Reflection

War has shaped much of our country's history. For thousands of years, Vietnam has continuously fought against powerful empires, but we have always triumphed. That is our pride, and also the inspiration for me to explore war from a different perspective—the traces it leaves on both people and nature. My father is a zoologist. On one trip to the forest with him in Quảng Trị, he said: “The forest is like a person—no matter how badly it is wounded, the trees will grow back—as a way of healing.” That sentence made me think about all the stories this land still holds, even when it appears peaceful on the outside. Seeing the crumbling walls or the bomb in the museum, I truly shivered because of the unimaginable destruction of war. People are so small and fragile. That's why I chose to do this project—to present a reality, a perspective, a feeling that comes from my heart. This project helped me realize the deep bond between humans and nature. Nature once protected people, but it was also deeply wounded. However, just as the forest can come back to life, so can we. Our message is very simple: love and care for your homeland—not just with words, but with action. Because even after war, the land can turn green again. And so can we.