Poet Lan Hinh: Steadfastly Preserving Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage
In 1989, Lan Hinh (born Tran Thi Lan) - daughter of the patriotic scholar and cultural figure A Nam Tran Tuan Khai - returned to Vietnam after living in the United States for years. Since then, she has dedicated herself to preserving and sharing traditional culture through quiet yet persistent efforts.
Now in her nineties, she regularly welcomes visitors, students, and scholars to the cultural spaces she established. "Returning home alone back then was not an easy decision," she recalls. "But I felt I was coming back not just for myself, but to do something meaningful for the community and future generations."
Her defining legacy lies in two unique cultural spaces: the A Nam Memorial House in Ho Chi Minh City and Lan Dinh Ben along the La Nga River in Lam Dong Province. She spent over two decades curating documents and artifacts for the Memorial House to preserve her father’s literary legacy and patriot movement history. Meanwhile, Lan Dinh Ben serves as an eco-cultural retreat blending nature with traditional art. Both venues host poetry readings, ca tru performances, and youth exchanges.
Rather than relying on rigid lectures, Lan Hinh shares culture through storytelling, poetry, and discussions on traditional etiquette, attire, and the beauty of the Vietnamese language. Born into a refined literary family, she is also the author of poetry collections such as Kim Sinh Luy, Ben Nao, and Dao Thuong, as well as Vuon Hong ABC, an educational series teaching moral values to children through folk poetry and proverbs.
Lan Hinh believes cultural education begins at home and school. By learning to cherish their mother tongue and traditions, youth gain a solid foundation to integrate globally without losing their cultural identity. In a rapidly modernizing world, her lifelong commitment continues to keep the spirit of Vietnamese heritage alive./.
By Son Nghia/VNP