Meet the owner of Vietnam's largest "Kieu treasure" collection.
For over 20 years, Mr. Tran Huu Tai, a businessman from Ho Chi Minh City, has devoted himself to collecting and researching the Tale of Kieu. His connection with the work of the great poet Nguyen Du has led him to a deep affection for the land and people of Nghe An province, and he has built a collection of over 1,630 publications and artifacts related to the Tale of Kieu, establishing it as the largest collection in Vietnam. For him, the most important thing is to ensure that the Tale of Kieu continues to live on in contemporary life.
"The deeper I delve into The Tale of Kieu, the more I realize it is a truly great heritage of the Vietnamese people."
PVMr. Tran Huu Tai, looking at your vast collection of The Tale of Kieu today, few would imagine that this journey began with a very quiet love for books. So what led a son of Ho Chi Minh City to embark on a journey of more than 20 years with the Tale of Kieu by the great poet Nguyen Du?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:Actually, it all started quite naturally. Over 20 years ago, when I first started learning about The Tale of Kieu, I began with popular books in used bookstores in Go Vap. At that time, I didn't think I would go as far as I have today. Those early editions mainly gave me knowledge about Nguyen Du and The Tale of Kieu rather than having any collectible value.
Later, as my work took me to many places both domestically and internationally, I had the opportunity to come into contact with more rare editions. The more I learned, the more I realized that The Tale of Kieu is not just a literary work, but a great cultural heritage of the Vietnamese people.
PV:Perhaps it is also because of The Tale of Kieu that a son of Ho Chi Minh City like you has developed such a special connection to Nguyen Du's hometown?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:That's right. The Tale of Kieu has helped me understand more about Vietnamese culture, including the culture of Nghe An province. The people of Nghe An are very special, having made many great contributions to Vietnamese culture and society throughout the country's history. Because I love The Tale of Kieu and this land, I have now become a son of the Nguyen Tien Dien family.
PV:To maintain such a passion for over two decades, he must have sacrificed a lot, right?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:Perhaps the most obvious things are the money and time. But behind that lies a great deal of effort, intellect, and life energy that I have dedicated to The Tale of Kieu. Some editions are extremely difficult to find because they were printed a long time ago abroad or exist in very limited quantities. For example, the French translation by Abel des Michels published in 1883, or the Nôm script editions from the early 20th century… Not only does it take a lot of time, but sometimes you also need to be lucky to acquire such editions.
PV:So, amidst such a long journey and many sacrifices, have you ever wondered why you continue to follow the Tale of Kieu?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:Never before. Perhaps I couldn't have imagined the scale of the collection would be so large, but the deeper I delve, the more I realize it's a journey worth pursuing. I think The Tale of Kieu elevates the Vietnamese people through the world-renowned cultural figure Nguyen Du. That's what makes me want to continue.
"Each edition is a slice of culture, a reading of the times."
PV:In your opinion, what is the most difficult aspect of collecting editions of Truyện Kiều: finding the copies or understanding the value of each edition?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:In my opinion, the most difficult thing is not money, but knowledge. We must understand the value of each edition: the period in which it appeared, the type of paper used, the specific printing, the author, and its role in the history of publishing The Tale of Kieu. Without a deep understanding, it is very difficult to build a truly valuable collection.
PV:With over 1,630 publications currently available, how did he envision and organize his "treasure trove of Kieu" so that viewers could see the entire journey of the Tale of Kieu through different periods?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:I've clearly divided them into different periods. There are editions in Nôm script and Quốc ngữ (Vietnamese alphabet) before 1900, before 1945, before 1975, and after 1975. In addition, there are special editions printed on dó paper, limited editions, or those distributed as gifts and not for sale. Besides books, there are also paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, and other art objects related to the Tale of Kiều.
PV:Among those thousands of editions, is there any book that stands out to you as a "special encounter" with The Tale of Kieu?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:I was very impressed with the 1917 Saigon edition of "Kim Túy Tình Từ" by Phạm Kim Chi. It's connected to a very interesting story by the scholar Vương Hồng Sển. In his book "The Joys of Collecting Books," Mr. Vương Hồng Sển wrote that if anyone possessed this copy and gave it to him,"If you live nearby, I will come to your house by bowing three steps at a time; if you live far away, I will come by running."As I read those lines, I sensed the love of books and the special value of this edition.
PV:He once said, "Each edition is a slice of culture." What makes him view The Tale of Kieu more than just a work of literature?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:Because each era reads The Tale of Kieu in a different way. A printed edition from the early 20th century will reflect a different reception than a contemporary illustrated version today. There are foreign translations that help us see how the world views Nguyen Du. There are paintings and calligraphy that show The Tale of Kieu has transcended literature to enter art, life, and popular culture.
"Through The Tale of Kieu, the world sees the value of the Vietnamese people."
PV:What impressed many people was not only the vast collection, but also his choice to open a display space at CSO Gallery in Hoi An. Why did he want to bring this "treasure of Kieu" into the public eye, instead of keeping it as a private asset?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:I genuinely want to share. I believe such a collection shouldn't remain dormant or be kept private. It needs to be displayed so that the public, especially students and international friends, can access and appreciate it.
When foreign visitors come to CSO Gallery, I often explain that The Tale of Kieu is a work consisting of 3,254 verses in the lục bát (six-eight) meter, and that it would take nearly nine hours to recite it all from memory. They are amazed. And from these seemingly concrete facts, they begin to better understand the scale and depth of Vietnamese culture.
PV: So, in your opinion, what needs to be done to prevent The Tale of Kieu from becoming a "distant heritage" for today's youth?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:I think we should first help you appreciate the beauty of The Tale of Kieu, rather than just approaching it as a literary lesson. Each person can start with a favorite verse, a passage they resonate with, and then delve deeper. For example, I was very impressed by the word "talent" in The Tale of Kieu. When I read The Tale of Kieu carefully, I discovered that Nguyen Du mentions "talent" 28 times. From that, I found there was so much to ponder about humanity and fate.
PV:In the process of spreading the Tale of Kieu collection to the public, what concerns you most, especially regarding today's younger generation?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:I think many students today still study The Tale of Kieu in a knowledge-based way, but haven't truly grasped its cultural significance. Even very basic information, such as how many verses The Tale of Kieu has or how long it takes to read, is sometimes not emphasized enough for them.
I hope that in the curriculum, the Ministry of Education can emphasize more clearly those "identifying figures": 3,254 six-eight syllable verses; Nguyen Du being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Figure… When students understand this, they will see that The Tale of Kieu is not just a literary work, but also a part of the depth of Vietnamese culture and character.
PV:Perhaps that's why, in many of his reflections, he always mentions "the values of the Vietnamese people" when talking about The Tale of Kieu?
Businessman Tran Huu Tai:That's right. I think the greatest contribution that Nguyen Du and The Tale of Kieu bring is not just literature. The world has already recognized its literary merit. More importantly, through Nguyen Du and The Tale of Kieu, the world can see the depth of Vietnamese culture, soul, and human dignity.
PV:Thank you very much, Mr. Tran Huu Tai, for the conversation!
