Hanoi (VNA) – The authors and historical witnessesinvolving in a series of the most popular wartime diaries gathered in Hanoi onJuly 22 on the occasion of the 73rd War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27).

“Nhat Ky Thoi ChienVietnam” (Wartime diary), released by the Writers' AssociationPublishing House, includes 31 pieces of writing by 31 authors who tell theirtrue stories after returning from the war.

Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong, Chairman of the “Mai maituoi 20” (Forever Twenty) Fund, said that the work spreads a stronghumanitarian message. It can be considered an intangible heritage that heroicmartyrs and war veterans present to younger generations, he said.

Writer Dang Vuong Hung, who compiled and edited the work, saidthat two thirds of the book’s authors passed away, many of whom fell down inthe battle fields or returned with wounds and died.

The book was compiled with the diaries of soldiers,including martyrs’ relics kept by their relatives.

At the event, the Soldiers’ Heart Club, a forum of warveterans on Facebook, launched a campaign to collect letters and diaries ofsoldiers written in wartime to supplement documents to the book. The club alsoopened a writing and story-telling contest on “Love in wartime”. Entries, inthe form of less than 3,000-word writings or 30-minute video clips, must bereal stories involving real characters and events.

The winner will receive 10 million VND, while mostoutstanding stories will be compiled into a book entitled “Soldiers’ Heart”.The contest’s award ceremony is scheduled for early March, 2021./.