1. To^?ng Ke^'t Nha.c Vie^.t Na(m 1999

CHUNG QUANH VU. TRIE^?N LA~M A?NH NGHE^. THUA^.T BI. HU?Y BO?

Nguo^`n tin ca'c ba'o cho hay Nha.c si~ kie^m Nhie^'p a?nh gia Le^ va(n Khoa se~ co' mo^.t buo^?i thuye^'t tri`nh chu? dde^`: "The^' Na`o La` A?nh Nghe^. Thua^.t?" ta.i pho`ng Sinh hoa.t Nha^.t ba'o Ngu+o+`i Vie^.t va`o lu'c 8 gio+` to^'i nga`y Thu+' Ba?y 15 tha'ng Gie^ng na(m 2000, nha^n di.p khai ma.c pho`ng trie^?n la~m cu?a ba ho^.i vie^n cu?a Ho^.i A?nh Nghe^. Thua^.t. Ba ho^.i vie^n ddo' la` ca'c o^ng Bu`i Ho^`ng Nghi, Bu`i Thanh DDoa`n va`, Hoa`ng Gia Thu.y.

Tuy nhie^n, ra^'t ba^'t ngo+`, hai nga`y tru+o+'c nga`y khai ma.c pho`ng trie^?n la~m a?nh, tu+'c nga`y Thu+' Na(m 13 tha'ng 1, ngu+o+`i ta tha^'y co' mo^.t Tho^ng Ba'o cho bie^'t cuo^.c trie^?n la~m ddo' bi. hu?y bo?. No^.i dung ba?n Tho^ng Ba'o co' mo^.t ddoa.n nguye^n va(n nhu+ sau: ""Cuo^.c trie^?n la~m a?nh Nghe^. thua^.t du+. tru` to^? chu+'c trong hai nga`y Thu+' Ba?y va` Chu? Nha^.t - 15 va` 16 tha'ng 1 na(m 2000 ta.i pho`ng Sinh hoa.t Nha^.t ba'o Ngu+o+`i Vie^.t NAY PHA?I HU?Y BO?.

"Ly' do: Vi` ba^'t ngo+` va`o phu't cho't, chu'ng to^i dda~ kho^ng ddu+o+.c da`nh cho ddu? tho+`i gian trie^?n la~m ddu+o+.c a^'n ddi.nh sa(~n. "Chu'ng to^i ca?m tha^'y bi. xu'c pha.m va` cha^n tha`nh ca'o lo^~i vo+'i nhu+~ng ai co' thie^.p mo+`i, ngu+o+`i tha^n, ba.n be`, ca'c ba.n ye^u thi'ch a?nh, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i u?ng ho^. vie^.c thu+.c hie^.n cuo^.c trie^?n la~m na`y." Ba?n Tho^ng Ba'o dda(ng ta?i tre^n ca'c ba'o, ky' te^n ba nhie^'p a?nh gia: Bu`i Thanh DDoa`n, Bu`i Ho^`ng Nghi va`, Hoa`ng Gia Thu.y.

Cu`ng lu'c ddo', mo^.t tin buo^`n dda~ dde^'n vo+'i gio+'i a?nh nghe^. thua^.t Vie^.t Nam o+? ha?i ngoa.i. DDo' la` tin Nhie^'p a?nh gia la~o tha`nh Hu+'a Va(n Ba^n, dda~ tu+` tra^`n ta.i tha`nh pho^' Alhambra, Nam California, nga`y Thu+' Sa'u, mo^`ng 7 tha'ng Gie^ng. Tang le^~ dda~ ddu+o+.c cu+? ha`nh va`o lu'c 10 gio+` 30 sa'ng nga`y Thu+' Sa'u 14 tha'ng Gie^ng na(m 2000 ta.i nha` qua`n Universal Funeral, va` le^~ an ta'ng dda~ die^~n ra ta.i nghi~a trang Rose Hill, tha`nh pho^' Wheatier.

Nhie^'p a?nh gia Hu+'a Va(n Ba^n tu+`ng ddoa.t nhie^`u gia?i thu+o+?ng cao quy' ve^` bo^. mo^n nhie^'p a?nh cu?a Vie^.t Nam cu~ng nhu+ quo^'c te^'. "SO^'NG HA.NH PHU'C, CHE^'T BI`NH AN" CU?A DDA.T LAI LA.T MA Ho^.i Pha^.t Ho.c La`ng Ca^y Phong mo+'i a^'n ha`nh ta'c pha^?m "So^'ng Ha.nh Phu'c, Che^'t Bi`nh An" cu?a DDu+'c DDa.t Lai La.t Ma. Ba?n tie^'ng Vie^.t do Cha^n Huye^`n / DDo^~ Quye^n, di.ch tu+` ba?n tie^'ng Anh nhan dde^` "The Joy of Living and Dying in Peace.

DDa^y la` ta'c pha^?m mo+'i nha^'t cu?a DDu+'c DDa.t Lai La.t Ma thu+' 14, ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c coi nhu+ la` ho'a tha^n nhie^`u ddo+`i cu?a Pha^.t Qua'n The^' A^m. Va` ta'c pha^?m na`y tu+`ng ddu+o+.c lie^.t ke^ nhie^`u la^`n trong danh sa'ch sa'ch "Best Seller" ta.i Ba('c My~.

DDu+'c DDa.t Lai La.t Ma, ddo+`i thu+' 14, tu+`ng ddu+o+.c trao gia?i thu+o+?ng Nobel Ho`a Bi`nh vi` nhu+~ng hoa.t ddo^.ng cu?a Nga`i, cho ho`a bi`nh the^' gio+'i cu~ng nhu+ cho da^n to^.c Ta^y Ta.ng, mo^.t da^n to^.c hie^.n ddang pha?i so^'ng ta?n la.c vi` dda^'t nu+o+'c dda~ bi. chi'nh quye^`n Hoa Lu.c xa^m la(ng tu+` na(m 1959. Theo di.ch gia? Cha^n Huye^`n thi`, qua ta'c pha^?m "So^'ng Ha.nh Phu'c, Che^'t bi`nh An," ngu+o+`i ddo.c co' the^? ti`m ddu+o+.c nhie^`u gia?i dda'p tho?a dda'ng cho nhu+~ng tha('c ma('c ta^m linh, nhu+:

   -La`m sao dde^? co' the^? so^'ng mo^.t ca'ch ha.nh phu'c, giu+~a cuo^.c so^'ng nga`y mo^.t the^m ro^'i ra('m, phu+'c ta.p na`y?
Hoa(.c:
   -La`m sao nha^.n die^.n va` tha thu+' ddu+o+.c cho ke? thu` ddi'ch thu+.c cu?a mi`nh? Khi che^'t ro^`i, ta se~ ddi ve^` dda^u? Hay, chu'ng ta co`n la.i gi` kho^ng, sau khi dda~ ta('t tho+?? va^n va^n...

DDu+o+.c bie^'t ta'c pha^?m "So^'ng Ha.nh Phu'c, Che^'t Bi`nh An" a^'n phi' 12 My~ kim, do Nha` Va(n Nghe^. va` La`ng Ca^y Phong ddo^`ng pha't ha`nh. Nha` xua^'t ba?n cho bie^'t ta^'t ca? tie^`n tha^u ddu+o+.c, sau khi tru+` chi phi', se~ ddu+o+.c du`ng dde^? giu'p cho tre? em nghe`o ta.i Vie^.t Nam, o+? lu+'a tuo^?i ma^~u gia'o, ddu+o+.c theo ho.c lo+'p ma^~u gia'o.

Ba.n ddo.c co' the^? mua sa'ch ta.i ca'c nha` sa'ch hoa(.c tru+.c tie^'p vo+'i di.ch gia? Cha^n Huye^`n / DDo^~ Quye^n, qua ddi.a chi?: 130 Laburnum Lane, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, Email: Fountain Valley, CA 92708, Email: Fountain Valley, CA 92708, Email: hdtquyenY.juno.com

Tu+o+?ng cu~ng ca^`n ne^n no'i the^m ra(`ng, Cha^n Huye^`n cu~ng la` di.ch gia? 2 ta'c pha^?m kha'c cu?a DDu+'c DDa.t Lai La.t Ma, ddo' la` ca'c cuo^'n "Tu+. Do Trong Lu+u DDa^`y," dda~ ta'i ba?n la^`n thu+' 3; va`, The^' Gio+'i Ho`a DDo^`ng, xua^'t ba?n na(m 1996.

TA'C PHA^?M MO+'I CU?A NGUYE^~N DDA.T THI.NH: CHA^N DUNG MO^.T TE^N KHU?NG BO^'

Nha` va(n Nguye^~n DDa.t Thi.nh o+? tha`nh pho^' Honolulu, Hawaii dda~ cho pha't ha`nh ta'c pha^?m mo+'i nha^'t cu?a o^ng, nhan dde^`: "Cha^n Dung Mo^.t Te^n Khu?ng Bo^'."

Theo ho. Nguye^~n thi` "Cha^n Dung Mo^.t Te^n Khu?ng Bo^'" la` tie^?u thuye^'t gia? tu+o+?ng..." Nhu+ng vi` ta'c gia? tu+`ng la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i li'nh thuo^.c qua^n lu+.c VNCH cu~, ma`, ca^u chuye^.n la.i vie^'t ve^` qua^n ddo^.i va` chie^'n tranh; cho ne^n, chuye^.n ra^'t so^'ng ddo^.ng va` sa't vo+'i thu+.c te^' chie^'n tru+o+`ng to+'i mu+'c ddo^. ddo^.c gia? kho^ng the^? pha^n bie^.t ddu+o+.c bie^n gio+'i giu+~a thu+.c va` gia?...

Nha` va(n DDa(.ng Tra^`n Hua^n, trong mo^.t ba`i ddie^?m sa'ch ghi nha^.n ra(`ng: "Vo+'i tie^?u thuye^'t 'Cha^n Dung Mo^.t Te^n Khu?ng Bo^',' ma(.c du` dda~ ra`o tru+o+'c chi? la` chuye^.n gia? tu+o+?ng, nhu+ng ta'c gia? dda~ pha tro^.n nhu+~ng su+. tha^.t vo+'i danh ti'nh nhu+~ng qua^n nha^n VNCh co' tha^.t va`, mo^.t he^. tho^'ng tham nhu~ng o+? mo^.t tie^?u bang gia? tu+o+?ng, tie^?u bang Volcano... Ngoa`i nhu+~ng ti`nh tie^'t ho^`i ho^.p, gay ca^'n die^~n tie^'n vu. ba('t co'c, cu~ng co' nhu+~ng ddoa.n ta? ne^'p so^'ng rie^ng tu+ cu?a nha^n va^.t chi'nh (te^n Tra^`n Tro.ng Phong,) khie^'n ca^u chuye^.n the^m dda^.m dda`...."

Va^~n theo ghi nha^.n cu?a DDa(.ng Tra^`n Hua^n thi`:
   "La` mo^.t ca^y bu't u+a ly' lua^.n, Nguye^~n DDa.t Thi.nh dda~ mu+o+.n lo+`i nha^n va^.t dde^? ba`y to? quan ddie^?m giu`m o^ng ve^` nhie^`u va^'n dde^`, cha(?ng ha.n nhu+ pho'ng vie^n truye^`n tho^ng no'i la` chi? vo^ tu+ tu+o+`ng thua^.t su+. kie^.n, nhu+ng dda~ cho.n lu+.a su+. kie^.n dde^? le`o la'i quan ddie^?m kha'n gia? theo y' ho., va^'n dde^` ky` thi. sa('c to^.c la` mo^.t ta^.p tu.c a(n sa^u, mo.c re^~ trong sinh hoa.t con ngu+o+`i,..."

Kho^ng ke^? nhu+~ng ta'c pha^?m in ta.i Vie^.t Nam, tru+o+'c 1975, "Cha^n Dung Mo^.t Te^n Khu?ng Bo^'" la` ta'c pha^?m thu+' ba cu?a Nha` va(n Nguye^~n DDa.t Thi.nh, xua^'t ba?n o+? ha?i ngoa.i.

DDu+o+.c bie^'t ho. Nguye^~n nguye^n Trung ta', Tru+o+?ng pho`ng Ba'o Chi', Cu.c Ta^m Ly' Chie^'n, thuo^.c QL/VNCH, tru+o+'c tha'ng 4-75. O^ng cu~ng tu+`ng la` chu? bu't tua^`n ba'o Die^`u Ha^u, mo^.t tua^`n ba'o tu+`ng ddu+o+.c nha('c nho+? nhie^`u trong nhu+~ng na(m dda^`u tha^.p nie^n 70 ta.i Saigo`n. Ty. na.n ta.i Hoa Ky` na(m 1975, ho. Nguye^~n hie^.n la` Chu? ti.ch Nghie^.p ddoa`n ta`i xe^' Taxi ta.i tha`nh pho^' Honolulu, Tie^?u bang Hawaii. Muo^'n co' "Cha^n Dung Mo^.t Te^n Khu?ng Bo^'" ba.n ddo.c co' the^? gu+?i chi phie^'u, bu+u phie^'u 20 My~ kim ve^` ddi.a chi?: Nguye^~n DDa.t Thi.nh, P.O.Box 30313 Honolulu, HI 96820.

RA MA('T DDA(.C SAN DDA` LA.T XUA^N 2000

Ho+n 200 ta^n kha'ch dda~ tham du+. cuo^.c ho.p ma(.t "Tha^n Hu+~u DDa` La.t" va`o lu'c 12 gio+` 30 phu't tru+a Chu? Nha^.t 16 tha'ng Gie^ng vu+`a qua, ta.i nha` ha`ng Seafood Paracel, nha^n di.p pha't ha`nh DDa(.c san DDa` La.t Xua^n na(m 2000.

Chu? bie^n DDa(.c san DDa` La.t Xua^n Na(m 2000, ba` Qua?n Thu.y Hoa`i, mo^.t chuye^n vie^n gia'o du.c thuo^.c DDa.i ho.c Santa Ana College cho hay, kha'c ho+n nhu+~ng dda(.c san DDa` La.t tru+o+'c dda^y, pha^`n no^.i dung cu?a DDa(.c san DDa` La.t na(m nay dda~ co' ddu+o+.c su+. ddo'ng go'p ba`i vo+? cu?a nhie^`u nha` va(n, nha` tho+ te^n tuo^?i, kho^ng pha?i la` ngu+o+`i DDa` La.t, nhu+ ca'c ta'c gia? Pha.m Xua^n DDa`i, Phi' Va(n Trung, Chu Ta^'t Tie^'n, Pha.m Ngu~ Ye^n, Tu+o+?ng Na(ng Tie^'n, va^n va^n...

"Su+. ddo'ng go'p ta'c pha^?m, hi`nh a?nh cu?a nhu+~ng ta'c gia? na`y, be^n ca.nh nhu+~ng nha` va(n, nha` tho+, ho.a si~, nhie^'p a?nh gia te^n tuo^?i, co' lie^n quan ga^`n xa vo+'i tha`nh pho^' DDa` La.t, dda~ la`m cho dda(.c san DDa` La.t Xua^n 2000 the^m pha^`n phong phu' va`, gia' tri.." Ba` Qua?n Thu.y Hoa`i no'i.

Mo+? dda^`u pha^`n pha't bie^?u ca?m tu+o+?ng, Nha` tho+ Du Tu+? Le^ cho bie^'t:
   "Mo^.t no+i cho^'n tu+. no' kho^ng co' linh ho^`n, kho^ng co' nhan sa('c, kho^ng co' ca' ti'nh. Linh ho^`n, ca' ti'nh hay nhan sa('c cu?a mo^.t no+i cho^'n chi? co' the^? co' ddu+o+.c, khi no+i ddo', co' nhu+~ng con ngu+o+`i co' kha? na(ng mang la.i cho no+i cho^'n pha^`n thi.t da, pha^`n linh ho^`n ca^`n thie^'t ddo'. "Va`, nhu+~ng ddu+'a con cu?a DDa` La.t, kho^ng chi? bie^'n DDa` La.t tha`nh mo^.t no+i cho^'n mo+ u+o+'c vie^'ng tha(m, o+? vo+'i, cu?a nhie^`u ngu+o+`i; ma`, DDa` La.t co`n la` no+i la`m tha`nh mo^.t the^' gio+'i thi ca, a^m nha.c, ho^.i ho.a, cu`ng nhie^'p a?nh, ra^'t rie^ng, nu+~a.

"To^i co' ma(.t o+? dda^y nga`y ho^m nay, dde^? ca?m o+n DDa` La.t, ca?m o+n ngu+o+`i DDa` La.t, dda~ ddo'ng go'p pha^`n va(n ho.c, nghe^. thua^.t rie^ng cu?a DDa` La.t va`o do`ng va(n ho.c nghe^. thua^.t chung, cu?a que^ hu+o+ng, cu?a da^n to^.c ta," ho. Le^ nha^'n ma.nh. Muo^'n co' dda(.c san DDa` La.t Xua^n 2000, xin vui lo`ng lie^n la.c vo+'i: Qua?n Thu.y Hoa`i, DDt.: (714) 564-6421

RA MA('T "MA?NH VU.N MO^.T DDO+`I": NGUYE^~N DDU+'C LA^.P

Nha` xua^'t ba?n Tho+`i Ba'o mo+'i cho pha't ha`nh chuye^.n da`i "Ma?nh Vu.n Mo^.t DDo+`i cu?a Nha` va(n Nguye^~n DDu+'c La^.p, trong mo^.t buo^?i ra ma('t dda~ die^~n ra va`o lu'c 2 gio+` tru+a nga`y Chu? Nha^.t 16 tha'ng Gie^ng vu+`a qua, ta.i Thu+ Vie^.n Vie^.t Nam, tha`nh pho^' Santa Ana, qua^.n ha.t Orange County. Kha' ddo^ng dda?o nha` va(n, nha` ba'o va` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ye^u me^'n Nguye^~n DDu+'c La^.p dda~ tham du+. buo^?i sinh hoa.t na`y.

"Ma?nh Vu.n Mo^.t DDo+`i" la` ta'c pha^?m thu+' 13 cu?a ho. Nguye^~n, ne^'u ti'nh tu+` ta'c pha^?m dda^`u tay "Nhu+~ng DDe^m Kho^ng Ngu?," xua^'t ba?n na(m 1986. La` mo^.t nha` va(n mie^.t ma`i vo+'i nhu+~ng trang ba?n tha?o cu?a mi`nh o+? tha`nh pho^' Pomona, mo^.t tha`nh pho^' kho^ng xa khu Tie^?u Saigo`n, nhu+ng ta'c gia? "Kie^'m DDa.o" ddu+o+.c ghi nha^.n la` ra^'t i't xua^'t hie^.n tru+o+'c qua^`n chu'ng. Tuy kho^ng o^`n a`o, kho^ng lo+'n tie^'ng, nhu+ng ho. Nguye^~n la` ngu+o+`i dda^`u tie^n va`, be^`n bi? vo+'i chu? ta^m mang ngo^n ngu+~ dda(.c thu` cu?a mie^`n Nam va`o va(n chu+o+ng.

Ta^'t ca? tho+`i gian co' ddu+o+.c, ngoa`i vie^.c sa'ng ta'c, Nguye^~n DDu+'c La^.p da`nh he^'t ta^m tri' va` tho+`i gian co`n la.i cho vie^.c nghie^n cu+'u, su+u ta^`m ddo^` co^?. Bo+?i the^', ho. Nguye^~n co`n no^?i tie^'ng la` mo^.t chuye^n vie^n ddo^` co^? va` tie^`n co^?; mo^.t la~nh vu+.c ga^`n nhu+ bi. bo? tro^'ng trong sinh hoa.t va(n ho'a cu?a ngu+o+`i Vie^.t ta.i ha?i ngoa.i.

Cu~ng ta.i Thu+ Vie^.n Vie^.t Nam, cu`ng nga`y vu+`a ke^?, tru+o+'c khi ta'c pha^?m "Ma?nh Vu.n Cuo^.c DDo+`i" ddu+o+.c gio+'i thie^.u, Nha` va(n Nguye^~n DDu+'c La^.p dda~ thuye^'t tri`nh ve^` ddo^` co^? A' cha^u, vo+'i da^~n chu+'ng la` nhu+~ng su+u ta^.p cu?a o^ng va` ba(`ng hu+~u ve^` ddo^` co^?, ddo^` go^'m tra?i qua nhie^`u tho+`i dda.i cu?a ca'c quo^'c gia nhu+ Nha^.t Ba?n, A^'n DDo^., Trung Hoa, Phi Lua^.t Ta^n, Vie^.t Nam, va` ddo^` co^? cu~ng nhu+ ddo^` go^'m cu?a ca'c sa('c da^n thie^?u so^'. Ba`i no'i chuye^.n cu?a Nha` va(n Nguye^~n DDu+'c La^.p la` mo^.t ddu'c ke^'t gia' tri. sau nhie^`u na(m tha'ng nghie^n cu+'u, su+u ta^`m, va` ddo^'i chie^'u trong la~nh vu+.c khai qua^.t kho ta`ng va(n ho'a co^? su+? na`y.

DDu+o+.c bie^'t, Nha` va(n Nguye^~n DDu+'c La^.p, 55 tuo^?i, tru+o+?ng nam cu?a nu+~ si~ Tu`ng Long, mo^.t nha` va(n nu+~ ky` cu+.u, ra^'t no^?i tie^'ng trong la`ng va(n, la`ng ba'o mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam, tru+o+'c 1975.

"Ma?nh Vu.n Cuo^.c DDo+`i" da^`y 224 trang, gia' 14 My~ kim, dda~ co' ba'n ta.i ca'c tie^.m sa'ch hoa(.c xin lie^n la.c tru+.c tie^'p Nha` xua^'t ba?n Tho+`i Ba'o, P.O.Box 2317 Westminster, CA 92684; hay tel.: (714) 379-9656.

TRIE^?N LA~M TRANH CU?A 3 THE^' HE^. HO.A SI~

Nha^n di.p Xua^n Canh Thi`n, mo^.t cuo^.c trie^?n la~m ddu+o+.c me^.nh danh la` "Trie^?n la~m tranh Te^'t na(m 2000" cu?a 3 the^' he^. ho.a si~, dda~ ddu+o+.c khai ma.c va`o lu'c 11 gio+` sa'ng nga`y Thu+' Ba?y 22 tha'ng Gie^gn vu+`a qua, ta.i Pho`ng sinh hoa.t Nha^.t ba'o Kinh Te^' Tho+`i Ba'o, o+? tha`nh pho^' Santa Ana, mie^`n nam California.

Cuo^.c trie^?n la~m na`y tru+ng ba`y ta'c pha^?m cu?a 18 ho.a si~. DDo' la` ca'c ho.a si~: Ann Phong, Be' Ky', Cao Ba' Minh, DDan Chi, Ho^` Anh, Ho^` Tha`nh DDu+'c, Ho^` Tha`nh Cung, Kha'nh Tru+o+`ng, Lu+o+ng va(n Ty?, Ngo^ Ba?o, Nguye^n Khai, Nguye^~n DDi`nh Thua^`n, Nguye^~n DDo^`ng, Nguye^~n Thi. Ho+.p, Nguye^~n Phu+o+ng Tua^'n, Ru+`ng, U+u DDa`m va`, Vi~nh Tha(ng.

Cuo^.c trie^?n la~m se~ ke'o da`i to+'i he^'t nga`y 12 tha'ng 2 na(m 2000. Tru+o+'c ddo', cu~ng ta.i pho`ng trie^?n la~m, se~ co' mo^.t cuo^.c tri`nh die^~n nha.c co^? ddie^?n ta^y phu+o+ng bo+?i ca'c nha.c si~ Vie^.t Nam, vo+'i ca'c nha.c pha^?m cu?a Bach, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Saint Saens, Offenbach, Rachmaninoff, va^n va^n...

Cuo^.c tri`nh die^~n nha.c co^? ddie^?n ta^y phu+o+ng se~ die^~n ra va`o lu'c 6 gio+` chie^`u nga`y Chu? nha^.t mo^`ng 6 tha'ng 2, tu+'c nga`y mo^`ng 2 Te^'t Canh Thi`n. Vi` cho^~ ngo^`i gio+'i ha.n, muo^'n tham du+. buo^?i tri`nh die^~n nha.c na`y, xin ba.n ddo.c vui lo`ng lie^n la.c vo+'i ban to^? chu+'c, qua so^' ddie^.n thoa.i (714) 836-7060, dde^? nha^.n thie^.p mo+`i.

MO^.T PHIM CU?A TRA^`N ANH HU`NG DDU+O+.C CHO.N LA` PHIM HAY TRONG 100 PHIM NGOA.I QUO^'C

Mo^.t ba?n tin cu?a nha^.t ba'o Dallas Morning News, ddu+o+.c Nha^.t ba'o Register o+? Orange County tri'ch dda(ng la.i, cho bie^'t: Trong so^' 100 phim no'i tie^'ng ngoa.i quo^'c, (tu+'c loa.i phim kho^ng no'i Anh ngu+~,) thi`, phim "Mu`i DDu DDu? Xanh" cu?a DDa.o die^~n Tra^`n Anh Hu`ng, hie^.n cu+ ngu. ta.i Pha'p, la` 1 trong so^' 100 phim xua^'t sa('c nha^'t cu?a li.ch su+? die^.n a?nh, ti'nh to+'i cuo^'i na(m 1999.

Ca(n cu+' theo thu+' tu+. danh sa'ch na`y, thi` phim "Life Is Beautiful" cu?a Y', thu+.c hie^.n na(m 1997, ddu+'ng ha.ng nha^'t, va` phim "The Scent of Green Papaya" tu+'c "Mu`i DDu DDu? Xanh" cu?a Tra^`n Anh Hu`ng chie^'m ha.ng 82. Phim ddu+'ng thu+' 100 cu~ng cu?a Y,U+? ddo' la` phim "Mediterraneo."

Cuo^.c tuye^?n cho.n va` bi`nh ba^`u do mo^.t he^. tho^'ng phim a?nh va` nghe^. thua^.t Hoa Ky` chu? tru+o+ng, vo+'i su+. ba?o tro+. cu?a co^ng ty cung ca^'p sa'ch, nha.c Borders Books and Musics va` Bravo.

DDA.O PHA^.T U+'NG DU.NG TRONG DDO+`I THU+O+`NG: CU+ TRA^`N LA.C DDA.O, TA^.P 1

Ta.p chi' Tu+. Do cu?a Nha` tho+ Nguye^n Nghi~a o+? Toronto, Canada, dda~ gu+?i vo^ thu+o+`ng ta^.p sa'ch "Cu+ Tra^`n La.c DDa.o" ta^.p 1, do Cu+ si~ Chi'nh Tru+.c bie^n soa.n, to+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ghi te^n muo^'n co' ta^.p sa'ch na`y. Cu+ si~ Chi'nh Tru+.c cho.n 4 chu+~ dda^`u trong mo^.t ba`i tho+ tu+' tuye^.t cu?a Su+ To^? Pha'i Tru'c La^m: DDie^`u Ngu+. Gia'c Hoa`ng, tu+'c Vua Tra^`n Nha^n To^n the^' ky? thu+' 13. DDo' la` ca^u tho+: "Cu+ tra^`n la.c dda.o tha? tu`y duye^n," tu+'c "so^'ng ddo+`i vui dda.o ha~y theo duye^n" dde^? la`m tu+.a cho cuo^'n sa'ch go^`m nhie^`u ba`i vie^'t nga('n cu?a o^ng.

Trong Lo+`i Tu+.a tru+o+'c khi va`o ta'c pha^?m, ta'c gia? vie^'t:
   "Ta^.p sa'ch na`y go^`m, nhu+~ng ba`i vie^'t ddo+n gia?n ve^` Pha^.t pha'p ta.i the^' gian, nhu+~ng ddie^`u cu. the^?, thie^'t thu+.c, co' the^? thu+.c su+. a'p du.ng ddu+o+.c trong ddo+`i so^'ng ha`ng nga`y cu?a ngu+o+`i Pha^.t tu+?, vo+'i nie^`m hy vo.ng ddem la.i an la.c ha.nh phu'c va` gi'ac ngo^. gia?i thoa't.

"Nha(`m mu.c ddi'ch pho^? bie^'n cha'nh pha'p, ta^.p sa'ch na`y ddu+o+.c hie^'n ta(.ng ca'c hoa.t ddo^.ng hoa`ng pha'p lo+.i sanh, cu'ng du+o+`ng chu+ Pha^.t Tu+? mu+o+`i phu+o+ng tu`y nghi xu+? du.ng, mo^.t ca'ch ba^'t vu. lo+.i, kho^ng ddu+o+.c ba'n du+o+'i ba^'t cu+' hi`nh thu+'c na`o."

Ta^.p sa'ch "Cu+ Tra^`n La.c DDa.o" cu?a Cu+ si~ Chi'nh Tru+.c go^`m 12 ba`i vie^'t tra?i da`i trong 200 trang sa'ch in, vo^'n la` nhu+~ng ba`i vie^'t dda~ tu+`ng ddu+o+.c in tre^n ta.p chi' Tu+. Do o+? Canada; va`, sau ddo', tre^n Chuye^n san Pha'p A^m, xua^'t ba?n ta.i o+? Dallas, Texas, trong vo`ng tre^n du+o+'i mo^.t na(m qua.

Vo+'i mo^.t kie^'n thu+'c sa^u, ro^.ng, nhua^`n nhuye^~n ve^` Pha^.t pha'p, vo+'i mo^.t kha? na(ng chuye^?n dda.t linh hoa.t, de^~ hie^?u ke`m theo nhu+~ng thi' du. mang dda^`y ti'nh ddo+`i thu+o+`ng, ho^m nay, ta'c gia? dda~ cuo^'n hu't ngu+o+`i ddo.c, kho^ng pha^n bie^.t to^n gia'o, nguo^`n go^'c, tri`nh ddo^. va`o nhu+~ng ba`i vie^'t cu?a o^ng, nhu+ su+. cuo^'n hu't tu+. nhie^n cu?a nhu+~ng trang sa'ch sa'ng ta'c va(n chu+o+ng, chu+' kho^ng pha?i la` nhu+~ng trang sa'ch no'i ve^` dda.o, ly'... Ne^n, "Cu+ Tra^`n La.c DDa.o" cu?a Cu+ si~ Chi'nh Tru+.c dda~ ddu+o+.c nhi`n nhu+ mo^.t ta'c pha^?m co' ti'nh ca'ch u+'ng du.ng DDa.o Pha^.t va`o ddo+`i thu+o+`ng na`y, ddu+o+.c ra^'t nhie^`u ddo^.c gia? ye^u thi'ch, cho+`, ddo'n.

Ba.n ddo.c muo^'n co' "Cu+ Tra^`n La.c DDa.o" gu+?i to+'i ta^.n nha`, hoa(.c muo^'n a^'n to^'ng, xin vui lo`ng lie^n la.c vo+'i DDa.o hu+~u Nha^n Hu+o+ng, 302-2 Dorado Court, Toronto - Ontario, M3M 2E8, Canada.

TRA^`N CHI' PHU'C VA` CD CHA`O EM NA(M 2000

Nha.c si~ Tra^`n Chi' Phu'c tu+` tha`nh pho^' San Jose, thuo^.c mie^`n Ba('c California, dda~ ve^` qua^.n ha.t Orange County dde^? gio+'i thie^.u Cd mo+'i nha^'t cua? anh, ddo' la` ddia~ nha.c nhan dde^` "Cha`o Em Na(m 2000".

Buo^?i ra ma('t CD mo+'i nha^'t na`y cu?a ho. Tra^`n dda~ die^~n ra ta.i Ho^.i qua'n Thuy` Du+o+ng, tha`nh pho^' Westminster va`o lu'c 9 gio+` to^'i nga`y Thu+' Ba?y 22 tha'ng Gie^ng vu+`a qua, quy tu. mo^.t so^' kha'n gia? cho.n lo.c.

Nha^n di.p na`y, mo^.t so^' sa'ng ta'c cu?a Tra^`n Chi' Phu'c cu~ng dda~ ddu+o+.c tri`nh ba`y bo+?i ca'c gio.ng ca nhu+ Nhu+ Mai, Ngo.c Tro.ng, Hoa`ng Tro.ng Thuy., Hoa`ng Tro.ng Ba'ch, Thanh Tha?o va` bo+?i chi'nh ta'c gia?.

Mo^.t nga`y, tru+o+'c nga`y ra ma('t CD "Cha`o Em Na(m Hai Nga`n," ngu+o+`i ta cu~ng dda~ tha^'y ho. Tra^`n ngo^`i be^n ca.nh Lua^.t su+ Ta^m Nguye^n, chu? nhie^.m kie^m chu? bu't Tua^`n ba'o Saigo`n USA, trong mo^.t cuo^.c ho.p ba'o nha(`m to^' ca'o va`, tri`nh ba`y quye^'t ddi.nh kie^.n Tua^`n ba'o Vie^.t Mercury News thuo^.c he^. tho^'ng nha^.t ba'o Mercury News o+? San Jose, vo+'i ly' do ba'o tua^`n na`y dda~ du`ng nguye^n va(n 28 chu+~ trong mo^.t ba?n tin tu+o+`ng thua^.t sinh hoa.t co^.ng ddo^`ng cu?a Saigo`n USA.

Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i o+? San Jose cho bie^'t, Nha.c si~ Tra^`n Chi' Phu'c la` mo^.t trong nhu+~ng co^.ng ta'c vie^n chi'nh thu+'c cu?a tua^`n ba'o Saigo`n USA.

RA MA('T NGUYE^.T SAN VA(N NGHE^.

Nguye^.t san va(n Nghe^. cu?a Trung Ta^m Thu'y Nga Paris so^' Mo^.t dda~ ddu+o+.c ra ma('t ba.n ddo.c ta.i Khie^u Vu~ tru+o+`ng Ritz va`o buo^?i to^'i Thu+' Ba?y 22 tha'ng Gie^ng vu+`a qua. Cu~ng nha^n di.p na`y, Nu+~ ca si~ Kha'nh Ly va` Nha` va(n Nguye^~n DDi`nh Toa`n gio+'i thie^.u cu`ng nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ye^u nha.c CD "Hie^n Cu'c Va`ng" go^`m 10 ca khu'c cu?a Nguye^~n DDi`nh Toa`n, do Kha'nh Ly tri`nh ba`y.

Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i tham du+. buo^?i gio+'i thie^.u ta.p chi' Va(n Nghe^. cu?a Thu'y Nga Pairs cho hay, o^ng To^ Va(n Lai, Gia'm ddo^'c trung ta^m Thu'y Nga Paris quan nie^.m thay vi` mo^~i tha'ng o^ng pha?i bo? ra mo^.t khoa?n tie^`n lo+'n dde^? trang tra?i chi phi' qua?ng ca'o cho ca'c sa?n pha^?m cu~ng nhu+ nhu+~ng chu+o+ng tri`nh tri`nh die^~n cu?a Thu'y Nga Paris, thi`, ta.i sao Thu'y Nga Paris la.i kho^ng tu+. thu+.c hie^.n mo^~i tha'ng mo^.t so^' ba'o, dde^? qua'ng ba' nhu+~ng hoa.t ddo^.ng cu?a trung ta^m. Nguye^.t san Va(n Nghe^. ra ddo+`i tu+` quan nie^.m thu+.c tie^~n na`y.

Ha^`u he^'t nhu+~ng ca nha.c si~ co^.ng ta'c thu+o+`ng tru+.c vo+'i Trung ta^m Thu'y Nga Paris, dda~ co' ma(.t trong buo^?i ra ma('t ta.p chi' Va(n Nghe^.. Ve^` tha`nh pha^`n bie^n ta^.p va` co^.ng ta'c vo+'i Nguye^.t san Va(n Nghe^., ngu+o+`i ta tha^'y co' ra^'t nhie^`u ca^y bu't no^?i tie^'ng nhu+ Nguye^~n Ngo.c Nga.n, Nguye^~n DDi`nh Toa`n, Nguye^~n Chi' Kha?, Phan Ni Ta^'n, Le^ Thu.y, Nguye^n Nghi~a, va^n va^n...

Nhu+ va^.y la` sau mo^.t tho+`i gian co' mo^.t chu+o+ng tri`nh pha't thanh rie^ng va`o mo^~i buo^?i sa'ng Thu+' Ba?y, ba^y gio+`, Trung ta^m Thu'y Nga Paris la.i co' cho rie^ng mi`nh, mo^.t ta.p chi' chuye^n ve^` va(n ho.c, nghe^. thua^.t, pha't ha`nh ha`ng tha'ng.

Cho to+'i nga`y ho^m nay, Thu'y Nga Paris va^~n la` trung ta^m ba(ng nha.c va` video lo+'n nha^'t ta.i ha?i ngoa.i.

NHA.C SI~ TRA^`M TU+? THIE^NG TU+` TRA^`N

Nguo^`n tin tu+` nha` ba'o Du Mie^n, Chu? nhie^.m tua^`n ba'o Tho+`i Ba'o, ddo^`ng sa'ng la^.p Thu+ Vie^.n Vie^.t Nam vo+'i Nha.c si~ Tra^`m Tu+? Thie^ng cho hay, Nha.c si~ Tra^`m Tu+? Thie^ng dda~ tu+` tra^`n lu'c 8 gio+` 15 phu't sa'ng Thu+' Ba 25 tha'ng Gie^ng, na(m 2000 ta.i be^.nh vie^.n Anaheim Hospital, tha`nh pho^' Anaheim, Nam California, vi` chu+'ng be^.nh ung thu+.

Nha.c si~ Tra^`m Tu+? Thie^ng te^n tha^.t la` Nguye^~n DDu+'c Lo+.i sinh nga`y 1 tha'ng 10 na(m 1938 ta.i Qua?ng Nam. O^ng ba('t dda^`u vie^'t nha.c giu+~a tha^.p nie^n 50, nhu+ng theo chi'nh o^ng cho bie^'t thi` ma~i to+'i na(m 1965, 1966 nha.c cu?a o^ng mo+'i ddu+o+.c nhie^`u ngu+o+`i bie^'t to+'i vo+'i nhu+~ng ca khu'c nhu+ Hu+o+ng Ca Vo^ Ta^.n, ro^`i Kinh Kho^?, hoa(.c Chuye^.n Mo^.t Ca^y Ca^`u DDa~ Ga^~y va^n va^n...

Tru+o+'c khi chuye^?n sang vie^'t Nha.c si~ Tra^`m Tu+? Thie^ng tu+`ng la`m tho+ vo+'i bu't hie^.u DDu+'c Lo+.i trong mo^.t thi va(n ddoa`n do La^m Tu+o+`ng Du~ ddu+'ng dda^`u.

Ty. na.n ta.i Hoa Ky` na(m 1985, Tra^`m Tu+? Thie^ng cu~ng co' kha' nhie^`u sa'ng ta'c no^?i tie^'ng nhu+ Mu+o+`i Na(m Ye^u Em, DDe^m Nho+' Ve^` Saigo`n, va` mo^.t so^' ca khu'c cu?a Nha.c si~ Tru'c Ho^`, do o^ng vie^'t lo+`i nhu+ "Be^n Em DDang Co' Ta," "Bu+o+'c Cha^n Vie^.t Nam," va` mo^.t so^' ca khu'c do o^ng vie^'t ca? lo+`i la^~n nha.c nhu+ "Co' Tin vui Giu+~a Gio+` Tuye^.t Vo.ng," hay "Mo^.t Nga`y Vie^.t Nam" va^n va^n...

Theo Nha` ba'o La^m Tu+o+`ng Du~ thi`, sau khi bie^'t mi`nh bi. ung thu+ pho^?i, Nha.c si~ Tra^`m Tu+? Thie^ng dda~ ve^` so^'ng vo+'i Nha` va(n Nguye^~n DDu+'c La^.p o+? tha`nh pho^' Pomona, ca('t ddu+'t su+. lie^n la.c vo+'i mo.i ngu+o+`i. Ta.i dda^y, o^ng a(n uo^'ng theo phu+o+ng pha'p du+o+~ng sinh Oshawa. Sau 107 nga`y, khi chu.p la.i hi`nh pho^?i, ngu+o+`i ta nga.c nhie^n tha^'y pho^?i o^ng ra^'t trong tre?o.

Ho. La^m cho bie^'t tie^'p, ta.i Hoa Ky`, Nha.c si~ Tra^`m Tu+? Thie^ng chi? co' mo^.t ngu+o+`i cha'u trai o+? Florida va` mo^.t ngu+o+`i anh o+? Vie^.t Nam. Hai nga`y tru+o+'c khi tu+` tra^`n, ngu+o+`i cha'u cu?a ta'c gia? "Kinh Kho^?" ddu+o+.c ba'o tin va` hie^.n ddang co' ma(.t ta.i Orange county.

Nho'm tha^n hu+~u cu?a Nha.c si~ Tra^`m Tu+? Thie^ng - Nguye^~n DDu+'c Lo+.i cho hay vi` ho. Nguye^~n co' Medical cho ne^n vie^.c an ta'ng o^ng se~ nho'm tha^n hu+~u phu. tra'ch va`, pha^`n sai bie^.t, ne^'u co', se~ do Nha.c si~ Tru'c Ho^` cu?a Trung ta^m Asia dda?m nha^.n.

NHA` BA'O TRU+O+NG TU+? PHO`NG TU+` TRA^`N

Cu`ng vo+'i tin Nha.c si~ Tra^`m Tu+? Thie^ng qua ddo+`i la` tin nha` ba'o Tru+o+ng Tu+? Pho`ng tu+'c Pha.m Kim Vinh, qua ddo+`i va`o lu'c 10 gio+` 30 sa'ng nga`y Thu+' Ba 25 tha'ng Gie^ng, na(m 2000, hu+o+?ng tho. 67 tuo^?i.

DDu+o+.c bie^'t Nha` ba'o Pha.m Kim Vinh, vo+'i bu't hie^.u Tru+o+ng Tu+? Pho`ng, nguye^n co^.ng ta'c vie^n Nha^.t ba'o Chi'nh Lua^.n, tru+o+'c tha'ng 4-75. Ty. na.n ta.i Hoa Ky` na(m 1975, tru+o+'c khi di chuye^?n ve^` qua^.n ha.t Orange County, Nha` ba'o Pha.m Kim Vinh co' mo^.t tho+`i gian kha' da`i cu+ ngu. ta.i tha`nh pho^' San Diego, cu+.c nam tie^?u bang California.

Trong ga^`n 1/4 the^' ky? lu+u vong ta.i que^ ngu+o+`i, Nha` ba'o Pha.m Kim Vinh-Tru+o+ng Tu+? Pho`ng dda~ so^'ng ga^`n nhu+ toa`n tho+`i gian cho vie^.c di.ch thua^.t va` bie^n kha?o. Nhu+~ng ta'c pha^?m di.ch thua^.t hoa(.c tru+o+'c ta'c cu?a o^ng, ha^`u he^'t lie^n quan quan to+'i cuo^.c chie^'n Vie^.t Nam 20 na(m. Trong so^' nhu+~ng ta'c pha^?m dda~ hoa`n ta^'t cu?a ho. Pha.m, co' nhie^`u cuo^'n ddu+o+.c vie^'t ba(`ng Anh ngu+~, nha(`m soi sa'ng nhu+~ng bi' a^?n chi'nh tri. chung quanh vie^.c ngu+o+`i My~ bo? ro+i mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam.

Theo tie^?u su+? do chi'nh ho. Pha.m co^ng bo^' thi`, o^ng cu~ng la` gia'o su+ mo^n chi'nh tri. ho.c ta.i mo^.t dda.i ho.c ôû thaønh phoá San Diego.

NGU+O+`I SA`I GO`N A(N TE^'T CANH THI`N

Te^'t dde^'n ro^`i ba` con o+i! Te^'t go~ cu+?a nha` mo^~i sa'ng so+'m ba(`ng co+n gio' nhe. ho+i la`nh la.nh. Ca'i thu+' gio' thoang thoa?ng mu`i sung chi'n, hu+o+ng hoa mai mo+'i no+? va` muo^n loa`i hoa tho+m co? la. kha'c. Ca'i thu+' mu`i hu+o+ng ma` chi? Te^'t mo+'i co'. Mu`i hu+o+ng a^'y tho^?i va`o lo`ng thi` la^.p tu+'c bao muo^.n phie^`n du+o+`ng nhu+ tan bie^'n ca?. Trong ca'i lo^`ng ngu+.c ca(ng pho^`ng hu+o+ng Te^'t, tra'i tim bo^~ng ro^.n ra~ mo^.t thu+' nie^`m vui ra^'t an la.c va` cu~ng ra^'t Te^'t.

Te^'t cu?a thie^n nie^n ky? thu+' III na`y co' nhie^`u ca'i mo+'i la('m. Ca'i no^?i ba^.t nha^'t pha?i ke^? la` mu+'t. Nga`y nay da^n tha`nh pho^' kho^ng ma^'y ngu+o+`i thi'ch a(n mu+'t nu+~a. Mo^.t ho^.p mu+'t nho? dde^? suo^'t ma^'y nga`y xua^n va^~n co`n. Ngu+o+`i ta ba^y gio+` dda~ nga'n ca'i ngo.t cu?a ddu+o+`ng mu+'t ro^`i. Va? la.i lu'c na`y thu+.c pha^?m do^`i da`o, thi.t ca' e^ he^`, ba'nh ke.o du+ thu+`a ne^n ma^'y nga`y Te^'t bu.ng kho^ng co`n cho^~ dde^? chu+'a the^m mu+'t nu+~a. Thay mu+'t la` tra'i ca^y. Da^n tha`nh thi. a(n tra'i ca^y ddu? loa.i. Tu+` ca'c loa.i tra'i ca^y no^.i ddia. nhu+ du+a ha^'u, tho+m ma^.n... ca? nhu+~ng tra'i ngoa.i nhu+ le^, apple Trung quo^'c, nho My~, Ca'c loa.i tra'i ca^y kho^ nhu+ ta'o Ta`u kho^, ho^`ng kho^, nho kho^, ta'o Bi`nh cha'nh kho^... la` nhu+~ng thu+' thu+o+`ng ga(.p trong ca'c ho^.p mu+'t Te^'t. Tra'i ca^y kho^ thay the^' vi. tri' u+u tie^n cu?a mo^.t so^' lo.ai mu+'t truye^`n tho^'ng nhu+ mu+'t du+`a, gu+`ng, bi', chu`m ro^.t... Mo^.t khay mu+'t nga`y nay go^`m ca'c mo'n: ha.t du+a, va`i lo.ai tra'i ca^y kho^ nhu+ nho, ta'o Ta`u, mo^.t i't mu+'t gu+`ng, o^ mai, mu+'t bi', ha.t sen... Ke^' be^n ddo' la` mo^.t ho^.p ba'nh Ta^y, ke.o chocolate, mo^.t a^'m tra` tho+m no'ng ho^?i va` va`i ca'i ta'ch.

Co' le~ mu+'t chi? co`n tha^'y o+? vu`ng que^ vi` mu+'c so^'ng o+? dda^y tha^'p ho+n tha`nh thi. ra^'t nhie^`u. ngu+o+`i ta co' the^? mua mu+'t quanh na(m trong cho+. Be^'n Tha`nh va` mo^.t va`i cho+. lo+'n kha'c trong Sa`i go`n. Mu+'t na`y thu+o+`ng mua bie^'u Vie^.t Kie^`u ve^` cho+i. Mu+'t cha` la` na(m nay co' hai loa.i. Loa.i cha` la` Trung DDo^ng ngon ho+n cha` la` Trung Quo^'c. Mu+'t dda^.u tra('ng cu?a da^n DDa` la.t coi va^.y ma` ddu+o+.c ba` con o+? ddo^`ng ba(`ng lu'c na`y ngu+o+~ng mo^. ho+n. Mu+'t va^~n co`n nhu+ng thi. tru+o+`ng dda~ thu he.p chi? co`n 25% nga`y tru+o+'c. Kho^ng co`n ca'i ca?nh cho+. Te^'t la` cho+. 80% ba'n mu+'t nu+~a. Ha.t du+a va^~n co`n ra^'t ddu+o+.c u+a chuo^.ng. Ne^'u nha` na`o dda nu+~ thie^?u nam, mo^~i ca'i Te^'t pha?i to^'n va`i ky' lo^ ha.t du+a la` le~ bi`nh thu+o+`ng. Be^n ca.nh ha.t du+a truye^`n tho^'ng co`n co' nhie^`u lo.ai ha.t kha'c ca('n ti' ta'ch ra^'t vui. A^'y la` ha.t bi', ha.t hu+o+'ng du+o+ng...

Te^'t ma` kho^ng co' hoa se~ buo^`n la('m. Hoa la.i cha(?ng the^? na`o thie^'u trong 3 nga`y Te^'t ddu+o+.c. Ca'c cho+. hoa lu'c na`o cu~ng la` mo^.t no+i dda^`y ha^'p da^~n. Ngu+o+`i ta chi? mua hoa tru+o+'c Te^'t. Vi` nhie^`u ly' do. Ne^'u muo^'n ddi Te^'t xe^'p co+ quan cu?a mi`nh hay ngu+o+`i mi`nh tho. o+n trong na(m, ngu+o+`i ta pha?i ddi qua` tru+o+'c Te^'t. DDe^'n mu`ng mo^.t co' mang qua` dde^'n cha(?ng ai nha^.n, phong tu.c nhu+ the^' tho^i. Mo.i vie^.c dde^`u pha?i chua^?n bi. tru+o+'c Te^'t. DDe^'n mu`ng mo^.t Te^'t chi? co' vui cho+i kho^ng co`n lo la('ng gi` nu+~a ca?. Do va^.y ca'c ma(.t ha`ng tru+o+'c Te^'t gia' ra^'t cao. Tu+` ho^m ra(`m tha'ng cha.p, cho+. hoa dda~ ba('t dda^`u. Mo^.t ca^y mai cao kho?ang 2m dda^`y nu. ma` ra(`m dda~ co' gia' 500 nga`n tu+'c kho?ang ga^`n 40$ USD. Gia' ca? se~ ta(ng le^n tu+` tu+` cho dde^'n giu+~a tru+a giao thu+`a. Na(m ngo'ai ta.i ca'c cho+. hoa xua^n trung ta^m nhu+ o+? co^ng vie^n Tao DDa`n, Co' go^'c mai gia' ho+n 3,000.00$ USD. Nghe qua tha^'y no'ng la.nh ro^`i. Mai nga`y nay ra^'t phu+'c ta.p. Ngu+o+`i ta ghe'p nhie^`u gio^'ng mai tre^n mo^.t go^'c. Vi` va^.y ca^y mai Te^'t co' nhie^`u ma`u kha'c nhau. Hoa cu~ng nhie^`u loa.i. Co' loa.i na(m ca'nh co' loa.i mu+o+`i, nhu+~ng loa.i dda('t tie^`n co' khi tre^n 25 ca'nh mo^~i hoa. Ma`u sa('c va` so^' ca'nh mai dda~ chi? mo+'i no'i le^n pha^`n na`o trong chu?ng loa.i mai. Ca? kie^?u da'ng cu~ng ra^'t dda da.ng. Mai ca`nh kho^ng go^'c, chi? chu+ng va`i ho^m ro^`i che^'t. Mai co' go^'c tuy` theo loa.i. Loa.i mai lo+'n vo+'i cha^.u to, tha^n cao tre^n 3 feet. Lo.ai na`y ca`ng lo+'n ca`ng ma('c. Mai bon sai nga`y nay ddu+o+.c u+a chuo^.ng ho+n. Ngu+o+`i cho+i mai bi`nh da^n dda~ mua mai bon sai tu+` trong na(m. Vi` ddo+.i dde^'n Te^'t mo^.t cha^.u mai bon sai 4 ma`u hoa gia' ca? tra(m ddollars la` chuye^.n thu+o+`ng. Mai bon sai ti'nh gia' theo kie^?u da'ng va` ki'ch thu+o+'c go^'c. Go^'c ca`ng to chu+'ng to? ca^y la^u na(m va` kie^?u da'ng ca`ng co^? qua'i la.i ca`ng co' gia'. ngu+o+`i ta thi'ch chu+ng ta('c vi` tu+` Ha'n Vie^.t ta('c la` ha.nh, ddo^`ng a^m vo+'i ha.nh phu'c. Tre^n ba`n salon ca.nh ma^m ba'nh mu+'t co' the^m cha^.u mai bon sai. No+i go^'c tru+o+'c cu+?a la` cha^.u mai lo+'n. quanh ddo' la` muo^n ho^`ng nghi`n ti'a cu?a thu+o+.c du+o+.c, ca^?m chu+o+'ng, ta('c... Ca(n nha` nho? ho^m nay bo^~ng sa'ng ha(?n va` xinh tu+o+i ho+n vo+'i sa('c hoa. Khu cho+. hoa truye^`n tho^'ng o+? ddu+o+`ng Nguye^~n Hue^. Sa`i go`n tu+` 2 na(m nay ddu+o+.c do+`i sang co^ng vie^n Tao DDa`n. Cu`ng vo+'i ca'c cho+. hoa le? kha('p no+i trong tha`nh pho^' nhu+ tru+o+'c ma(.t tru+o+`ng My~ thua^.t Gia DDi.nh, La(ng o^ng, cho+. An DDo^ng... Ba^'t cu+' kho?ang dda^'t tro^'ng na`o be^n le^` ddu+o+`ng cu~ng co' the^? tha`nh ddie^?m ba'n hoa. Ca'c ddie^?m ba'n hoa do.c ddu+o+`ng na`y bie^'n ca'i tha`nh pho^' co^ng nghie^.p o^`n a`o tha`nh mo^.t co^ng vie^n kho^?ng lo^`. Vo+'i ngu+o+`i bi`nh da^n ye^u hoa, muo^'n co' cha^.u hoa Te^'t thu+o+`ng ddo+.i sau 12 gio+` tru+a nga`y giao thu+`a. tu+` sau gio+` ddo' ba.n ha`ng de.p do.n cho+., ve^` nha` chua^?n bi. ddo'n Te^'t. Ne^'u hoa kho^ng ba'n ddu+o+.c chi? bo? chu+' co^ng mang ve^` co`n to^'n ke'm ho+n. Do va^.y gia' hoa ha. vu` vu`. Chie^`u ho^m tru+o+'c mo^.t cha^.u mai co' the^? ca? trie^.u. Nhu+ng sau gio+` ngo., 12 gio+` tru+a, gia' tu.t da^`n co' khi chi? co`n 20% lu'c dda^`u. Do va^.y cho+. hoa sau ngo. la` cho+. hoa cu?a ngu+o+`i bi`nh da^n. Ca'c chu' ta`i xi'ch lo^, xe ba ba'nh ma^'y nga`y na`y tha ho^` kie^'m kha'ch. Co' lo^.c cu~ng pha?i chia dde^`u cho mo.i ngu+o+`i ne^n ca'i vie^.c gia' ca? thue^ xe cho+? hoa co' dda('t chu't ba` con cu~ng vui ve?. Chu+ng hoa thi` pha?i chu+ng qua? nu+~a chu+'. Nga`y nay cha(?ng ne^` ha` to^n gia'o. Ngu+o+`i Thie^n Chu'a gia'o cu~ng coi vie^.c chu+ng hoa qua? le^n ba`n tho+` chi? la` mo^.t ca'ch trang tri' nha` cu+?a va` to? lo`ng to^n ki'nh DDa^'ng To^'i cao. Do va^.y tre^n ba`n tho+` ca'c gia ddi`nh ba^'t ke^? lu+o+ng hay gia'o dde^`u co' ma^m tra'i ca^y. Co' khi ngu+o+`i ta ti`m nhu+~ng tra'i ca^y tu+o+i co' ma`u sa('c ha`i ho`a nhau dde^? chu+ng. Ma`u xanh dda^.m cu?a qua? du+a ha^'u be^n ca.nh ma`u va`ng tu+o+i tra'i du+a ho`ang, ma`u ddo? tra'i apple, hay ca` ro^'t, ma`u lo+.t cu?a ma^.n... Mo^.t so^' ba` con la.i thi'ch ra'p nhu+~ng tra'i ca^y a^'y ne^n mo^.t lo+`i u+o+'c nguye^.n. cha(?ng ha.n: ma~ng ca^`u, du+`a xie^m, ddu ddu?, xoa`i; vo+'i y' ca^`u vu+`a ddu? xa`i. Co' ke? nghi.ch ngo+.m, ba.o gan da'm ba`y ma^m go^`m: tie^u, xoa`i, di~a mu+'t, o^'ng chi?; vo+'i y' tie^u xa`i mu't chi?.

Tra'i tho+m ma` ngu+o+`i Anh go.i la` tra'i ta'o tho^ng (pine + apple) la.i la` mo^.t thu+' tra'i ra^'t dde.p. Ta thu+? nga('m nguye^n tra'i vo+'i ddu? ca? kho'm la' va` cuo^'n. Nhie^`u ngu+o+`i khe'o tay dda~ ta.o da'ng ba(`ng ca'ch ghe'p ca'c loa.i tra'i ca^y la.i tha`nh hi`nh thu' nhu+ ro^`ng, co.p, la^n... Co' le? tho+m na(m Canh Thi`n na`y se~ ra^'t ddu+o+.c chuo^.ng vi` kho'm la' cu?a no' la` mo^.t trong nhu+~ng bo^. pha^.n la`m tha`nh con ro^`ng qua?. Tie^'c ra(`ng sau 3 nga`y chu+ng, ca'c qua? na`y thu+o+`ng u'ng ne^n ho^m pha' co^~ chi? va^'t bo? kho^ng du`ng ddu+o+.c no'.

Tra'i qui't tie^`u, qui't ddu+o+`ng, cam sa`nh cu~ng la` nhu+~ng mo'n ra^'t ddu+o+.c u+a chuo^.ng nga`y nay. DDi chu'c Te^'t giu+~a tro+`i na('ng, va`o nha` ddu+o+.c dda~i mo^.t tra'i qui't ngo.t hay a(n va`i mie^'ng cam, vu+`a ma't co^?, vu+`a tha^'m gio.ng la.i cu~ng ra^'t bo^?. O^ng ba` no'i cam ha`n, qui't nhie^.t bu+o+?i tie^u. A(n cam thi` ma't; a(n qui't thi` a^'m bu.ng; bu+o+?i thi` de^~ tie^u ho'a. Qua? va^.y, trong ma^'y nga`y vui Te^'t, bu.ng ai cu~ng dda^`y a^'p thi.t mo+~. The^' ma` sau bu+~a co+m Te^'t co' va`i mu'i bu+o+?i tra'ng mie^.ng cha('c cha(?ng co`n gi` ba(`ng. Khoa ho.c tie^'n bo^. dda~ bo^? sung cho kie^'n thu+'c con ngu+o+`i. Ne^n nghe^. thua^.t a^?m thu+.c gio+` dda^y co`n la` ky? thua^.t dinh du+o+~ng nu+~a.

Tra'i qui't tie^`u, qui't ddu+o+`ng, cam sa`nh cu~ng la` nhu+~ng mo'n ra^'t ddu+o+.c u+a chuo^.ng nga`y nay. ddi chu'c Te^'t giu+~a tro+`i na('ng, va`o nha` ddu+o+.c dda~i mo^.t tra'i qui't ngo.t hay a(n va`i mie^'ng cam, vu+`a ma't co^?, vu+`a tha^'m gio.ng la.i cu~ng ra^'t bo^?. o^ng ba` no'i cam ha`n, qui't nhie^.t bu+o+?i tie^u. A(n cam thi` ma't; a(n qui't thi` a^'m bu.ng; bu+o+?i thi` de^~ tie^u ho'a. Qua? va^.y, trong ma^'y nga`y vui Te^'t, bu.ng ai cu~ng dda^`y a^'p thi.t mo+~. The^' ma` sau bu+~a co+m Te^'t co' va`i mu'i bu+o+?i tra'ng mie^.ng cha('c cha(?ng co`n gi` ba(`ng. Khoa ho.c tie^'n bo^. dda~ bo^? sung cho kie^'n thu+'c con ngu+o+`i. Ne^n nghe^. thua^.t a^?m thu+.c gio+` dda^y co`n la` ky? thua^.t dinh du+o+~ng nu+~a.

Co' mo^.t thu+' qua? tuy kho^ng du`ng dde^? tra'ng mie^.ng nhu+ng nhie^`u ba` con thi'ch chu+ng. A^'y la` kho^? qua hay mu+o+'p dda('ng. Kho^? qua theo a^m Qua~ng DDo^ng: kho^? la` dda('ng, qua la` qua?. The^' nhu+ng theo a^m No^m, ba` con muo^'n u+o+'c ra(`ng na(m mo+'i bao nhie^u "kho^?" se~ "qua" ddi. Nga`y Te^'t cu~ng la` ba('t dda^`u va`o mu`a vie^m nhie^.t. Giu+~a tru+a co' the^? no'ng to+'i 35 ddo^. C. Nhu+~ng thu+'c a(n nhu+ dda~ no'i la.i cung ca^'p qua' nhie^`u na(ng lu+o+.ng, co+ the^? se~ ca?m tha^'y ra^'t no'ng bu+'c. Kho^? qua la` tha^`n du+o+.c dde^? ha. nhie^.t. Nha` na`o co' tu? la.nh, trong nga(n rau i't ra pha?i co' va`i kg kho^? qua. Kho^ng thi` trong be^'p cu~ng pha?i co' mo^.t no^`i kho^? qua. Kho^? qua nho^`i cha? ca' tha'c la't na^'u canh a(n pha?i no'i la` me^ me^.t. Nhie^`u ngu+o+`i va^~n thi'ch a(n nhu+ va^.y ho+n la` nho^`i thi.t ba^`m na^'u canh. DDa^y la` mo^.t mo'n cu~ng thuo^.c loa.i truye^`n tho^'ng nga`y Te^'t cu?a da^n Sa`i go`n. Sa`i go`n ho^.i nha^.p ddu? ca'c mie^`n Ba('c, Trung Nam cu?a dda^'t nu+o+'c. Ngu+o+`i a(n ba'nh te't, ngu+o+`i thi'ch ba'nh chu+ng. Du` ba'nh te't hay ba'nh chu+ng cha(?ng ai thie^'u kho^? qua ca?. Te^'t la.i kho^ng the^? thie^1u kie^.u ddu+o+.c. Tu+` ra(`m tha'ng cha.p tu+'c 21 tha'ng jan. 2000, tre^n ca'c ma?nh sa^n nho? tru+o+'c nha` hay tre^n MA'I TOLE, nhu+~ng cu? kie^.u tra('ng phau tha ho^` na(`m pho+i na('ng. Be^n ca.nh no' la` ha`nh, ca` ro^'t, ca?i tra('ng... DDi va`o ca'c con he~m tha`nh pho^' nghe thoang tho?ang mu`i kie^.u, mu`i du+a mo'n ddu? tha^'y Te^'t ro^`i. Kie^.u cu~ng co' nhie^`u loa.i. Ngu+o+`i mie^`n Trung thi'ch a(n kie^.u Hue^' tro^`ng o+? Phan Rang. Kie^.u lo.ai na`y cu? nho? ho+n kie^.u tra^u tro^`ng o+? mie^`n Ta^y. Ca'ch la`m kie^.u chua cu?a ngu+o+`i mie^`n Trung va` Nam kha'c nhau chu't ddi?nh, nhu+ng tu+.u chung la` nga^m da^'m ddu+o+`ng. Tuy ba^'t ddo^`ng vo+'i nhau trong vie^.c thu+o+?ng thu+'c kie^.u, da^n o+? Sa`i go`n cho du` Ba('c Trung hay Nam dde^`u ddo^`ng y' vo+'i nhau ve^` du+a ca?i. Du+a ca?i Ca^`n Tho+ tho+m ngon ho+n du+a ca?i tro^`ng o+? Ho^'c Mo^n. Cu+ da^n la^u na(m cu?a Sa`i go`n mo'n gi` cu~ng a(n. Ta bie^'t ba'nh chu+ng a(n vo+'i du+a ha`nh, du+a ca?i chua. Ba'nh te't pha?i a(n vo+'i du+a mo'n, nhu+ ngu+o+`i Trung, hay cu? ca?i nga^m nu+o+'c ma('m nhu+ ngu+o+`i ddo^`ng ba(`ng so^ng Cu+~u Long. Ba^y gio+` nhie^`u ngu+o+`i a(n ta^'t ca?. Ba'nh chu+ng tho+m mu`i la' vo^ng cu~ng ngon. Ba'nh te't tho+m la' chuo^'i cu~ng the`m. Tu+` to^'i ho^m tru+o+'c, ne^'p dda~ ddu+o+.c nga^m vo+'i la' du+'a, la' bu` ngo't, dda^.u xanh dda~ dda~i vo? sa(~n. Sa'ng so+'m ca? nha` qua^y qua^`n go'i ba'nh. To+'i cha^.p tru+a, co`n thu+`a i't ne^'p ma` dda^.u hay thi.t kho^ng ddu?, ca'c ba` me. thu+o+ng con go'i va`i ca'i ba'nh u' nho? hay ca'i ba'nh te't thie^'u nha^n. To^'i 27 Te^'t na(m nay, tu+'c Feb. 2nd, ddi to+'i dda^u, he~m na`o, ddu+o+`ng na`o cu~ng ba^.p bu`ng a'nh lu+?a. Mu`i kho'i cu?i quye^.n mu`i ba'nh chu+ng, ba'nh te't cho ta ca?m gia'c ra^'t ro^.n ra`ng. Canh no^`i ba'nh cu~ng la` mo^.t ky? nie^.m kho' que^n. Be^n no^`i ba'nh nha` na`ng, cha`ng trai tre? bo? vie^.c nha` la(ng xa(ng chu.m be^'p. Co' ma^'y di.p ddu+o+.c ga^`n gu?i chuye^.n tro` nhu+ the^' na`y dda^u. Mai na`y du` ddo+`i co' chia hai ne?o, la`m sao 2 ngu+o+`i que^n ddu+o+.c ky? nie^.m ddo'. Nhu+~ng ke? kho^ng co`n lo ti`m kie^'m ha.nh phu'c lu+'a ddo^i thi` vu+`a canh ba'nh, vu+`a lai rai tie^.c ru+o+.u, chuye^.n tro` ra^m rang. To+'i khuya, so`ng xa^.p xa'm, "ca'c te^" la.i ca`ng la`m kho^ng khi' Te^'t the^m pha^`n ha`o hu+'ng. Ba^y gio+` dda^'t ddai tha`nh pho^' qua' cha^.t cho^.i. Nhie^`u ngu+o+`i la.i tra(m co^ng nga`n vie^.c trong ma^'y nga`y ca^.n Te^'t, dda`nh pha?i bo? tie^`n ddi mua ba'nh te't, ba'nh chu+ng nhu+ng lo`ng va^~n tie^'c ca'i kho^ng khi' e^m dde^`m ngo^`i canh ba'nh. Ma(.c du` dda so^' da^n Sa`i go`n na^'u ga hay da^`u ho^i, ho. va^~n thi'ch chu.m ba'nh ba(`ng cu?i. Cu?i cha(?ng pha?i ddi mua xa xo^i. Cu?i la` nhu+~ng va^.t du.ng ba(`ng go^~ he^'t xa`i nhu+ ba`n ghe^' ga^~y cha^n, co^.t ke`o mu.c trong na(m mo+'i su+?a nha` loa.i ra. Thu+' cu?i ta^.n du.ng na`y co' khi xin cu~ng ddu+o+.c kho?i mua. Ca'c em nho? xu'm xi't quanh no^`i ba'nh cho+` nu+~a khuya khi tro+? ba'nh ma' vo+'t ca'i ba'nh u', ba'nh te't nho? ho^m sa'ng mo+'i go'i rie^ng cho be'. A(n ca'i ba'nh thie^'u nha^n be' ti' na`y tuy va^.y ma` ngon tuye^.t. Te^'t ma` kho^ng co' ba'nh co' nhie^`u ca'i ba^'t tie^.n la('m. Nga`y Te^'t chi? co' ddi cho+i, tha(m vie^'ng nhau va` chuye^.n tro`. Ca'c ba` ca'c chi. qua' me^.t mo?i cha(?ng co`n su+'c na^'u nu+o+'ng chi nu+~a. Nhu+~ng thu+'c na^'u sa(~n nhu+ ba'nh chu+ng, ba'nh te't, thi.t kho tru+'ng vi.t, thi.t kho hon, canh kho^? qua, ca'c loa.i thi.t muo^'i, thi.t heo nga^m nu+o+'c ma('m, la.p xu+o+?ng va` ca'c thu+'c a(n muo^'i chua nhu+ du+a ca?i, DU+A GIA', du+a ha`nh, du+a mo'n... se~ ddo+~ cha^n, ddo+~ tay cho ca'c ba` no^.i tro+. ra^'t nhie^`u. Ba^y gio+` kho^ng co`n tie^'ng pha'o ddo'n xua^n nu+~a. Nhie^`u ke? dda~ qua' dda'ng khi su+? du.ng pha'o ga^y o^ nhie^~m na(.ng kho^ng khi' tha`nh pho^'. DDo^i khi pha'o co`n ga^y ra nhu+~ng tai na.n thu+o+ng ta^m. Vi` the^' ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam dda~ bo? tu.c le^. ddo^'t pha'o ddo'n xua^n tu+` va`i na(m ga^`n dda^y. nhu+~ng na(m dda^`u kho^ng tie^'ng pha'o ke^? cu~ng buo^`n va` nho+' tha^.t. Nhu+ng ro^`i cu~ng quen. Te^'t kho^ng pha'o nhu+ng ro^`ng va^~n mu'a mo^.t va`i no+i ta.i Cho+. Lo+'n, khu vu+.c qua^.n 5. Te^'t va^~n co`n Te^'t. Sa'ng mu`ng mo^.t la` ddi tha(m vie^'ng chu'c Te^'t nhau. Ca'c em nho? ha(m ho+? cho+` nhu+~ng bao li` xi` ddo?. co' tie^`n ba^y gio+` ca'c em kho^ng ddi a(n qua` va(.t nhie^`u nhu+ tru+o+'c nu+~a. Ca'c tie^.m cho+i computer game ta^'p na^.p va` ro^m ra~ tie^'ng cu+o+`i ddu`a cu?a ca'c em. ca'i buo^`n thie^'u pha'o dda~ ddu+o+.c ma'y la^'p va`o. Nhie^`u gia ddi`nh sau khi dda~ lo cho ca'c cha'u ddu? a(n. DDie^`u ba^y gio+` pha?i lo la('ng la` chuye^.n cho+i. Muo^'n ca'c em theo ki.p dda` tie^'n cu?a the^' gio+'i vie^.c cho+i tro+? ne^n thie^'t ye^'u ho+n.

ca'i vui nga`y Te^'t chi? la` ca'i vui cu?a su+. chua^?n bi. ddo'n mu+`ng na(m mo+'i. Ngu+o+`i ta ho^`i ho^.p, ro^.n ra`ng, kha('c khoa?i, lo la('ng chua^?n bi. mo.i thu+'. Cho dde^'n dde^m giao thu+`a, ma^m co^? ba`y ra, le^n hu+o+ng kho'i ddo'n o^ng ba` ve^` a(n Te^'t vo+'i con cha'u; gia ddi`nh ho^.i ngo^. be^n khay tra` ru+.o+u ddi~a ba'nh mu+'t va` chu'c Te^'t nhau trong nie^`m vui ddoa`n tu.. He^'t mu`ng mo^.t, vo+'i nhie^`u ngu+o+`i va^.y la` he^'t Te^'t ro^`i. Tuy ra(`ng va^~n co`n ddu+o+.c nghi? the^m va`i ho^m nu+~a. nhu+~ng nga`y co`n la.i dde^? nghi? ngo+i sau nhu+~ng nga`y va^'t va? ddo'n Te^'t. he^'t Te^'t nhu+ng va^~n co`n Xua^n. Ca'i no^~i Xua^n ro^.n ra`ng trong lo`ng muo^n thu?a. Cho du` pha?i ddi dda^u xa, cho du` na(m tha'ng nho.c nha(`n, khi nha('c to+'i Te^'t lo`ng ai cu~ng ro^.n ra`ng, cu~ng bo^`i ho^`i thu+o+ng nho+'.

Thu+ gu+?i ngu+o+`i ba.n tre?, chu+a ga(.p ma(.t, nha^n ca'i che^'t cu?a mo^.t nha.c si~ va`, v.h.; va` nk.nhu+o+.ng, o+? xa.

Th. tha^n, me^'n,
To^i nho+', mo^.t nga`y tru+o+'c khi ddi Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n, to^i nha^.n ddu+o+.c ddie^.n-thu+ thu+' ba cu?a Th., nha('c nho+? to^i ve^` vie^.c Th. va` ca'c ba.n cho+` ddo+.i no+i to^i, mo^.t ba`i vie^'t ve^` Va(n Phu.ng.

To^i nho+', tru+o+'c ddo', to^i dda~ ca?m o+n ddie^.n-thu+ thu+' nha^'t cu?a Th., khi ho?i to^i co' bie^'t tin nha.c si~ Va(n Phu.ng vu+`a mo+'i qua ddo+`i. Cuo^'i thu+, to^i ke^?, to^i dda~ bie^'t tin ddo', qua Nha.c si~ Nguye^~n Hie^`n, ngay nga`y Thu+' Sa'u 17-12, nga`y (ma`,) ngu+o+`i nha.c si~ ta`i hoa cu?a chu'ng ta, li`a, bo? chu'ng ta. To^i no'i, da^~u sao to^i cu~ng ca?m o+n Th., vi` nho+` thu+ cu?a Th. (ma`,) to^i bie^'t ddu+o+.c gio+` ma^'t cu?a o^ng, chi'nh xa'c ho+n. Gio+` ma^'t cu?a Va(n Phu.ng, Nguye^~n Hie^`n cho to^i la` 3 gio+` 30 chie^`u. Trong khi gio+` Th., co' la.i la` 6:30PM. To^i cho+.t hie^?u, ho. Nguye^~n cho to^i gio+` mie^`n Ta^y. Trong khi Nha.c si~ Va(n Phu.ng ma^'t ta.i mie^`n DDo^ng. O+? mie^`n DDo^ng, tho+`i gian ddi tru+o+'c mie^`n Ta^y chu'ng to^i 3 tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^`.

To^i nho+', to^i co' no'i vo+'i Th. ra(`ng, to^i kho^ng ngo+` Th. va` ca'c ba.n, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i tre?, ra^'t tre?, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i lo+'n le^n ta.i xu+' so+? na`y, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i to^i va^~n nghi~, kho^ng he^` co' mo^.t no+. na^`n na`o, vo+'i qua' khu+', du` cho ddo' la` qua' khu+' cu?a mo^.t chie^`u da`i a^m nha.c tre^n du+o+'i nu+?a the^' ky?.

To^i nho+', to^i dda~ ba`y to? vo+'i Th., lo`ng ha^n hoan, sung su+o+'ng cu?a to^i, khi tha^'y Th. va` ca'c ba.n, quan ta^m to+'i ca'i che^'t cu?a ta'c gia? "Suo^'i To'c."

Th. tha^n, me^'n, to^i cu~ng nho+' to^i dda~ tra? lo+`i ddie^.n thu+ thu+' hai cu?a Th. ra(`ng, tuy kho^ng hu+'a, nhu+ng to^i se~ co^', ra'n vie^'t mo^.t ddie^`u gi` ddo', ve^` Va(n Phu.ng, ngu+o+`i dda`n o^ng to^i ga(.p la.i la^`n sau cu`ng, ca'ch dda^y du+o+`ng nhu+ dda~ sa'u, ba?y na(m, khi chu'ng to^i to+'i du+. buo^?i gio+'i thie^.u ddi~a nha.c mo+'i nha^'t cu?a Khua^'t Duy Tra'c, o+? Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n, khi chi. Ho^`ng Thu?y va` ca'c ba.n to^? chu+'c cho ho. Khua^'t, dde^m ta'i ngo^. thi'nh gia?. To^i no'i, to^i kho^ng hu+'a, bo+?i khi ddo', tin tu+'c ve^` ca'i che^'t cu?a Va(n Phu.ng co`n nhu+ mo^.t ho`n than bo?ng, ra't trong to^i. Th., khi tra? lo+`i "kho^ng hu+'a cha('c" vo+'i Th., no+i to^i, la` mo^.t tra? lo+`i ra^'t cha^n tha^.t.

To^i nghi~, ngoa`i ba?n tin nga('n vie^'t ve^` ca'i che^'t cu?a ta'c gia? "Vo' Ca^u Muo^n Da(.m," to^i se~ kho^ng vie^'t the^m mo^.t do`ng na`o kha'c. To^i cho, co' vie^'t the^m ddie^`u gi` ve^` o^ng, da^~u to^'t dde.p ca'ch ma^'y, cu~ng chi? la` mo^.t vie^.c la`m du+, thu+`a. Mo^.t vie^.c la`m muo^.n ma`ng, vo^ nghi~a. Bo+?i, pha^`n to^i, rie^ng to^i tho^i, nhu+~ng ddie^`u ddo', le~ ra, to^i dda~ pha?i vie^'t xuo^'ng, khi o^ng co`n so^'ng...

Th. tha^n, me^'n, nhu+ng mo^.t nga`y tru+o+'c khi tro+? la.i no+i cu+ ngu. cuo^'i cu`ng cu?a Va(n Phu.ng, khi to^i nha^.n ddu+o+.c ddie^.n-thu+ thu+' ba cu?a Th., vo+'i lo+`i co^.t, buo^.c cha('c ni.ch ra(`ng, Th. va`, ca'c ba.n va^~n cho+`, ddo+.i no+i to^i, ba`i vie^'t ve^` Va(n Phu.ng, khi to^i quay ve^`, (thi`,) to^i hie^?u, to^i kho^ng the^? phu. lo`ng tro^ng, mong, tin ca^.y cu?a Th., cu?a ca'c ba.n Suo^'i Nguo^`n.

Va`, Th. dde^m qua, Thu+' Ba 28-12, trong chuye^'n bay dda(`ng dda(~ng nho^`i xo'c, tu+` phi tru+o+`ng Newark o+? New Jersey ve^` Orange County, to^i bie^'t, to^i kho^ng the^? vie^.n da^~n ba^'t cu+' mo^.t ly' do gi`, dde^? tu+` cho^'i su+. tro^ng, ddo+.i cu?a Th., va` ca'c ba.n.

Va`, Th., ba^y gio+` la` sa'ng Thu+' Tu+. To^i ddang ngo^`i tru+o+'c chie^'c computer ba'm bu.i cu?a mi`nh; (va`,) Th., cho phe'p to^i ddu+o+.c ba('t dda^`u ba`i vie^'t to^i dda~ hu+'a ba(`ng ha`ng chu+~ sau dda^y:

Th., tha^n, me^'n, ra^'t xa, cu?a to^i, nhu+ Th. bie^'t, cuo^'i cu`ng, ro^`i, tho+`i gian cu~ng dda~ ddem ta'c gia? "Suo^'i To'c," ra kho?i sinh hoa.t ddo+`i thu+o+`ng cu?a chu'ng ta, ti'nh ra, dda~ mu+o+`i hai nga`y. Nhu+ qua' khu+', chu+a xa, tho+`i gian dda~ la^'y ddi kho?i chu'ng ta, mo^.t Mai Tha?o, mo^.t Nguye^n Sa, ro^`i to+'i mo^.t Le^ DDi`nh DDie^?u, mo^.t Le^ Uye^n Phu+o+ng, (va`,) ga^`n nha^'t, mo^.t nu+~ danh ca Tha'i Ha(`ng...

Ro^`i dda^y, tho+`i gian cu~ng se~ la^'y ddi kho?i chu'ng ta, nhu+~ng nguo^`n thu+o+ng me^'n kha'c, nhu+ no' dda~ la^'y ddi kho?i chu'ng ta, (ra^'t la^u,) mo^.t Vu~ Kha('c Khoan, mo^.t Thanh Nam, mo^.t Pha.m DDi`nh Chu+o+ng,..., va^.y. Th. tha^n, me^'n, ra^'t xa, cu?a to^i, to^i nghi~, co' the^?, Th. ddang muo^'n nha('c nho+? to^i, tho+`i gian se~ kho^ng bo? que^n ba^'t cu+' mo^.t ai, du` ke? na`o.

To^i nghi~, co' the^?, Th. ddang muo^'n nha('c nho+? to^i, so^'ng, che^'t la` le~ thu+o+`ng ha(`ng cu?a nha^n gian. Ke? na`o co' sinh a('t co' pha?i tu+?. Chu+a ke^?, "sinh ky'- tu+? quy." Ne^n, ddie^`u Th. cho+` ddo+.i no+i to^i, trong la' thu+ na`y, (la`,) mo^.t ddie^`u gi` kha'c ho+n. Thi' du., ngu+o+`i mo'i na(`m xuo^'ng kia, dda~ so^'ng the^' na`o, ra sao? O^ng ta dde^? la.i ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng gi`, cho tuo^?i tre?? Va^ng, Th. tha^n, me^'n, ra^'t xa, cu?a to^i, xin ha~y cho to^i ddu+o+.c nha^?n nha vo+'i mo^'i bo`ng bong trong to^i, lu'c na`y...

Th., to^i hie^?u, ca`ng lu'c, to^i ca`ng hie^?u ro~, chu'ng ta co' ma(.t tre^n ddi.a ca^`u na`y, chi? gio^'ng nhu+ su+. bu+o+'c dde^'n mo^.t co~i ta.m bo+., dde^? ro^`i ca'i che^'t mo+'i la` no+i cho^'n thu+.c su+. cho chu'ng ta "tro+? ve^`." Co~i tro+? ve^` ddi'ch thu+.c cu?a mo^~i con ngu+o+`i, sau tho+`i gian "so^'ng gu+?i."Va^ng, Th. tha^n, me^'n, ra^'t xa, cu?a to^i, xin ha~y cho to^i ddu+o+.c nha^m nhi ca'i bie^?n tro^'ng, va('ng ta^.n cha^n tro+`i, trong buo^?i sa'ng nay, cu?a to^i...

Th., ca`ng lu'c, to^i ca`ng tha^'u hie^?u su+. va('n vo?i, su+. nga('n ngu?i bie^'t bao cu?a mo^.t ddo+`i ngu+o+`i, du` cho cuo^.c ddo+`i ddo', co' ke'o da`i bao la^u. Ngay nhu+ Va(n Phu.ng, ngu+o+`i nha.c si~ (ma`,) chu'ng ta ye^u me^'n, chu'ng ta quy' tro.ng, khi tu+` bo? the^' gian na`y dde^? ve^` co~i vi~nh ha(`ng cu?a Thie^n Chu'a, thi` o^ng cu~ng dda~ dda.t dde^'n tuo^?i "tha^'t tha^.p." Tuo^?i 70. Mo^.t tuo^?i tho. dda'ng ke^? ddo^'i vo+'i ngu+o+`i Vie^.t chu'ng ta... Ne^'u so sa'nh tuo^?i tho. cu?a ta'c gia? "Ca'c Anh DDi," cu?a "Ghe' Be^'n Saigo`n," cu?a Tie^'ng Du+o+ng Ca^`m" tu+'c Nha.c si~ Nguye^~n Va(n Phu.ng, vo+'i mo^.t Le^ DDi`nh DDie^?u, hay mo^.t Le^ Uye^n Phu+o+ng, (thi`,) chu'ng ta kho^ng the^? kho^ng nhi`n nha^.n ra(`ng, hai ho. Le^ kia, dda~ "tro+? ve^`" so+'m ho+n ho. Nguye^~n non ca? mo^.t tha^.p nie^n.

Nhu+ng, Th. o+i, ca'ch gi`, to^i va^~n kho^ng the^? tu+. tra^'n an mi`nh, ba(`ng nhu+~ng chi? ba?o, nhu+~ng gia?i thi'ch ra^'t chi'nh dda'ng cu?a Th. Nhu+ng, Th. o+i, ca'ch gi`, to^i cu~ng va^~n tha^'y to^i, tha^'y chu'ng ta, co' mo^.t ddie^`u gi` ddo' kho^ng tro.n ve.n, ne^'u cha(?ng muo^'n no'i la`, kho^ng pha?i vo+'i ho. Nguye^~n: Mo^.t ngu+o+`i dda~ hie^'n ta(.ng cho chu'ng ta, trong suo^'t 50 na(m a^m nha.c cu?a o^ng, kho^ng pha?i da(m ba ca khu'c, (ma`,) ha`ng tra(m ca khu'c thu+o+ng, ye^u.Th. tha^n, me^'n, ra^'t xa, cu?a to^i. To^i nghi~, nhie^`u pha^`n, Th. kho^ng o+? tru+o+`ng ho+.p to^i. Tru+o+`ng ho+.p co' nhu+~ng ca khu'c tu+`ng nhu+ nhu+~ng ngo.n suo^'i, nhu+ nhu+~ng ddo+`i ca^y cu+ ngu., a(n, o+? be^`n la^u trong ta^m ho^`n to^i suo^'t ma^'y chu.c na(m, (ma`,) ma~i ga^`n dda^y, to^i mo+'i bie^'t, ngu+o+`i sanh, no+? ra chu'ng, (la`,) Va(n Phu.ng.

Th. tha^n, me^'n, ra^'t xa, cu?a to^i, to^i nghi~ nhie^`u pha^`n, Th. kho^ng o+? tru+o+`ng ho+.p to^i. Tru+o+`ng ho+.p co' nhu+~ng ca khu'c tu+`ng gieo, ra('c hu+o+ng tho+m trong khu vu+o+`n ky? nie^.m, khu+' to^i, suo^'t ma^'y chu.c na(m, nhu+ng ma~i ga^`n dda^y, mo+'i dda^y tho^i, to^i mo+'i bie^'t, ta'c gia? cu?a nhu+~ng nguo^`n hu+o+ng tho+m tho ddo', (la`,) Va(n Phu.ng.

To^i muo^'n no'i, nhu+~ng ca khu'c cu?a o^ng kho^ng chi? o+? vo+'i to^i, vo+'i ba.n to^i, vo+'i nhu+~ng lu+'a, lo+'p nie^n tru+o+?ng cu?a chu'ng to^i, trong mo^.t giai ddoa.n, (ma`,) chu'ng co`n la` ke? ddo^`ng ha`nh, chung mo^.t ddu+o+`ng vo+'i chu'ng to^i. Con ddu+o+`ng do.c theo lo^. tri`nh buo^`n, vui To^? quo^'c. Con ddu+o+`ng do.c theo chie^`u da`i lo^. tri`nh ga^.p ghe^`nh li.ch su+?, nu+o+'c non... Khi cuo^.c chie^'n ddi la^`n to+'i bo+` me' hie^.p ddi.nh chia ddo^i dda^'t nu+o+'c, hie^.p ddi.nh Geneva 1954.

To^i muo^'n no'i, kho+?i nghie^.p vo+'i ca khu'c "Tra(ng Sa'ng Vu+o+`n Che`," sa'ng ta'c dda^`u tay na(m 1952, (ca khu'c la`m tha`nh te^n tuo^?i nu+~ ca si~ A'nh Tuye^'t mo^.t tho+`i.) Va`, ngu+o+`i nha.c si~ ta`i hoa cu?a chu'ng ta dda~ ghi da^'u bie^'n co^' li.ch su+? chia ddo^i dda^'t nu+o+'c ba(`ng ca khu'c "Bo'ng Ngu+o+`i DDi," ro^`i "Ca'c Anh DDi," na(m 1954.

Chi'nh ca'c ca khu'c kia, cu?a Va(n Phu.ng, theo to^i, ne^'u kho^ng la` nguo^`n hu+ng pha^'n da^~n to+'i (thi`, cu~ng tu+o+ng ta'c vo+'i,) nhu+~ng sa'ng ta'c no'i ve^` su+. qua pha^n mo^.t que^ hu+o+ng, nhu+ "Hu+o+'ng Ve^` Ha` No^.i" cu?a Hoa`ng Du+o+ng, nhu+ "Gia^'c Mo+ Ho^`i Hu+o+ng" cu?a Vu~ Tha`nh...

Ngay tu+. bu+o+'c cha^n thu+' nha^'t o+? mie^`n Nam, Va(n Phu.ng dda~ cho chu'ng ta "Ghe' Be^'n Saigo`n," ro^`i "To^i DDi Giu+~a Hoa`ng Ho^n," "Xua^n Mie^`n Nam." Ba ca khu'c na`y, theo to^i, ne^'u kho^ng la` nguo^`n hu+ng pha^'n da^~n to+'i (thi`, cu~ng tu+o+ng ta'c vo+'i,) nhu+~ng ca khu'c nhu+ "Na('ng DDe.p Mie^`n Nam" cu?a Lam Phu+o+ng, "Hoa Soan Be^n The^`m Cu~" cu?a Tua^'n Khanh, "Ti`nh Que^ Hu+o+ng" tho+ Phan La.c Tuye^n, nha.c DDan Tho., va^n va^n... To^i muo^'n no'i, cu~ng kho+?i tu+` nhu+~ng ca khu'c vie^'t theo the^? ddie^.u nhanh, nha^?y nho't, vui tu+o+i, ngoa`i "Ghe' Be^'n Saigo`n," ngu+o+`i nha.c si~ ta`i hoa na`y co`n cho chu'ng ta nhu+~ng ca khu'c ro^.n ra~, thi'ch ho+.p cho nhie^`u gio.ng ha't, nhie^`u be`, cu`ng lu'c, nhu+ "Gia~ Tu+` DDe^m Mu+a," "Bu+'c Ho.a DDo^`ng Que^," "Tie^'ng Ha't Vo+'i cung DDa`n," "Vo' Ca^u Muo^n Da^.m," (ma`,) chu'ng ta co`n co' the^m ra^'t nhie^`u ca khu'c ro^.n ra`ng, dda^`y a('p tie^'ng reo vui va` tie^'ng vo' ngu+.a, tie^'ng co`i xe, ma`, trong so^' ddo', to^i tin, ba.n kho^ng the^? kho^ng nho+' ca khu'c "Ba'nh Xe La~ng Tu+?" cu?a Tro.ng Khu+o+ng...

Su+. kie^.n na`y, Th. o+i, lo+'n lao vo^ cu`ng, dda'ng ke^? bie^'t bao nhie^u! Ne^'u Th. dda(.t chu'ng giu+~a ca'i khi' ha^.u the^ thie^'t, a'o na'o cu?a toa`n ca?nh do`ng ta^n nha.c Vie^.t Nam re^n ri? tho+`i ddo', va`, luo^n ca? ho^m nay...!Th. tha^n, me^'n, ra^'t xa, cu?a to^i.

Tuy nhie^n, ddie^`u thu+.c su+. to^i muo^'n no'i vo+'i Th., trong la' thu+ na`y, la.i chi? la` mo^.t ddie^`u ra^'t nho? nha(.t. Mo^.t nho? nha(.t na(`m ngoa`i su+. nghie^.p ddo^` so^. cu?a ta'c gia? "Gia~ Tu+` DDe^m Mu+a."

DDo' la` su+. kie^.n, tru+o+'c khi thu+.c su+. gi~a tu+` cuo^.c ddo+`i na`y, ta'c gia? "Nho+' Be^'n DDa` Giang" bi. ho^n me^. O^ng cha(?ng nhu+~ng kho^ng no'i ddu+o+.c, ma`, cu~ng kho^ng co`n bie^'t gi` nu+~a. Nhu+ng, phu't cuo^'i, tru+o+'c khi ngu+`ng ha(?n ho+i tho+?, trong va`i gia^y ti?nh la.i phu` du, o^ng dda~ buo^.t, buo^ng hai chu+~: "Cha^u Ha`."

Cha^u Ha`, cha('c Th. bie^'t, ddo' la` ngu+o+`i ba.n ddo+`i, ngu+o+`i ba.n ddu+o+`ng be^`n, cha('c keo so+n, ho+n 40 na(m cu?a ta'c gia? "Tie^'ng Du+o+ng Ca^`m." Cha^u Ha`, linh ho^`n cu?a ca khu'c ba^'t tu+? "Suo^'i To'c." Th., su+. buo^.c, buo^ng hai tie^'ng "Cha^u Ha`" tru+o+'c khi "tro+? ve^`" cu?a Va(n Phu.ng, vo+'i to^i, cho tha^'y lo`ng chung thu?y, ddo^`ng tho+`i, ma(.t kha'c, cu~ng la` no^~i co^ ddo+n ba't nga't cu?a o^ng, sau ba?y mu+o+i na(m la`m ngu+o+`i.

Ba?y mu+o+i na(m hie^'n, ta(.ng ta`i na(ng, tri' tue^. mi`nh cho dda^'t nu+o+'c, cho que^ hu+o+ng, cho ddo^`ng ba`o, ruo^.t thi.t mi`nh, cuo^'i cu`ng, ngoa`i Cha^u Ha`, o^ng tha^.t co^ ddo+n.Ngoa`i Cha^u Ha`, o^ng tha^.t qua.nh que~. Ta'c gia? "Mu+a" dda~ tro+? ve^`. O^ng thu+.c su+. dda~ tro+? ve^` sau khi dde^'n co~i ta.m na`y, vo+'i mo^.t mo+ u+o+'c nho? nhoi, khie^m to^'n. DDo' la` mo+ u+o+'c co' ddu+o+.c mo^.t buo^?i tri`nh die^~n nha.c o^ng ta.i tie^?u bang California chu'ng to^i.

Mo+ u+o+'c nho? nhoi, khie^m to^'n kia, chu'ng ta se~ kho^ng the^? na`o bie^'t ddu+o+.c, ne^'u ngu+o+`i nu+~ danh ca mo^.t tho+`i Cha^u Ha`, nay dda~ le? ba.n, kho^ng tie^'t lo^. vo+'i Kha'nh Ly. Va`, cu~ng se~ cha(?ng mo^.t ai, trong chu'ng ta bie^'t ddu+o+.c, ne^'u nu+~ ca si~ Kha'nh Ly kho^ng no'i ra, vo+'i chu'ng ta, mo+ u+o+'c nho? nhoi, khie^m to^'n ddo', cu?a con ngu+o+`i vi~ dda.i, lo+'n lao ddo'.

Ba.n tha^n me^'n, ga.t bo? mo.i no+. na^`n (ma`,) chu'ng ta dda~ (va` se~ co`n ma~i ma~i) vay, nha^.n tu+` ddo+`i, kie^'p a^m nha.c Va(n Phu.ng, ga.t bo? hu+o+ng tho+m (ma`,) chu'ng ta dda~ nha^.n ddu+o+.c (va` se~ co`n ma~i ma~i nha^.n ddu+o+.c) cho khu vu+o+`n ky? nie^.m ti`nh ye^u ta, chi? vo+'i hai ddie^`u sau cu`ng, vu+`a ke^?, ba^y gio+`, to^i nghi~, ha(?n Th. hie^?u, dda~ hie^?u, ta.i sao to^i la.i ta^m su+. vo+'i Th. ra(`ng, du+o+`ng nhu+ chu'ng ta, ta^'t ca? chu'ng ta, dda~ co' mo^.t ddie^`u gi` kho^ng pha?i vo+'i Va(n Phu.ng! Va`, su+. a(n, o+? "kho^ng pha?i" na`y, du+o+`ng, chu'ng ta kho^ng chi? "kho^ng pha?i" vo+'i mo^.t mi`nh Va(n Phu.ng; ma`, chu'ng ta dda~ a(n, o+? kho^ng pha?i tu+` ma^'y chu.c, ma^'y tra(m na(m qua, vo+'i nhu+~ng ta`i na(ng, vo+'i nhu+~ng te^n tuo^?i, nhu+ Va(n Phu.ng.

Ga^`n nha^'t, trong gio+'i ha.n 24 na(m ty. na.n, chu'ng ta dda~ thu+.c su+. kho^ng pha?i vo+'i Vu~ Kha('c Khoan, vo+'i Thanh Nam, vo+'i Pha.m DDi`nh Chu+o+ng, vo+'i Hoa`ng Tro.ng, vo+'i Mai Tha?o, vo+'i Nguye^n Sa, vo+'i Tha^?m Oa'nh. Va`, to^i e, to^i so+. ra(`ng: Chu'ng ta se~ la.i tie^'p tu.c a(n, o+? kho^ng pha?i vo+'i mo^.t Ta. Ty. hie^.n ra^'t ye^'u; mo^.t Le^ Tro.ng Nguye^~n, mo^.t Anh Vie^.t, mo^.t Vo~ Phie^'n,..., cu~ng ddang ra^'t le^nh dde^nh, mo^.t nga`y na`o, dda^'y, Th. a..