The 14th annual Vietnam Poetry Day 2016, themed “Dat nuoc-Canh buom xuan” (Motherland-Spring Sail), opened in Hanoi on February 22.

Popular poets Tran Dang Khoa, Anh Ngoc and Nguyen Viet Chien recited a series of verses on the sea, islands and border on stage. (Photo: VNA)

The event took place across three stages: the Van Mieu (Temple of Literature), Quoc Tu Giam (the First National University) and the Ho Van (Lake of Literature).

On one stage, popular poets like Tran Dang Khoa, Anh Ngoc and Nguyen Viet Chien recited a series of verses on the sea, islands and border, while hundreds of Hanoi’s pupils got on another stage to share their spring moods and thoughts.

Meanwhile, young poets from different parts of the country had their own playground to delight the audiences.

An exhibition concerning the life and career of 40 famous war poets was organised, and publications from different publishing houses and poetry clubs were on display.

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.

VNA