(VOVworld)- The sea and islands are an endless source of inspiration for Vietnamese artists, writers, painters, and composers. The Mekong River Delta Arts and Literature Association has recently promoted works depicting the love for the national sea and islands by southern composers, painters, and writers.

Composer Do Lao meets with students

Earlier this year, composer Do Lap form Hau Giang province travelled along Vietnam to collect stories and learn about the love for the homeland’s sea and islands among the Vietnamese people. After nearly a year, Lap collected approximately 54,000 stories. Lap said: “I’m very happy that local people and students responded to my requests so enthusiastically. They wrote about the motherland, people, love, and patriotism. For example, a story about border soldiers in A Pa Chai border station in Dien Bien reports: “On June 23, 2015, we – the soldiers at A Ba Chai border station, Dien Bien province – want to wish officials and soldiers who are defending national sea and islands health and trust to the Party and the nation. All Vietnamese people are turning to you”.

The Kien Giang Arts and Literature Association has regularly organized song-writing contests for the border soldiers and navy. The contest was popularized widely among the public and received enthusiastic responses from local composers. Composer Duong Minh Duc, Vice President of the Association says these contests have received several outstanding works which were later spread through the mass media: “Song-writing contests about the borders, sea, and islands have always received an enthusiastic response from composers and the public nationwide. We have published these works in books and CDs to further popularize them”.

Arts and Literature Associations in Can Tho and Tra Vinh province have organized fact-finding tours for writers and composers. Vice President of the Tra Vinh Arts and Literature Association Nguyen Dung says these tours inspire the artists to write about the sea and islands and the people’s love for their homeland. An Giang province, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City have recently organized a number of paintings and photo exhibitions featuring the sea and islands. Nguyen Qui Thuan is the author of the painting “Sea flowers”: “The painting depicts naval troops on rescue boats. They are the sea flowers. I have recently visited naval soldiers and was inspired by their lives. They practice hard and are ready for rescue work and defense”.