VietNamNet Bridge – Poet Vi Thuy Linh has released her first prose collection, ViLi's Essays.

Born in 1980, Linh was once the youngest member of the Viet Nam Writers' Association. She gained fame when her poems were performed in singer Tran Thu Ha's liveshow Eclipse in 2002.

ViLi's Essays comprises five parts and 44 pieces, from Huong La Mui (Fragrance of Coriander) published in 2001 to more recent essays completed in October.

In the first part of the collection, The Holy Land, the author reminisces about the place where she was born and her paternal grandfather.

"When ViLi talked about her grandfather I had difficulty holding back my tears. I remembered my grandfather, who left an unforgettable impression in my mind and infinite mercy in my heart," said Professor Vu Khieu, the founder of aesthetics study in Viet Nam.

The second section, Pause of Spring, includes 10 pieces. The third, Following the Curve S, comprises eight pieces expressing the author's feelings about the country, which ViLi compares to a harp or a stylised sol key. It describes Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang and HCM City.

Ha Noi is a special focus of this section, as the author feels particular affection for the capital.

Fly with The Love of Paris is the main theme of the fourth part. After three visits to France, ViLi has beautiful feelings for this country as well.

The last section is Thang Long – City of Immortal Love. Born in the capital, Linh associates her growth with the city's and wonders what she has done for Ha Noi in return for all it has given her.

The piece Time of the Love Life depicts love between two talented artists: Nguyen Thi Hien and the late poet and playwright Luu Quang Vu.

For Linh, prose is the logical next step after her 15-year journey as a poet. The book includes photos and paintings by artists such as Bui Xuan Phai – one of the most remarkable Vietnamese artists – and painter Nguyen Thi Hien which are printed here for the first time.

"My humble wish is that everyone can have a nice love story and identify with ViLi's Essays," Linh said.

But she has not given up poetry. She will soon publish her 7th poem collection, ViLi&Paris which is available in both Vietnamese and English. The 38 poems were written in one year from September 2011 to September 2012.

"Paris is not the main theme of the poem collection. ViLi&Paris means that all the poems I composed during and after my third trip to France changed my creative thought process," Linh said.

All the poems were translated by six Vietnamese translators and edited by Australian translator Peter Ross and Professor Gred Marchant from Suffolk University in Boston. ViLi&Paris is the third bilingual book by Linh. She has also written Dong Tu (Pupil) in Vietnamese and French in 2005 and ViLi in Love in Vietnamese and English in 2008.

Linh will organise a night of different art genres including drama, classical music, ballet, and prose reading at the Ha Noi Opera House, where she will release two books (ViLi's Essay and ViLi&Paris) with a view to honouring literature.

Entitled Fly with ViLi, the night will mark a milestone for the 111-year-old Opera House, which has never hosted a book launching or literature performance, according to historian Duong Trung Quoc.

Talented artists including cellist Ngo Hoang Quan, pop singer Thanh Lam, and father and son saxophonists Quyen Van Minh and Quyen Thien Dac will perform. Guests will be welcomed from 7h30pm at the hall, where illustrations from the books will also be displayed.

The event is invitation-only. Diplomats and representatives of foreign culture centres in Viet Nam are invited to come. Please contact Ms Binh at 0989082673 for tickets.

VietNamNet/VNS