1. Reference Essay 1
When venturing into the Northwest mountainous region, one encounters the pure white imagery of plum and apricot blossoms. These flowers not only signal the arrival of spring but also evoke a sense of nostalgia for one's homeland. For those far from their native villages, the sight of these blossoms stirs up feelings of excitement and nostalgia. The poem 'The Season of Plum Blossoms,' composed by author Chu Thùy Liên in 2007, vividly expresses a deep longing for the homeland and rural life of those who have traveled far.
The poem consists of three stanzas, each beginning with the imagery of white plum blossoms blooming luxuriantly. With the pure white hue of plum blossoms spreading across the Northwest sky, it seems to signify the arrival of spring. From this imagery, the poet pours out emotions about their homeland. Beneath the plum trees, amidst the pure white blossoms, the entire simple activities of the people become endearing.
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated joy of spring is that of the young children. They are lively and joyful, dressed in new clothes, playing traditional games. Boys eagerly engage in kite-flying, while girls bustle about in their colorful dresses. Their joy seems to permeate the surrounding atmosphere. The use of words like 'eager' and 'lively' makes the poetry bright and cheerful. One can almost see the innocent smiles of the children, and it seems the plum trees themselves rejoice with the children, witnessing their dreams as they journey towards adulthood.
Under the lush plum trees, mothers hurriedly prepare rice leaves and rice, making offerings to their ancestors in hopes of a warm and prosperous year ahead. Fathers set out with bows and arrows, while the elderly work diligently on swings to prepare for the traditional games of the new year. The verb 'urge' appears repeatedly in the three lines, evoking a sense of urgency, liveliness, and excitement throughout the village. From the old to the young, everyone eagerly awaits the arrival of a new spring.
In the traditional homes of the ethnic people, the scent of rice wafts through the air as villagers prepare sticky rice, fermented rice, pork, and cakes. The kitchen is always filled with the warmth of a roaring fire. The atmosphere is cozy and happy. The author was very subtle in writing 'urge the pink fire to bloom in the kitchen,' helping us feel the flavor of spring spreading throughout the alleys of the village. With the white color of plum blossoms, the pure white wings spread across the roads, streams, and villages, making the homeland even more beautiful. This color also evokes deep emotions of nostalgia in those far from home. For anyone who has traveled far, especially when the new year arrives, the longing for their homeland becomes even more intense. Plum blossoms are both a nostalgic reminder and a sign guiding people back to their homeland, where they were born and raised during their childhood years.
With five-character poetry without rhyme, without heaviness in form, the flow of the poet's emotions dominates the general flow of the poem. With delicate strokes, the poet helps us feel the beauty and lively atmosphere of the homeland during the new days.

2. Reference Essay 3
'The Season of Plum Blossoms' is one of the exemplary works by writer Chu Thuỳ Liên. The poem reflects the heartfelt longing of those who are far from home, expressing their deep nostalgia alongside familiar images of their homeland.
The poem begins with a scene of plum blossoms, depicted with great delicacy.
The imagery of white plum blossoms blooming signals the arrival of spring and brings forth a sense of excitement and nostalgia. Under this backdrop, we see familiar scenes, such as boys eagerly flying kites and girls bustling about in colorful clothes. The plum tree is closely associated with the childhood of the local children, accompanying them throughout their growth and holding countless childhood dreams.
In the second stanza, we witness the lively activities of village life, bustling with activity.
The bustling activities depict the preparations for spring. This emphasizes the beauty of the plum blossom season, where both the landscape and the people create a very innocent melody. In the third stanza are the typical images that those who are far from home always remember about their homeland. With its simplicity and familiarity, especially in the spring, plum blossoms increasingly evoke memories of one's homeland.
After reading the poem, one can vividly imagine the beautiful and vibrant natural scenery of the Northwest in spring, with the image of plum blossoms.

3. Reference Essay 2
'The Season of Plum Blossoms' is one of the representative poems by Chu Thúy Liên, written in December 2016. The poem speaks of the longing for the homeland of those who are far away.
The poem begins with the image of white plum blossoms blooming, signaling the arrival of spring with all its freshness, adorning the sky with brilliance. Under those plum branches are familiar scenes of the village, with boys flying kites and girls in colorful clothes. With eager hearts, plum blossoms are associated with the childhood of children here, witnessing their growth and holding countless dreams.
In addition to that, under those white plum branches is a lively picture of village life. Everyone is preparing to welcome a spring with auspicious beginnings. Mothers make cakes, and the elderly engage in folk games. It can be seen that plum blossoms have become an indispensable symbol of spring here, containing both joy and sorrow associated with the village throughout the years.
The image of white plum blossoms is repeated three times, emphasizing the vividness of the poem and signaling the arrival of spring in the village. In those traditional houses, the scent of rice permeates the entire room. Under the red flames that make the kitchen warm, memories of the homeland, with its simple and familiar things, become even stronger for those who are far away. Especially during the plum blossom season, that nostalgia multiplies, evoking memories of distant pasts. Plum blossoms act as a connecting thread, bringing them back to memories of daily activities, which are currently rushing but hold excitement for them.
Through this work, one can immerse oneself in the spring scenery of the Northwest village, with all its peaceful beauty. With delicate and talented writing, the poet introduces the readers to the beauty of the Northwest and spring with the white color of plum blossoms, along with the bustling activities of the villagers.

4. Reference Essay 5
Chu Thùy Liên is a beautiful soul of poetry, his works are highly praised and hold many important positions in the cultural sector. 'The Season of Plum Blossoms' is one of the typical works about the beauty of nature, printed in the collection 'Boat with Swallow's Tail'. The poem is the heart of someone far from home, deeply longing for the homeland. Chu Thùy Liên used the most heartfelt emotions of someone far from home when writing about his homeland.
In the very first stanza, the plum blossom branch is an important focal point. The white color of the blooming plum blossoms amidst the picture is the sign that spring has come. When spring arrives, the characteristic scene in the ethnic villages is the white forest of plum blossoms. This image is also used by the author to serve as a sign that spring has arrived. Under the plum trees, scenes of young men and women getting ready to go out are extremely bustling. These are all very familiar scenes to the author, to the children of the highlands. It follows the dreams of children through time to maturity, witnessing talented people.
Still beginning with the image of blooming white plum blossoms filling the sky, underneath the tree canopy is replaced by images of activities in the village. That bustling scene is extremely busy, lively, in line with the spring atmosphere as people prepare to welcome a new Tet. The customs on Tet of the local people. Mothers busily prepare leaves and rice for making cakes. Fathers stretch bows to prepare for hunting. The elderly hastily make swings for children, everyone enjoys playing. These are all familiar and familiar images of spring, scenes that the author feels familiar with. Tet holidays are always the busiest and happiest time of the year, which is also the images that the author remembers after many years away from his hometown.
In the final stanza, once again the plum blossom branch blooms white in the forest is mentioned by the author. In the poem, it has been repeated three times, all serving as the beginning image for a picture below. It is also considered the most important image in the spring picture, evoking memories of the author's homeland. In the small house, that scent of rice is the scent of Tet cakes. The pots of cakes by the red flames, emitting steam, are also one of the familiar images on Tet. Not only in one or two places, but also in the entire country of Vietnam. All those images are like urging words for those who return from faraway. It may be the color of white plum blossoms, it may be the cool and gentle fragrance, all of them are reminders, instructions for those faraway children to return.
Chu Thùy Liên was very creative and clever in integrating the image of white plum blossoms into the poem. The wonderful combination of nature and the bustling activities of humans in spring has made the poem extremely graceful and beautiful. It is a picture of the Northwest in spring that makes those far from their homeland nostalgic, and also makes the readers deeply moved.

5. Reference Essay 4
For the people of the Northwest mountainous region, the white color of apricot blossoms and plum blossoms is not only a sign of spring but also a signal of homeland. For those far from home, only seeing the white color of apricot and plum blossoms through images on TV, radio, is enough to feel excited and indescribably emotional. The poem 'The Season of Plum Blossoms', written by author Chu Thùy Liên in December 2007, expressed deep nostalgia for the homeland, the bustling village of those who have gone far through that familiar white color.
The poem consists of three stanzas, each stanza begins with the image of white plum blossoms blooming 'the plum blossom branch blooms white', the pure white color of plum blossoms blooming all over the Northwest sky seems to be the signal of spring. And from here, it is the reason for the poet to pour out emotions about his homeland. Under the plum trees, under the pure white color of plum blossoms, the entire simple life of the village appears, so dear and sacred:
The happiest and most eager when spring comes are the little children. They are lively, happy because they have new clothes, they play folk games without fear of being scolded by their parents. Sons are 'eager to play marbles', 'daughters are busy with their clothes'... that joy seems to spread to the surrounding atmosphere. The words 'eager', 'busy' make the poetry lively, bustling, as if we can see the innocent smiles of the children. It seems like the plum branches are also happy with the children, witnessing many dreams and the path to maturity.
The atmosphere is really bustling, busy, and urgent. Under the plum trees, mothers hurriedly wash leaves, soak rice to prepare for making sticky rice, making offerings to the ancestors, hoping for a prosperous harvest season. Fathers go to stretch bows, the elderly hurriedly make swings, to prepare for folk games in the new year. The verb 'urge' appears continuously in three lines 'urge mother', 'urge father', 'urge the elderly'... all evoke a very urgent, bustling, and jubilant atmosphere. The entire village, from old to young, is eagerly, excitedly waiting for a new spring to come.
In traditional houses, the scent of sticky rice permeates fragrantly. Villagers steam sticky rice, cook rice wine, ferment leaves, pork, make cakes... the kitchen never lacks the glow of flames. The atmosphere is warm, happy. The author is very subtle when writing 'urge the red flames to bloom flowers in the kitchen', making us feel the taste of spring spreading throughout the alleys of the village.
The white color of plum blossoms, the pure white petals, the white color covering all the roads, streams, and villages make the homeland more beautiful. That color also arouses in the hearts of those far from home intense emotions, deep nostalgia. Anyone who goes far away longs to return, especially when the new year comes, people feel even more deeply attached to their homeland. Plum blossoms are like memories, like signals guiding people back to their homeland, where they were born and attached to throughout their childhood years.
The poem consists of three stanzas, written in the form of 5-character poetry, without rhyme, without heaviness in form. The flow of emotions of the poet dominates the general flow of the poem. Through delicate strokes, the poet has helped readers feel the beauty and lively atmosphere of the homeland in the early spring days. Thereby arousing in everyone's heart a deep love for the place where they were born and raised.

