Tố Thư was born in 1947 in Ha Dong, North Vietnam. He sought freedom twice: first, when the Vietnamese Communists took over Hanoi in 1954, forcing his family to flee to Saigon, and second, when Saigon fell to the Communists on April 30, 1975, and he became a war refugee, who escaped Vietnam and sought asylum in the United States.

Before 1975, Tố Thư was a noncommissioned Republic of Vietnam Navy officer. Following the war, though he was oceans away from his loved ones, his people, and his homeland, he always had (and still has) them in the forefront of his mind and in his heart.
In his early years in the U.S., he helped establish a group in San Jose, CA, to sponsor Vietnamese refugees. He then moved to Houston and worked as an Oilfield Services Technician for Dresser Atlas Petroleum and Baker Hughes, where his tenure lasted 35 years until his retirement in 2015.

He established a group at Dresser to support the anti-communist resistance movement during this time. He also performed the bamboo flute for cultural events in Houston to raise funds to support the resistance.

In 1985, he released his first poetry collection, “30 Poems of Homeland and Humanity.” All proceeds from his book sales supported the resistance movement to liberate Vietnam.

Today, Tố Thư continues to fight for freedom and democracy in Vietnam as a member of Viet Tan and as a co-founder of the non-profit organization Vietnam Reform Foundation (VRF).

With his latest poetry collection, “Mơ Quê” (Dreaming of Homeland), Mơ Quê desires to continue his support for the nonviolent struggle for freedom and democracy in Vietnam and inspire the Vietnamese youth and future generations to join hands to reform the country when it truly has freedom and democracy.

About Mơ Quê:

"Mơ Quê” (Dreaming of Homeland) is a collection of poems about homesickness and longing for the homeland of a refugee! It notes the pain and misfortune of millions of Vietnamese people who had to leave the country to seek Freedom on the dark day of April 30, 1975, by crossing the border and crossing the sea. Their families and children had to pay a very high price on the road to find Freedom!

"Mơ Quê” (Dreaming of Homeland) is not only a longing for national happiness, uttered in poetic words, but also a wish for the next generation to continue the path of fighting for freedom and democracy for Vietnam with the desire to reform the country of Vietnam.

The poems describe:
• A painful memory of childhood in the North (‘54)
• A desire for the homeland when growing up in the South (‘75)
• Days of exile in the United States: Participating in the struggle for Vietnam to have Freedom and Democracy, encouraging the next generation to stand up for national happiness boldly, joining hands to contribute to the fight for Freedom, and reforming the country of Vietnam together with the entire people.
• About music: Honoring the Fatherland’s Hung King; praising humanity, love of country, family, and the desire for Renewal.
“Dear Vietnamese youth - Don't lose hope! - Nurture the will to innovate
With the spirit of hope - A bright Vietnam - The Fatherland will be Glorious again."

About Mơ Quê:
“Mơ Quê” là một tập thơ viết lên nỗi lòng nhớ nhà, nhớ quê hương của một người tị nạn! Ghi lại những đớn đau, bất hạnh của hàng triệu người Việt Nam phải bỏ nước ra đi tìm Tự Do, trong ngày 30 tháng 4 đen tối 1975! Bằng con đường vượt biên, vượt biển mà gia đình và con em của họ đã phải trả giá rất đắt trên đoạn đường đi tìm Tự Do!

“Mơ Quê” không chỉ là một thao thức cho hạnh phúc dân tộc, thốt ra bằng lời thơ mà còn là mong ước thế hệ kế thừa tiếp nối con đường tranh đấu tự do, dân chủ cho Việt Nam bằng khát vọng Canh Tân lại Đất Nước Việt Nam.

Những vần thơ diễn tả:
• Một ký ức đau thương của tuổi thơ trên đất Bắc (54)
• Một khát vọng cho quê hương khi lớn lên tại miền Nam (75)
• Những ngày lưu vong tại Hoa Kỳ: Tham gia đấu tranh để Việt Nam có Tự Do, Dân Chủ và thao thức thế hệ kế thừa mạnh dạn đứng lên vì hạnh phúc dân tộc, chung tay góp sức, đấu tranh cho Tự Do và cùng toàn dân canh tân lại đất nước Việt Nam.
• Về âm nhạc: Tôn vinh Quốc Tổ Hùng Vương, ca tụng tình người, tình yêu đất nước và tình yêu gia đình và khát vọng Canh Tân.
“Hỡi bạn trẻ Việt Nam - Đừng sống đời vô vọng! - Nuôi ý chí Canh Tân
Bằng tinh thần hy vọng - Một Việt Nam tươi sáng - Tổ Quốc lại Vinh Quang”.