The Vietnam Poetry Day, from February 16-21 in Hanoi capital city, Quang Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, is being held along with the 4th International Conference on Vietnamese literature promotion and the 2nd International Poem Festival. The events attracted the participation of nearly 200 writers, poets and translators from many countries worldwide. 

Within the framework of the events, many exchanges between Vietnamese poem lovers and foreign poets, and exhibitions on life and career of great poets have been arranged. 

Poet Huu Thinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association (VWA) said that the Poetry Day is expected to contribute to promoting friendship among countries. 

He highlighted innovation in poetry and literature activities in Vietnam. 

The VWA has established a translation centre, which is building a long-term plan for translating Vietnam’s literary and poetry works into English as an intermediary to translate other languages. 

Since its debut on Nguyen Tieu (the 15th day of the first lunar month) in 2003, the Vietnam Poetry Day, the biggest poetry festival in the country, has become a national tradition, taking place in the spring of each year. 

Starting out as an initiative of the Vietnam Writers' Association, the Poetry Day has been organised in many provinces and cities to honour poetry, which has been an integral part of Vietnamese culture for thousands of years. 

HCM City to celebrate National Poetry Day

A veteran poet presents poem recitation at the celebration of National Poetry Day in HCM City last year. 

HCM City will launch a celebration of National Poetry Day, falling on the 15th day of the first lunar month on February 18-19.

Writer Trần Anh Tuấn, chairman of the city’s Writers’ Association, said that this year the National Poetry Day would have the theme of Vietnamese sea and islands.

The celebration will open with a book introduction called Biển Đảo – 2019 (Sea and Islands – 2019) at 8:30 am on February 18 at the Union of Literature and Arts Associations in District 3.

The event will include poetry featuring topics about the country, love and spring.

Veteran writers including Văn Lê, Phạm Sỹ Sáu, Lê Tú Lệ and Từ Quốc Hoài will recite poems praising the country, the Vietnamese people and soldiers who live and work on islands at 9 am on February 19.

Young poets Thành Chung, Lê Hiếu and Khaly Chàm, among others, will be also invited to join the performances.

An exchange of poetry clubs from the city’s universities and cultural houses will be held in the afternoon. The clubs will introduce new members, while young poets will present poem recitations of their own works.  

VNA