Published:  00:00 Thursday - October 01, 2009

Le Giang says that many people whom she talked to and sang for her as she travelled the country collecting folk songs, would burst into tears when they saw themselves in her new book. 

The book, Con Khoc Ngon Lanh (Easy to Cry), is a compilation of memories gathered over the three decades that Giang and her musician husband Lu Nhat Vu have spent on their venture.

Since the American War ended 34 years ago, Giang and her husband have travelled to every corner of the country to record songs chanted by ordinary people.

In 2000, the poet was awarded the Mai Vang (Golden Apricot) Award for her contribution to the country’s traditional music.

Vietnam is a treasure trove of oral folk traditions that have flourished for centuries, like the ho (work shanties) and the hat ru (lullaby) in the southern provinces, and the quan ho (love duet) in the north.

However, not many people are involved in recording and preserving the thousands of songs that country traditions have created over all these years.

“I write to enjoy life, not as a big task. People think that only famous people write memoirs but everyone, including farmers, can write their own memoirs.” Giang said.