle necessary to ponder and think more, but for us it is
the basis to do research and identify the characteristics of the short
stories in the Mekong Delta.
1.3. Team of the authors of the short stories in the Mekong Delta
The classification of the generations of the writers of the
short stories in the Mekong Delta from 1975 until now is only
relative. In our opinion, it is possible to visualize the authors of short
stories in the Mekong Delta in a continuation of three generations
8
The first generation includes the writers who became famous
before 1975 such as Doan Gioi, Anh Duc, Nguyen Quang Sang,
Trang The Hy, Tran Kim Trac They wrote the short stories which
were known nationwide to the readers before 1975. After 1975, they
still composed abundantly, energetically, and continued to contribute
to the country's literature.
The second generation includes the famous writers after 1975
and on this stage they are still energetic, such as: Pham Trung Khau,
Trinh Buu Hoai, Ngo Khac Tai And the pennames became mature
after 1975, and are now the major team, such as: Vu Hong, Kim Ba,

into exploitation and justification for the moral dimensions of
everyday life. The human problems in the war and life today are
always reflected in the beliefs, concerns on each page of their text.
Before the numerous changes of the new life, many writers are
interested in affection and gratitude.
Many other problems in the daily lives continue to be
exploited, such as trust and empathy altruism, belief in future life,
respect for happiness, though happiness is very simple.
Many lives, life-like scenes of all social classes have been revived by
short story writers in the Mekong Delta. They are ''farmers major in
fields”, women, children, the war wounded, veterans, artists, etc. and
even the weak and degrading staff, etc.
New life with many challenges that people have never tasted,
especially the issues of recovery, economic development and social
management in the context of innovative economic thinking, moving
to market mechanism, is a quite detailed way through the concerns,
thoughts and human destinies.
The nature of the wetland is peaceful and prosperous, with
the retained landscape of wild features, mysterious, harsh and
10
intense, but sticking with people and cultural life, which creates
topics for many writers to be interested in exploiting.
Trying to understand the short stories in the Mekong Delta,
we found that the short story writers have a style of writing which is
quite diverse and unique. It is rich and charismatic style of writing
because there is something new of Son Nam when he thought ''To
integrate into the literature, it is necessary to take risks, to write
something new for people to read instead of repeating old ones that
none wants to read''; Trang The Hy’s style of writing is full of
concerns and elegance; Vu Hong has both liberal and deep tone with

This is also the individual traits of the South.
2.1.1.2. Abundant and peaceful nature is associated with
the life of people
Through the short stories in the Mekong Delta after 1975, the
readers can imagine the lyrical beauty and rich potential of a country
of interlacing canals, lush gardens and immense rice fields, etc. Here
also gather various specialty species. There are crocodiles in the
river, reef fish, and turtles, snakes, honey, etc. in the forests.
These scenes and products show the pride of beautiful
prosperous new lands in the south of the country. Reading the short
stories in the Mekong Delta, readers also recognize the flexible and
smart behavior of applying natural advantage rather than confronting
the nature by the people in the Mekong Delta.
The nature also contributes to molding human character, and
also is the place where they are sending their emotions in many
angles.
12
It can be said that in every human being, nature is always a
spiritual rope tied to the land of the most enduring roots.
2.1.2. The inspiration in human beings
When writing about the South people in every case, the writer
always uphold their dignity.
2.1.2.1. Praising people of kindness and loyalty
Inspiration of praising kind and loyal people is throughout the
short stories in the Mekong Delta after 1975. They may lack the
material, but are never poor in love and definition. Despite extreme
poverty, they live devotedly and love violently, and they are even
ready to sacrifice themselves to help each other in utter distress.
2.1.2.2. Praising frank and candid people
Discussing the characteristics of the South, people often refer

becomes fearful habits and begins to appear in rural areas. There are
hot problems such as ''surrogacy'' and homosexuality, prostitution
begin penetrating the remote areas to make the lives of rural people
more or less disturbed.
In particular, many stories criticize selfish and irresponsible
lifestyle of the parents, causing serious injuries to the children’s soul.
The writers also criticize harming the natural environment of
the process of urbanization as well as human consciousness.
2.2.3. Criticizing the negative impacts of the market
economy
When the market economy has clearly expressed its
''disabilities'', the critical inspiration in the short stories in the
Mekong Delta develops more strongly. The spiritual values has been
gradually pushed back or even forgotten by the power the money.
14
Lifestyle of chasing money and being dominated by money has
ruined personality and ethics of many people in society. Love and
marriage may also become resilient for human advancement.
In general, critical inspiration in the short stories of the
Mekong Delta from 1975 to now is the critical questions that the
writers set out for the readers, but with a gentle and not harsh
attitude. This is consistent with lifestyle and environment of human
activities in the Mekong Delta.
2.3. Aware inspiration of searching for human nature
By using different ways to explore and express uniquely, the
short stories in the Mekong Delta after 1975, reflect personal life,
manifestation in daily activities .
2.3.1. People with love and happiness
Reading the short stories in the Mekong Delta since 1975,
readers feel the love and happiness of the people in many different

of Vietnamese people conserved and developed in the Mekong Delta.
That is the concept of spiritual life reflected in the short stories in the
Mekong Delta after 1975
Besides, the torment and the obsession of human with their
wrongs are also explained from the spiritual perspective of
consciousness by the writers.
In short, spiritual life of people reflected through the short
stories in the Mekong Delta after 1975, is light transmitted from the
inner world of each person, explain the phenomena of spiritual life
and the engine creating the power of faith and of every individual act
convincingly.
16
2.4. Inspiration of awarenesss in cultural life
The culture in the Mekong Delta is diverse in uniform and
original and marked by man and land.
Finding out about the short stories in the Mekong Delta after
1975, readers can feel a cultural life that is abundant and vivid.
2.4.1. Reformist art
Talking about the South is mentioning the cradle of opera and
traditional music for amateurs. This art form is consistent with the
topographic characteristics of the waters as well as the lives of the
South people. Therefore, for a long time, traditional music for
amateurs and reformist art have become the lifestyle and needs
indispensable in the cultural life of the South people.
Through the short stories in the Mekong Delta , readers can
feel the passion as well as the love for this kind of art
2.4.2. Folk festivals
Through The short stories in The Mekong Delta, readers easily find
out the festival atmosphere attached to the waters atmosphere. There
are a lot of ethnic festivals in the Mekong Delta, every festival has a

dimensionally the reality of life. In addition, through story cases
writers explain the problems that the works place; therefore, the
readers are orientated to be aware, think and act properly.
3.1.2. Arts structure and end of the story:
The short stories in the Mekong Delta after 1975 have freer
structure and happy end; closed end and open end are common ones
in the short stories in the Mekong Delta after the 1975. Many ends
make a deep impression in the heart of readers as well as creating the
18
space, leaving readers become co-creative, self-judging to decipher
the issues that the authors set out.
3.1.3. Arts of creating space – time:
The original features of the short stories in the Mekong Delta
from 1975 to now covering the space of the stories are natural space,
living space and private space bearing the mark of the waters.
The time is the one of the past, of the memories associated
with the situation, the scenes where each person is living and
experiencing. A motif of time that the readers frequently spend in the
short stories in the Mekong Delta after the 1975 is a mixture between
the present and the past; time is seasonal, transitional between day
and night, between the old year and new year. Dream time is also
used by the authors to explain the depth of inner feeling of characters.
3.2. Arts depicting characters
3.2.1. Depicting characters through conflicts, clashes
Many stories in the Mekong Delta have successfully
described the conflicts of the characters. Those are conflicts and
clashes of the characters, between characters and circumstances,
conception of life and personal conflicts within each character.
3.2.2. Depicting appearance
The writers also describe the features of the character appearance

the South people and make readers feel familiar and close. Reversing
sounds also makes words visual, colorful and much more expressive
than usual wording. It stimulates the imagination and powerful
emotions of readers.
3.3.2. Arts of using words of geographical names
20
Using words of geographical names by specific nouns is
stuck to the river image. This is a famous habit of naming of the
South people. They take the names of things and phenomena which
have typical characteristics or geography and the historical value of
that land or the most prominent characteristics of the material, the
phenomenon for the symbol of naming.
Words of geographical names not only emphasize the nuances
associated with the waters but also reflect life and human destiny.
3.3.3. Arts of using words of things and phenomena
Words denoting topography, vegetation, waters such as rivers
and canals, seizures, ditches and floating markets, flooding seasons
boats, canoes, huts, trees and water lily, hyacinth, fields sparkling
alum, ducks running in the fields, medium tide, etc. appear frequently
in the works.
Through the words, the readers recognize the separate
distinctive features, landscapes and geographical features of the
Mekong Delta, not confused with other regions.
3.3.4. Arts of using words of human names
We often see the names of the characters in the stories
associated with a certain profession or of their distinctive features.
The South people also have a habit of naming things in order.
This naming exists only in the South. The habit of calling and
naming things in order is the unique thing in the stories in the
Mekong Delta comparing with the Northern short stories

authors of the short stories in the Mekong Delta did not analyze and
talked about the great scale but thoughts and contemplation of
22
everyday activities associated with life and the fate of every human
being. This is also what makes a human value in the short stories of
the Mekong Delta after 1975.
In summary, the unique creation of arts in the short stories in
the Mekong Delta after 1975 is not much, but enough for the readers
to identify specific characteristics of this region compared to the
short stories in other regions.
CONCLUSION
Looking back to the 35 year journey, the short stories in the
Mekong Delta have achieved some admirable achievements in the
arts as well as content, contributing significantly to the achievement
of the national stories. This is a process of hard labor of many
generations of the writers in the Mekong Delta.
The continuous flow of the short stories in the Mekong Delta
bases on continuation of three generations of writers , the generation
before 1975 still has contribution for national literature, the
generation grown up after 1975 , the main staff at present appeared
in the early of the 21
st
century , they are young and energetic.
The desire for emotional resolution about nature, about man
and the changes in life inspire writers to explore, discover cultural
life as well as the psychological depth of the internal world of people.
On that basis, in every possible aspect at each level of themes and
different discoveries, they have devoted to the readers a massive
volume of short stories, including many good short stories.
The topics, themes and reflecting content of the short stories

professional, but many are amateurs. For them writing is part-time,
and they are not trained officially. They can’t live on their career.
24
The absence of the critic is also the limitation of the literature
of the Mekong Delta. In fact, this area is in urgent need of arguments
and literary criticism.
Therefore, the training of the team of composition as well as
arguments and literary criticism is urgent needs for managers of
cultural arts in the Mekong Delta.
From school year 2007 - 2008, the local language and
literature program have been included in the official course taught in
high school. We hope good stories such as The aunt named Doi by
Nguyen Quang Sang, endless fields by Nguyen Ngoc Tu, etc. can be
put into an array of teaching literature to illustrate the literature of the
Mekong Delta.
Because the dissertation only identifies the research on the
key issues of content and art, it can affirm the contributions of the
short stories in the Mekong Delta after 1975 in the movement of
Vietnam short stories. So many questions about the short stories in
the Mekong Delta after 1975 such as : the world of characters,
narrative view have not been mentioned by us.
We hope that there will be more comprehensive and deeper
studies on the short stories in the Mekong Delta after 1975.
In the limited capacity and scope of the survey data in
certain degree, the dissertation’s result does certainly have some
restrictions.
We look forward to receiving the comments and exchanges
from teachers and researchers so that the dissertation may improve
more. /.