Unique Hanoi in eyes of a “gallant”

“Tay choi” (Gallant) by Mai Lam (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hanoi (VNA) – Mai Lam, who has lived far from home since 1987, has expressed his love to the homeland – Hanoi through works, with the latest book “Tay choi” (Gallant) telling about hobbies of Hanoians in the past.

The book has drawn attention of readers ever since it was first published, as Mai Lam gave them an insight into the unique hobbies of Hanoians.

The book has been nominated for the Work Prize of the 14^th “Bui Xuan Phai: For the Love of Hanoi” Awards organized by the The thao & Van hoa (Sports & Culture) newspaper of the Vietnam News Agency.

Objects - spiritual friends

Mai Lam was born in 1951 in Hanoi. He graduated from the Vietnam National Academy of Music. He has settled in Germany and has lived there since 1987.

Apart from “Tay choi,” Mai Lam has published other works about the capital city.

In “Tay choi,” he modeled a character after himself named Viet, who told stories about his youth and his journey to Europe. Viet had the hobby of collecting paintings, masks, antiques, radios, speakers, tea brewing kits and cigars.

Mai Lam – author of “Tay choi” (Photo courtesy of Mai Lam)

In fact, the author owns dozens of radios of different types, like RCA, Philco and Zenith dating back from the 1930s. They are worth about 500-800 USD. He also has African masks and old statues of Maya people.

Such objects travelled with Mai Lam from Hanoi to Germany. He considered them his friends. He said he feels close to Hanoi when looking at them. Each object is associated with a story.

The author said that collecting is not only a hobby but also a culture. He explained why he titled the book “Tay choi.”

Writer Do Phan said “Tay choi” mirrors the characters of a large part of Hanoians who do not pursue power and money, but rather hobbies. Close friends who do not pay much attention to material things maintain lifelong friendships.

Mai Lam (right) and his friends in the author’s house in Germany (Photo courtesy of Mai Lam)

In “Tay choi,” each story is a reminiscence of meetings between the author (Viet) and his friends in Hanoi, whose real names are ‘Phuc que’, ‘Chau sau’, Vien, Hung and Tuan, and people abroad.

The book encourages readers to think deeply and offers them views of optimism, according to writer Nguyen Van Tho.

Sending love to the motherland

At the age of 70, Mai Lam has spent more than 30 years abroad. He usually visits Vietnam at least once a year, but hasn’t been back since last April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mai Lam said he is waiting for the opening of international flights to return home, just to meet his friends.

Painter ‘Chau sau’, Director Cao Manh, Mai Lam and writer Nguyen Viet Ha at a meeting. (Photo courtesy of Mai Lam)

For Mai Lam, Hanoi is not only his homeland but also his life. He cannot explain why he misses Hanoi so much.

“All of the things I have are in Hanoi, as my youth, friends and memories are now there. I will continue to write about Hanoi when possible,” he said.

There are three nominations for the Work Prize of the 14th “Bui Xuan Phai: For the Love of Hanoi” Awards. These consist of the book and photo exhibition “Hanoi 1967-1975” by photographer Thomas Billhardt, the set of books “Thang Long Kinh ki - Ke cho” by Nguyen Huy Thang and Nguyen Quoc Tin, and the book “Tay choi” by Mai Lam.

The awards were initiated in 2008 by the Thao & Van Hoa Daily newspaper and Bui Xuan Phai’s family. They are organised annually by the Hanoi People’s Committee. Sponsorship comes from the Thao & Van Hoa Daily and Bui Xuan Phai Fund to honour painter Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988), a founder of modern art in Vietnam.

The Grand Prize of the 13th Bui Xuan Phai – For the Love of Hanoi Awards went to music composer Phu Quang for his renowned and immortal songs about the capital city./.