The old soldier and the sounds of gratitude.
More than half a century has passed since he left the battlefield and returned to civilian life, yet veteran Chu Dinh Hoa (Dong Loc commune, Nghe An province) still carries in his heart the images of his fallen comrades and those who returned with lifelong disabilities. Driven by this concern, he diligently researches and crafts special musical instruments for disabled people and wounded soldiers. Under the skillful hands and compassionate heart of this old soldier, seemingly inanimate objects have been transformed into melodies of sharing, becoming musical instruments.
Khanh Ly - Thanh Phuc/Present:Hong Toai• 4/6/2026
*****
More than half a century has passed since he left the battlefield and returned to civilian life, but veteran Chu Dinh Hoa (Dong Loc commune, Nghe An province) still carries in his heart the images of his fallen comrades and those who returned with lifelong disabilities. Driven by this concern, he has diligently researched and crafted special musical instruments for disabled people and wounded soldiers. Under the skillful hands and compassionate heart of this old soldier, seemingly inanimate objects have come to life.The sounds of sharing become the rhythm.a bridge between the past and the present;It also expresses the quiet gratitude of the old soldier for his comrades.
On a peaceful afternoon in Hoang Tam hamlet, Dong Loc commune, the melodious sound of a flute echoed from the small house of veteran Chu Dinh Hoa (born in 1950). The sound, sometimes soaring, sometimes subdued, seemed to carry the breath of the countryside, of the war years, and the longing of a soldier who never stopped remembering his comrades.
In the modest room, there is a special corner dedicated to displaying musical instruments invented by veteran Chu Dinh Hoa himself. What surprises many is that they are made from seemingly discarded materials such as old stair railings, coat hangers, beer cans, broken faucets, vases, teapots, or seashells collected from the beach.
Under the skillful hands of the old soldier, everything can be transformed into flutes, zithers, mouth organs, drums… and many other unique musical instruments.
But what's even more remarkable isn't the creativity itself, but the purpose behind each product. Most of his musical instruments are designed so that people with disabilities, including war veterans who have lost limbs, can still use them. The most notable is the "flute from the heart"—a project that veteran Chu Dinh Hoa spent nearly 16 years researching and perfecting.
Unlike a regular flute, this one is designed to be secured to the chest and abdomen using a system of elastic bands. Players can control it and create melodious tunes without using their hands.
"The name 'Flute from the Heart' comes from my own thoughts. It was made with heart, with respect for my comrades who lost their bodies in the war. I hope they can still play music and find joy in life," Mr. Hoa confided.
Few people know that the journey to create that flute began with a very serendipitous encounter. In 2010, while listening to a radio program, he was captivated by the unusual flute playing of an artist from Dak Lak. After the performance, from the flutist's sharing, he learned that it was a new type of flute created by Vu Lan - a famous bamboo flute and traditional instrument artist. This flute has a different structure and playing style, following a minimalist approach compared to traditional flutes.
Undeterred by the long distance, the veteran from Nghe An packed his bags and traveled to the Central Highlands to see for himself. Although he didn't meet the creator of the flute, he still had the opportunity to meet the flutist and observe, experience, and remember every detail of the flute.
Returning to his hometown, he began months of arduous research. Time and again he experimented, failed, refined, and remade his work. It wasn't until more than a decade later that the "heartfelt" flute truly took shape.
After performing a traditional folk song for us on his flute, over a pot of strong, flavorful green tea, the former soldier slowly recounted his life story.
Born in the impoverished rural area of Nghi Khanh, formerly Nghi Loc district, Chu Dinh Hoa was captivated by the bamboo flute from the age of nine or ten. In the afternoons on the dike, he taught himself to play the flute with all his heart.
In early 1971, while the country was still engulfed in the flames of war, answering the sacred call of the homeland, young Chu Dinh Hoa enlisted in the army. Thanks to his musical talent, his unit provided him with opportunities to participate in cultural and artistic activities to entertain the soldiers. Amidst the bombing and shelling, the sound of the young soldier's flute became a precious source of spiritual nourishment.
After intense battles and long, arduous nights of marching, comrades would gather together to listen to the sound of the flute carried on the mountain wind. In that flute music, there was the image of their homeland, the river of their childhood, the rice paddies during harvest season, and the poignant homesickness of these young soldiers.
"The war was brutal. But whenever the flute played, the soldiers felt like life slowed down a little, they remembered their homeland and family, and gained more motivation to continue fighting."
Mr. Hoa recalled
In 1978, Mr. Chu Dinh Hoa returned to his hometown after his military service and married Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, a former civilian worker on the front lines. The two, both passionate about arts and culture, quickly became key figures in the local community's cultural movements.
Besides performing, Mr. Chu Dinh Hoa also composed music and learned to play many musical instruments such as violin, zither, drums, flute, etc., to serve the movement.
Despite facing incredibly difficult times, having to leave his hometown to work in the South for decades, experiencing failures and losing everything, his passion for music never faded. Music was like a close friend, helping him navigate the ups and downs of life.
Driven by his love of music and his sorrow for his fallen comrades and those who returned not whole, Mr. Hoa began his journey of inventing musical instruments.
He viewed ordinary everyday objects with a completely different perspective. An old teapot, fitted with a spout and a vent hole, became a unique flute that could both pour water and produce sound.
A seashell picked up from the beach, after being fitted with a piece of plastic tubing, emits sounds like the waves, evoking memories of the sea and islands of our homeland.
In particular, after visiting the Quang Tri Citadel, where tens of thousands of soldiers fell, he picked up an old brick from the base of the citadel and brought it home. After many days of reflection, he attached a small piece of aluminum tubing to it and transformed it into a special flute. For him, it was not simply a musical instrument. It was a memory, a tribute, a reminder of those who had perished on the battlefield.
There were nights when, while sleeping, a new detail would suddenly come to mind, and he would jump up to drill, chisel, and polish.
Initially, his wife was surprised by his frequent late-night sessions filled with sudden ideas. But then she understood the meaning behind those creations and became his quiet companion.
"My wife is always my first listener. Whenever I finish a new instrument, she's the first to hear and give feedback," Mr. Hoa said with a gentle smile.
Perhaps what brought the most happiness to this deeply committed and compassionate veteran was not the successful creation of a new musical instrument, but the moment he saw wounded soldiers and disabled people smile as they created sounds for the first time on their own.
Over the years, his flute and guitar have accompanied him to rehabilitation centers for wounded soldiers, social welfare facilities, and places caring for people with disabilities.
He performs, interacts with people, teaches how to play musical instruments, and gives away products he has crafted.
"The soldiers returning from the war have suffered so much loss. I only hope that music can help them alleviate some of their pain, find joy and optimism in life," he shared.
Many wounded soldiers, having lost an arm, or even both, once thought they would never be able to touch music again. But with Mr. Hoa's special instruments, they have achieved what seemed impossible. Every time he sees his comrades engrossed in the sounds of the flute and guitar, the old soldier feels his efforts have been rewarded.
According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Tuan, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Dong Loc commune, Mr. Chu Dinh Hoa was not only a music lover but also a person with deep affection for his comrades and fellow soldiers.
"Mr. Hoa frequently visits rehabilitation centers for wounded soldiers to participate in cultural and artistic activities. His performances always evoke strong emotions because of the unique performer, the special audience, and the very special musical instruments," Mr. Tuan remarked.
Every July 27th or whenever he returns to the old battlefields, Mr. Hoa brings his flute and violin to the war cemeteries. Amidst the rows of neatly aligned tombstones, the sound of the flute rises like a conversation between the living and the deceased.
These weren't performances. They were reunions of memories; a tribute to comrades who sacrificed their youth on the battlefield so that the country could "blossom with independence and bear the fruits of freedom."
The sound of the flute resonated from the heart amidst the silent space, sometimes poignant, sometimes majestic, like an endless epic about peace, gratitude, and camaraderie.
Even in his 70s, this veteran doesn't want to stop. He hopes to have the opportunity to visit schools for children with disabilities, to understand their real needs, and to continue inventing more suitable musical instruments. He wants to teach them to play music, to help them find a way to express their emotions through sound.
"Being born with a healthy body is a blessing. Therefore, I must share that blessing with those who are less fortunate," he said simply.
Late in the afternoon, in the small, tree-shaded courtyard in front of their humble house, the former soldiers gathered together, reminiscing about the battlefield, their comrades, and listening to the sound of Mr. Hoa's flute.
That flute melody has accompanied him from childhood, through war, through the hardships of life, and continues to resonate today. It is not merely music, but the sound of compassion; the marching song of soldiers who never stop thinking of their comrades.
And it is also beautiful proof that, after all the losses of war, human kindness still has the power to heal…
