My journey into journalism began by chance. In 2013, after graduating from Huế University, I was accepted as a reporter for the Điện Biên Phủ Newspaper.

Since then, I’ve traveled extensively through the mountainous districts of the province, but none have left a deeper impression on me than Mường Nhé and Nậm Pồ, the two most challenging districts in Điện Biên. There were assignments that required me to travel hundreds of kilometers, crossing steep slopes and swollen streams just to reach a remote village before nightfall.

I remember one weekend during a work trip when I chose not to return to the city but stayed overnight in a village. It was Nậm Chẩn, an isolated, difficult-to-access village in Nà Khoa commune, now part of Na Cô Sa commune, Nậm Pồ district. That afternoon, it rained steadily. I spent the night in a small wooden house built by a local teacher. The meal was simple: wild vegetables and a bit of dried fish, but the conversations by the fire were surprisingly heartwarming.

Teacher Triệu Chí Hoan, who had been assigned to Nậm Chẩn village, Nà Khoa Semi-boarding Primary School for Ethnic Minorities, shared stories about his years living in the village: persuading children to attend school, cooking meals without salt, students walking barefoot to class… I listened not just as a journalist, but as someone who genuinely wanted to understand, accompany, and empathize.

It is these experiences that have shaped the articles I’ve written over the years. And I’ve come to understand that a moving piece of journalism requires more than carefully chosen words, it needs to carry the breath of life, the voices of those involved, and the emotions of the writer. Many of my later pieces were widely shared and resonated with readers.

I’ve been to many villages in communes like Huổi Lếch, Pá Mỳ and Chung Chải of Mường Nhé district, and remote villages in Nậm Pồ such as Vàng Đán, Nậm Nhừ, Nà Bủng … Each trip taught me how to listen better, to appreciate the simplest things, and to realize that journalism is not just about reporting facts, but also about being a bridge of compassion.

Thirteen years is not a long time, but it’s long enough for me to understand that being a journalist in the highlands is a journey filled with challenges. It requires not only courage and perseverance, but also a heart full of empathy. There were cold, rainy nights spent in damp bamboo huts, days when my motorbike broke down in a deserted forest, and even times when I received threats because of what I wrote… But I never once thought of quitting.

People often ask me: “Isn’t working in the highlands exhausting? Why do you stick with it?”. I just smile because I love this profession. For me, living as a journalist, even amidst endless difficulties, remains a great joy and a profound source of happiness. Each article is not just a professional product, but a heartfelt tribute to the land and people of Điện Biên - a place where I live, write, and have grown deeply attached.

I know the road ahead will still be tough. But as long as I still feel, still love this profession, I believe I will keep moving forward to listen, to share, and to write stories of kindness in everyday life. Because sometimes, the right article, at the right time, in the right place, and for the right person, can make someone’s life a little brighter.