The Wandering Ballad of Cụ Mén

An old farmer. A beloved homeland. A final journey through memory, Hà Nội, Tết and the enduring soul of Vietnam.The Wandering Ballad of Cụ Mén, Vol 3 is the closing movement of Phạm Hồng Điệp’s modern Vietnamese folk epic. After long journeys across fields, rivers, mountains, forests and remote villages, Cụ Mén turns toward Hà Nội, homeland, family, memory and the quiet happiness of old age.This third volume follows Cụ Mén and his disciple as they enter the capital, where West Lake, ancient shrines, historic landmarks and the flavors of Hà Nội carry the memory of the nation. Through moments of wonder, gratitude and reflection, the poems explore how cultural heritage, modern life and the love of homeland can meet without losing their soul.The journey then returns to Cụ Mén’s own village. Tết arrives with chung cakes, sweet potatoes, pork, rice wine, firecrackers, spring flowers, family laughter and the warm abundance of rural life. In the banana garden, butterfly garden, village paths and communal spaces of home, Cụ Mén becomes not only a wanderer, but a living memory of the land itself.At once rustic and lyrical, humorous and humane, intimate and national in spirit, Vol 3 celebrates the beauty of return. It is a book about aging with joy, remembering without bitterness, loving one’s homeland, and leaving behind values that continue to guide future generations.The volume also includes literary reflections and an appendix presenting Phạm Hồng Điệp’s artistic journey, achievements and contributions to sustainable development, music, poetry, cultural memory and Vietnam’s enduring values.A modern Vietnamese folk epic of Hà Nội, Tết, homecoming, memory and the enduring soul of Vietnam.