1. Reference Essay No. 4

2. Reference Essay No. 5

3. Reference Essay No. 6
The 8x and 9x generations will surely remember the 1997 film *Đất rừng phương Nam*, which made a huge impact and received widespread acclaim from audiences. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by author Đoàn Giỏi, originally written in 1957. It tells the story of a boy named An in the Mekong Delta during the 1950s. Separated from his family due to war, An is taken in and raised by Cò's family, who love and care for him as their own. Of all the 20 chapters in the novel, the 9th chapter, titled 'Đi lấy mật' (Going to Collect Honey), stands out the most for me. This excerpt paints a vivid picture of the breathtaking beauty of the U Minh forest in the Mekong Delta, and especially the character of An, who leaves a lasting impression on readers with his remarkable qualities.
Through the first-person narrative, An's perspective reveals the majestic natural scenery of U Minh forest. The forest is portrayed as both wild and beautiful, bathed in the fresh morning air as An and his father go honey-hunting. An describes the forest with exquisite detail, noticing the 'clear light, faintly shimmering on the tips of the trembling branches of the tràm trees,' a poetic observation not often made, especially by someone as young as him. An also imagines the wind 'blowing gently' and the sun as a 'glowing ball of light,' demonstrating his sensitive perception of nature. His words create a sense of mystery and beauty in the forest, with the 'earthy scent' filling the air and dissipating as sunlight breaks through, adding to the forest's allure and sparking the curiosity of An and his father. An perceives the environment through all his senses, hearing the 'birds chirping cheerfully' and smelling the sweet fragrance of the tràm trees that fills the entire forest. He describes the animals in the forest with great accuracy, from the 'brightly colored lizards basking in the sun' to the 'slow-moving Luốc' and the 'Brown Shrike' with its red beak and intricate plumage, exclaiming to Cò, 'The birds are beautiful, Cò!' Through An's observations, we see how deeply connected he is with nature, as only those who truly love nature can perceive the world in such a vivid and detailed way.
An is also a lively and mischievous boy, like many children. He 'squeezes between' his foster father and Cò, and 'carries a small basket that my foster mother had borrowed from someone in the village yesterday.' As they search for a beehive, An is full of energy, scanning his surroundings with excitement. His playful and spirited nature brings comfort to readers, especially as they feel sympathy for his lost family. Thankfully, An has found a loving family in Cò's parents, allowing him to enjoy his childhood.
Despite his lively nature, An is not neglectful of his studies. He is clearly a smart and hardworking boy. He remembers every piece of advice his foster mother gives him about finding and collecting honey, such as determining the wind's direction, identifying 'good forest areas,' and predicting the flight path of the bees. An asks his foster mother numerous questions, like 'What is a beehive, Mom?' and 'Is it really that hard, Mom?' His curiosity and eagerness to learn are evident. He also recalls lessons from his school about bees, comparing the textbook information with what his foster mother taught him and what he observed in the field. An realizes that the techniques his foster mother shared are not found in textbooks and are not part of the knowledge in other parts of the world. He even remembers the ancient methods of beekeeping that his teacher mentioned and concludes, 'No other place, no other country, has hives like those in U Minh.' Many readers will admire An's intelligence, memory, and dedication to learning.
Cò, in contrast, is a boy born and raised in the U Minh forest. As a native, Cò is quick-witted, agile, and energetic. His advantage allows him to outpace An in many situations, even teasing him at times. While both are in the forest collecting honey, Cò is far stronger and more energetic than An. He carries a large basket filled with food and supplies, his legs like those of a deer, never tiring after walking all day in the forest. When they stop for a break, Cò drinks water eagerly, then challenges An by pointing to the sky and teasing him about finding the bees. He expertly shows An how to spot the beehive and predicts where the bees will appear next...
With simple, colloquial language, Đoàn Giỏi has successfully portrayed the characters of An and Cò in the excerpt 'Đi lấy mật' and in *Đất rừng phương Nam* as a whole. An is depicted as a thoughtful, nature-loving boy, full of energy, curiosity, and intelligence. Cò, on the other hand, is quick-witted and lively. Through the characters of An and Cò, Đoàn Giỏi conveys his deep affection for the majestic U Minh forest and the enchanting beauty of the southern region. His love for childhood shines through in this story, making it appealing to readers, especially children.

4. Reference Example 7
The excerpt 'Going to Collect Honey' is from the novel 'The Southern Forests' by author Doan Gioi. Through the story of a father and his two sons going into the forest to collect honey, the author emphasizes the pure and admirable qualities of the characters An and Co.
First, An is a boy who deeply loves nature and has a keen sense of observation. To An, the U Minh forest appears both wild and majestic, yet also poetic and serene. On the journey to collect honey, he remains observant, noticing everything around him. Using the first-person narrative, the picture of U Minh forest is captured through An's innocent eyes. The descriptive passages are like slow-motion scenes, vivid and detailed. An gazes up, describing the sky as, 'The light was crystal clear, with a slight shimmering on the tips of the tamarind flowers, giving everything the appearance of being seen through a glass.' He continues to experience nature with his other senses: 'After eating, the sunlight began to rise. The wind started to blow gently, along with the round sun pouring golden light onto the earth. A soft earthy scent rose up, covering the bushes, then slowly dissipating with the warmth of the sun.' The detailed depiction of colors and phenomena reveals An's sensitivity to the world around him.
Furthermore, An is very curious and eager to learn about everything around him. This was his first time accompanying his foster father into the forest to collect honey. Along the way, An recalls the stories his foster mother told him about how to handle beehives. He even compares the lessons from books with real-life experiences, realizing that textbooks only offer general information about bees, unlike his foster mother's more practical knowledge. Through this excerpt, we see An’s many questions, revealing his curiosity and desire to explore the world. Eventually, he concludes that the way honey is 'tamed' in U Minh differs from methods used worldwide: 'No other place has beehives shaped like those in U Minh.'
Co is a boy born and raised in the U Minh forest. He has a deep understanding of the forest and can distinguish between various species of bees and birds. When An gets tired and has to stop to rest, Co, carrying a large bag full of supplies and food on his head, shows no sign of fatigue. His strong legs allow him to wade through the forest all day without tiring. Every action shows Co’s energetic and playful nature. During their break, Co eagerly drinks from a water jug and even challenges An, pointing to the sky and asking him where the bees are, before explaining how to spot them and predicting when they will appear. When An fails to answer, Co proudly displays his knowledge.
It is evident that author Doan Gioi successfully develops the characters of An and Co through their words and actions, using the first-person narrative. Through An, the author conveys a deep love for nature and humanity, while celebrating the pure hearts of children.

5. Reference Example 8
The excerpt 'Going to Collect Honey' is from the novel 'The Southern Forests' by author Doan Gioi. The characters, the boy An and Co, stand out with their distinct impressions.
This passage tells the story of An and Co following their foster father to collect honey. Along the way, An admires the beauty of the forest. The foster father leads the way, while An and Co follow. When An becomes tired, they stop for a break, have lunch, and then continue their journey. At that point, Co teaches An how to spot honeybees. As they travel, they come across a vast meadow filled with birds. An is very excited, but when Co mentions 'bird fields,' he becomes silent, worried that asking too many questions would make Co think he’s ignorant. Upon encountering a beehive, An recalls the advice his foster mother gave him about the unique way the people of U Minh handle bees.
Co is a confident and clever boy who takes great pleasure in showing off his knowledge to someone like An, who is new to the forest. This is evident when Co continuously asks An riddles, looks smug when An fails to answer, and remains unfazed when An reacts excitedly to seeing a flock of beautiful birds. It might seem that Co’s confidence could make him come across as arrogant, but instead, he appears as a quick-witted and charming character.
An, the main character and narrator, is portrayed by the author in many different ways. During their journey to collect honey with his foster father and Co, An experiences many memorable moments. Like any other child, An is mischievous, as shown by his actions: 'Pushing his way through, he grabbed a small basket;' 'Scanning the area to find the beehive;' 'Shouting out when he spotted a flock of beautiful birds;' 'Looking up at the beehive shaped like a basket...' These actions show that An is a lively and curious child.
Despite his playful nature, An is also thoughtful and eager to learn. He always remembers his foster mother's teachings, the advice about how to collect honey, Co’s explanation about how to spot bees, and the bird fields. When he doesn’t understand something, he immediately asks: 'How do you know it’s this tree to set the beehive?' 'What’s a beehive, foster mother?' 'It doesn’t seem too hard, does it, foster mother?' 'Why is that, foster mother?'... Additionally, An is not only mischievous and curious, but he also has a very sharp and keen sense of observation. Through his eyes, the U Minh forest comes to life, vibrant and untouched: 'In the morning, the forest is calm,' and 'The light is crystal clear, with a slight shimmer on the tamarind flower tips, making everything appear as if it’s seen through a layer of glass.' This shows that An is a sensitive child, able to notice the beauty of nature.
Thus, An is portrayed as innocent and curious but also eager to learn and explore. Co, on the other hand, is sharp, resourceful, energetic, and warm. Both characters bring a sense of charm and intrigue, making the excerpt 'Going to Collect Honey' an enjoyable and engaging experience for the reader.

6. Reference Example 1
The excerpt "Going to Collect Honey" is taken from the novel "The Southern Forest Land" by Doan Gioi, and it tells the story of An, a young boy living in the Southwestern region of Vietnam in the 1950s. Due to the war, An was separated from his family and became a wandering child. He was taken in by Co's parents and became their adopted child. Living with Co's family, An was loved like a real child and learned many new and interesting things. Through the excerpt "Going to Collect Honey", readers are introduced to the U Minh forest and experience the journey of An and Co with their foster father to collect forest honey in a fascinating way.
"Going to Collect Honey" describes a trip where An, Co, and their foster father enter the U Minh forest to collect honey. Throughout the passage, the natural beauty of the Southern land is vividly depicted by the author, with its mysterious, majestic, yet familiar scenery, closely tied to the life of the people here through the reflections of young An.
An is a smart, nature-loving boy with keen and fresh observations. The morning scenery, as seen through An's eyes, becomes unique, with a quiet space, crystal-clear light, and a faint shimmer on the tops of the tràm flowers. The air is still, the coolness of the river mist and the earthy smell of the forest fill the space. In this serene morning setting, An's foster father appears, walking ahead, leading the way for An and Co, with a bamboo basket on his back and a machete in his hand, clearing branches to make way. An is a polite and obedient boy, shown through his respectful address towards his foster parents, as well as his thoughtful and grateful actions. He is also curious and eager to learn, always asking questions to understand what he doesn’t know.
For Co, An sees him as both a friend and a brother, with a familiar and close way of speaking: "I give up! I can’t find the honey bee." When facing someone as knowledgeable about the land as Co, An shows respect, though sometimes he feels embarrassed and refrains from asking too much, quietly absorbing the knowledge he has learned.
Although An appears to be a quiet and gentle boy, he has profound thoughts. In addition to appreciating the beauty of nature, An also reflects on the different methods of beekeeping and honey collecting from around the world, drawing conclusions about the special techniques of honey harvesting used by the people of U Minh.
Co, on the other hand, is a boy who, despite being the same age as An, is vastly different in many ways. Co was born and raised in the U Minh forest. It is clear that he has extensive knowledge about the forest and can distinguish many different species of bees and birds. Unlike An, who gets tired and needs rest, Co carries a large basket on his head, full of supplies and food, and moves through the forest without tiring. Co's actions show that he is a lively, energetic boy. While resting, Co drinks water enthusiastically, teasing An and pointing out where to find the bees, then explaining how to spot them. When An gives up on the challenge, Co proudly displays his knowledge, confidently explaining the signs that lead to the honey bees: "Just look closely at the gap between those two tràm trees" "Look at that empty space" "They’ll appear right there."
The passage not only leaves a strong impression of the people and the Southern forests but also portrays the vibrant and untamed natural world, full of life and vitality. The people here work diligently and possess great expertise in their trade. Both An and Co, through their distinct personalities, make a lasting impression on the reader, as they guide us through the journey of discovering the Southern land's forest environment.

7. Sample Reference No. 2
The novel 'Southern Forest Land' by the writer Doan Gioi tells the story of a boy named An, whose life is marked by wandering and hardship. The story is set in the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam in 1945, after the French colonizers returned to occupy the South. In school, we study an excerpt titled 'Going to Collect Honey,' which is also the title of Chapter 9. The passage describes An's journey into the U Minh forest with his foster father, Tia Noy, and Cò, to collect honey. By reading and understanding this excerpt, I not only experienced the distinct natural beauty of the southern forest but also noticed the unique traits, gestures, and personalities of An and Cò.
The passage from 'Going to Collect Honey' portrays the story of three people—Cò, An, and Tia Noy—entering the forest to gather honey. Through this story, the author reveals the process of creating a beehive. The characters in the passage include Tia Noy, An's foster father, his foster mother, An, and Cò, who share a special bond: Cò is the biological child of Tia and Má, while An is their adopted child. Due to the war, An lost his family and became a wandering child. He was taken in by Cò's parents and became their adopted son. Living with Cò's family, An was loved and cared for as their own child and learned many new and exciting things.
An is a clever boy with deep insights and delicate feelings. Through An's eyes, the landscape of the U Minh forest appears vibrant, alive, and full of beauty, with a harmonious combination of animals, trees, and natural elements like the sky, light, and the aroma of tràm flowers. It gives the impression that everything is viewed through a layer of glass, showing An's keen ability to observe and understand nature deeply.
Through An's observations, we also see Tia Noy as a caring and attentive father, who pays close attention to even the smallest details. He listens to An's breathing to detect when his child is tired and signals for the group to rest. Along the way, he clears thorny bushes to create a path for the others to follow.
In response to Tia Noy's affection, An is a well-behaved, polite boy who listens and respects his parents. From this, An learns many valuable life lessons from both Tia and Má. Má taught An how to recognize bee swarms, collect honey, and observe tree branches, wind direction, and the flight path of the bees.
In contrast to An's gentle nature, Cò is a boy born and raised in the U Minh forest. As a local, Cò is quick, smart, and energetic, traits that help him stand out, even teasing An from time to time. Despite their differences, both boys venture into the forest to collect honey. Cò is much stronger and more energetic than An, carrying a large bundle of goods and food, wading through the forest without tiring. When they stop to rest, Cò drinks water from a large jug, encourages An to look up at the sky, and teaches him how to spot a beehive and predict where the bees will appear. All of the author's descriptions help the reader imagine a boy who is a true child of the U Minh forest, deeply familiar with its environment.
From his mother's story, An also shares his knowledge of beekeeping from around the world. The ancient Romans used copper hives, the people of Mexico made hives from clay, and the Egyptians used ceramic hives. In Africa, people hollowed out tree trunks, and in Western Europe, beekeepers crafted hives from straw. In contrast, the people of U Minh had a unique method of 'domesticating' wild bees: carefully calculating and setting up a frame for the bees to return and build their hives. This process requires great skill and experience, as well as a meticulous understanding of nature. An's fascination with nature and his eagerness to learn is clear in his approach to the world around him.
Both An and Cò are unique in their personalities, gestures, and appearance. Yet, as they journey together into the forest to collect honey, the reader is taken on a tour of the magical U Minh forest, guided by two extraordinary young 'tour guides.'

8. Sample Essay 3

