Poet Huu Thinh has released his first novel, Steel Beneath the Grass, a work rooted in his 13 years of service with the Tank-Armored Corps. Published by the People’s Army Publishing House, the book revisits the 1968 Ta May–Lang Vay campaign, when Vietnamese tanks were deployed in combat for the first time.
Poet Huu Thinh speaks at the launch.
The launch, held on July 1, brought together former soldiers, writers, critics and readers. More than a book event, it was a reunion shaped by memory and gratitude. At 85, Huu Thinh said he wrote the novel in 45 days because he felt an urgent need to record what he had lived through and to honour the unit that had shaped him.
The novel does not present war as a distant heroic legend. Its soldiers are brave but vulnerable, disciplined yet full of private fears and doubts. They repair vehicles in the dark, debate tactics, carry the weight of responsibility and face loss alongside moments of friendship and tenderness.
Cover of the book Steel Beneath the Grass.
Critics noted that the title captures the novel’s central image: steel represents tanks, resilience and military strength, while grass evokes the quiet humanity beneath it-home, love, comradeship and the longing for peace.
With its combination of firsthand experience, historical detail and poetic sensitivity, Steel Beneath the Grass offers a deeply personal account of war. It is also Huu Thinh’s heartfelt thank-you to the comrades and memories that have remained with him throughout his life.
Translated by DO HUONG
VNQD