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| Ms. Ha with a character during her field trip to A Luoi |
Writing as medicine
Second Prize in the writing contest “Affection for the Western Region” (Thanh Nien Newspaper, 2022); Third Prize in the contest “Delicious Dishes of Hanoi” (Thanh Nien Newspaper, 2022); Third Prize in the contest “Hanoi – The City I Love” (Thanh Nien Newspaper, 2021); Consolation Prize in the contest “Pho in My Heart” (Tuoi Tre Newspaper, 2021, 2022); Consolation Prize in the literary essay contest on war invalids and martyrs with the theme “Gratitude” (Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association, 2022); Consolation Prize in the essay contest “Heritage, Culture, and People of Thua Thien Hue” (Propaganda Department of Thua Thien Hue Provincial Party Committee, 2023); Consolation Prize in the 2024 contest “Ensuring Security and Order at the Grassroots Level” held by the Ministry of Public Security and Nhan Dan Newspaper, etc. These are some of the prestigious awards that Ms. Le Thi Ngoc Ha has earned as a “penwoman.”
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| Ms. Ha with her book – her “spiritual child” |
Even more admirable is the fact that all of the award-winning works mentioned above were written by Ms. Ha during her battle with cancer - amid the pain following surgeries and the exhaustion from rounds of chemotherapy. During this physically and emotionally grueling time, she still managed to publish a short story collection titled “The Green Mossy Window” (Thuan Hoa Publishing House) and sold the rights for “The Beloved Taste of Home” to Labor Publishing House for publication. At present, Ms. Ngoc Ha is compiling essays previously published in various newspapers to complete the manuscript for a new book, while also working on a collection of literary essays for a future project. Especially notable is her ongoing effort to write a novel of about 40,000 words documenting her journey of healing - two-thirds of which has already been completed.
“I don’t write about pain or suffering, even though the pain I’ve gone through is countless and beyond words. Instead, I share light-hearted stories during the time when I was ‘relocated’ to the hospital room. I hope that if other cancer patients happen to read my writing, they will be filled with positive energy instead of being overwhelmed by fear. Illness will be ‘defeated’ when the patient trusts the doctors, believes in the treatment plan, stays optimistic, loves life, and continues to work like any normal person,” simply shared Ms. Ha, with a bright smile on her glowing face.
At first, other patients in the hospital found it strange that this petite woman, admitted for surgery or chemotherapy, would always bring along stacks of books, notebooks, and pens. But once they understood what this “female warrior” was doing - fighting cancer from the same “trench” with unwavering determination amidst intense pain - they began to reflect deeply within themselves and slowly changed their outlook.
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| Ms. Ha (second from left) at an award ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City |
During one hospital visit to see Ms. Ha, an elderly woman, 75 years old and sharing the same room, happily shared: “All of us in this ward is battling cancer. Everyone is in pain, groaning, crying, and feeling terrified. Yet this girl here (pointing at Ms. Ha) is different. Unless the pain is unbearable, she grits her teeth and endures it. Otherwise, she will always smile cheerfully when talking to others. Also, she’s always scribbling away and working. Looking at her, I’m no longer panicked by the thought of death. I’ve stopped lamenting my fate all the time and my spirit grows stronger. My children and grandchildren are so happy about that.”
Ms. Ha herself explained modestly that during long hospital stays, she brought books to read. But after multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, the pain made it impossible to focus on reading or listening to audiobooks - so she began to write. Concentrating her thoughts and focusing her mind became her way of coping with pain. For her, writing was the most effective “medicine” during those difficult days of battling the illness.
Spreading positivity
“At that time, I wasn’t afraid of dying - not even once did the thought of death cross my mind. Thanks to the constant encouragement and positive energy I received from the doctors and the surrounding environment, I believed I could overcome the illness. Thence, I focused on fighting to get well, on sharing that positive energy with others in similar situations, and on writing,” shared Ms. Ha.
I myself have also felt that source of positive energy from Ms. Ha, during our field trips to remote border areas like A Luoi (Hue City) and Huong Hoa (Quang Tri Province). Whether climbing mountains or heading to the coast under scorching sun or pouring rain, that “petite” woman always powered through - driven by the tireless spirit of a warrior of the pen.
I remember vividly one particular moment: we were on assignment, interviewing a department head in Hue City when Ms. Ha stepped out to receive a phone call. Upon returning, there was a strange look on her face - but within minutes, she was fully focused again. After the assignment ended, she told me she had just received the biopsy results - it was cancer. Yet there had not been a single tear.
On visits to Ms. Ha after her six-hour surgery or rounds of chemotherapy - amid tubes, IVs, and obvious pain - I still only saw a smile on her face. I was moved beyond words when I once witnessed her, wounds still aching, trying to sit up in bed to carefully write heartfelt thank-you notes on tiny cards to send to those who had purchased her book. At that moment, warm tears welled up and fell from my eyes.
“With a treatment plan costing hundreds of millions of VND, I posted a status on Facebook selling my short story collection ‘The Green Mossy Window’ to raise funds for medical expenses. I never expected to be met with so much empathy and love. Individuals, ranging from close friends, acquaintances, to social media friends across the country whom I’d never met in person, not only bought the book to support me, but also helped spread the story to their circles so I would have more opportunities. I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” said Ms. Ha, with her eyes glistening with emotion.
I recall more than ten years ago, when we first started going on assignments together, Ms. Ha would often say she wanted people to feel uplifted when they opened a newspaper - to believe in and appreciate the good things in life. She actively sought out role models and stories of kind-hearted people who contributed to their communities to help spread their positive influence. Having endured and overcome adversity, this female “warrior of the pen” still presses on with unwavering determination, spreading goodness everywhere she goes - fueled by her deep gratitude for life.