At the book launch on the afternoon of 26/11 in Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Nhat Anh, himself an immigrant, stated that his personal experience provided him with a deep understanding of the city during the 1980s. He remarked, "The country had just emerged from war, and life remained challenging. The interactions among people back then held enduring lessons."

Nguyen Nhat Anh discusses the inspiration behind his book, "Co be hang xom va bon vien keo". *Hoang Dung*

The narrative centers on three characters, Thieu, Man, and Tuong, originally from "Toi thay hoa vang tren co xanh". They move from their rural homes to Saigon for education, confronting the cramped urban setting. Their story highlights pure friendship, neighborly bonds, and the mutual support among impoverished laborers. Through this work, Nguyen Nhat Anh aims to promote a compassionate way of life, encouraging readers to cultivate a more beautiful spirit daily.

Nguyen Nhat Anh evokes his experiences and memories from living in the Chinese-Vietnamese neighborhoods of former districts 10, 6, and 5. He does this by portraying distinctive imagery and architecture, including old-style apartment buildings, Palikao bridge, hu tieu street carts, and the daily lives of newspaper vendors and deliverers from a past era.

Previously, the author predominantly employed a first-person perspective in his works, drawing inspiration from his personal experiences. This new book marks the first time he uses his real name, appearing in a brief segment. Nguyen Nhat Anh quipped, "I've included singer Anh Tuyet and artists Thanh Loc and Viet Anh in my books before, so every now and then, I promote my own name a little."

A representative from Tre Publishing House, the book's publisher, observed, "The book captivates readers not through dramatic plot points, but rather through the author's nuanced portrayal of child psychology."

The book was printed in 80,000 copies, comprising 60,000 paperback and 20,000 hardcover editions. Artist Do Hoang Tuong provided the illustrations. Nguyen Nhat Anh announced he donated 80 million VND from his royalties to support residents of the South Central Coast region following a recent historic flood.

Author Nguyen Nhat Anh signs copies of his new book at the press conference.

Nguyen Nhat Anh, 70, was born in Thang Binh, Quang Nam. He moved to Saigon in 1973, where he pursued pedagogy and graduated in 1976. Beyond five poetry collections, over 30 comic books, and 12 film scripts, he has authored more than 100 prose works targeting teenagers, young adults, and children. He has also published three volumes of sports commentary and over 50 volumes of relationship advice under various pseudonyms. The Vietnam Records Book Center recognizes him as the nation's most prolific author for young adults. Many of his books have been adapted for the screen.

In 1994, "Ao trang san truong," a film directed by Le Dan and based on the story "Nu sinh," premiered, starring Le Cong Tuan Anh, Y Phung, and Ngo My Uyen. In 1998, Phung Ngoc, an actor from "Dat phuong Nam," played the lead role in "Chu be rac roi," based on the eponymous story. The television series "Kinh van hoa" debuted in 2004, featuring Ngoc Trai, Tieu Long, and Anh Dao. Victor Vu directed the feature film "Toi thay hoa vang tren co xanh," which was released in 2015. The same director also adapted Nguyen Nhat Anh's "Mat biec" for the screen in late 2019, grossing 180 billion VND. Last year, two other adaptations, "Kinh van hoa" and "Ngay xua co mot chuyen tinh," were released.

*Hoang Dung*