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| Comics for all ages |
Amid the rhythm of life in the former imperial capital, there are still young people who nurture this passion - from reading and collecting comics to dreaming of becoming professional comic artists. Nguyen Ngo Thien Bach and Hoang Trong Thien are among those helping keep this passion alive, continuing to tell stories through their drawings.
Dreams from old comics
Born in 1999, comic artist Hoang Trong Thien, who currently lives and works in Hue, came to comics in a way very familiar to many young Vietnamese people: books such as Doraemon, Dragon Ball, Conan, Trang Ti and Trang Quynh - handed down by older siblings or given by his mother as small rewards. “The simple yet captivating stories completely drew me in. From then on, I became friends with a pencil and dreamed that one day I could draw stories of my own,” Thien shared.
That passion did not stop in childhood. While many of his peers chose more stable career paths, Thien persistently taught himself how to draw, created his own comics, and shared his work on social media. A few self-produced chapters became a turning point, when he was discovered by the owner of Light Comic Studio (Ha Noi) and invited to collaborate. Today, Thien works full-time as a comic artist at this studio.
The first work Thien completed was a one-shot comic (a single-chapter short story) entered in Comicola, a creative competition organized by Comicola Company to discover and encourage Vietnamese comic talent. Seeing his drawings become a complete story for the first time made him feel “both proud and happy,” a milestone that affirmed he was on the right path he had chosen.
Compared with Japan, South Korea, or the United States - where comics have developed into major industries - the Vietnamese comic market in general, and Hue in particular, remains small-scale and fragmented, lacking a strong, well-formed ecosystem. “Hue is not yet truly fertile ground for comic artists,” Thien said. “Studios, creative events, and professional communities are mainly concentrated in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, which poses considerable challenges for those working in the field in Hue”.
Yet it is precisely this quiet atmosphere that gives Thien a very personal source of inspiration. At times, he incorporates Hue’s landscapes, people, and cultural elements into his work, making the stories feel more familiar and intimate. “I like the pace of life and the beauty of Hue, so occasionally I add a few characteristic details to my comics to make them more interesting,” he shared.
Hoang Trong Thien style is clearly influenced by the comics of his Vietnamese childhood - simple, charming, and approachable. His creative process begins with developing ideas and scripts, followed by character design, storyboarding, and finally completing the draft. His favorite stage is the final drawing, because at that moment he “doesn’t need to think too much, just lets his soul flow with each stroke.”
Like many comic artists in Vietnam, Thien hopes that in the future Vietnamese comics will receive greater investment, allowing artists to make a living from their craft instead of having to “support their passion with another job.”
Comics are not just for children
Not only those who directly put pen to paper like Hoang Trong Thien sustain the world of comics; it is also nurtured by a steadfast community of adult readers. Nguyen Ngo Thien Bach (born in 1993), who grew up in Hue and is currently an artist and designer working at Kim Dong Publishing House (Ha Noi), is one of the representative figures of this community.
Occupying a dual role as both a long-time reader and an active participant in the publishing process, Thien Bach not only reads and collects comics but also helps bring them to Vietnamese audiences. In particular, he designs cover art for many comic titles licensed and published by Kim Dong Publishing House, thereby shaping the visual identity of these works as they reach readers. Drawing on both personal experience and professional practice, he believes comics should be properly recognized for their cultural and aesthetic value - as an art form capable of connecting generations and sustaining a rich inner life.
Having been connected to comics since childhood, each book for him was once a reward for good academic achievements. When he became financially independent as a university student, he began collecting comics in a more serious way and has maintained that habit ever since.
According to Thien Bach, comics are not merely a form of entertainment but also “a doorway to many worlds”, helping to nurture imagination, aesthetic sensibility, and offering multidimensional perspectives on society. From the standpoint of someone working in publishing, he believes the notion that comics are only for children is misguided. Like music or film, comics have different segments for different age groups. “What matters is that readers - especially parents - understand this,” he shared. And all values that enrich spiritual and inner life deserve to be respected; comparing personal tastes is unnecessary.