Bắc Ninh
Poetry upholds the aspiration for kindness
Vietnam Poetry Day is an event that honours the nation’s literary values and inspires creativity, unity, and a sense of responsibility. With this spirit, the 23rd Vietnam Poetry Day in 2025, under the theme "To quoc bay len” (Fatherland flies up), was organised by the Vietnam Writers' Association in Hoa Lu City, Ninh Binh Province. The event commemorates the 135th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh and the 50th anniversary of the southern liberation and national reunification.
The highlight of the event was the special poetry night titled “Fatherland flies up”, bringing together poetic voices from multiple generations. Audiences were treated to captivating poetry recitations.
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A poetry recitation performance at Vietnam Poetry Day. |
The event also featured American poet and veteran Bruce Weigl, who presented a poem dedicated to the Vietnamese Heroic Mother.
The Vietnam Poetry Day space showcased posters honouring renowned Vietnamese poets who had received the Ho Chi Minh Award for Literature and Arts, along with a selection of classical and modern poems celebrating the beauty of Ninh Binh Province.
As part of the event, the Vietnam Writers' Association hosted a symposium, themed “The responsibility and aspirations of poets”.
Drawing from literary history, poet Vu Quan Phuong highlighted To Huu's poetry, which, despite covering familiar and everyday themes—such as a mother’s lullaby or the sound of bamboo brooms sweeping the streets at night—always evoked deep emotions and was closely tied to revolutionary ideals.
The New Poetry movement underwent significant transformations with the August Revolution, as most poets rallied under the banner of the Viet Minh Front, participating in the uprising and joining the resistance movement.
Importantly, these poets were willing to move beyond their past acclaimed works to become revolutionary soldiers who wielded their pens as weapons, dedicated themselves to the cause of revolutionary literature, and even sacrificed blood and bone for national independence, freedom, and unification.
Their aspiration for change began with breaking away from their literary achievements to embrace a new mission.
Dr Poet Nguyen Kien Tho (Thai Nguyen Province) shared: “We live in an era of constant upheaval, where values shift at an astonishing pace, and the battle between the old and the new, between innovation and stagnation, plays out across every aspect of society”.
He emphasised that the greatest responsibility of poets is to awaken an independent consciousness within individuals. Only when this independent awareness becomes a collective consciousness—shared by the community and the entire nation—can we truly step into an era of national awakening and growth.
Young poet Nguyen Nhu, born in Dak Nong Province and having experienced a challenging life in a northern Lao valley near the Thai border, now continues his creative journey in Hanoi.
He contemplates the pressing issue of why Vietnamese poetry has not reached greater heights. Even within the country, poetry struggles to capture widespread attention, despite the presence of many remarkable works.
He suggests that the key lies in deep emotional commitment from writers and a strategic approach from literary institutions. "Perhaps poets must treat poetry with their entire soul. Literary organisations should develop structured campaigns, high-quality translation teams, and effective media strategies to refine, select, and ultimately propel Vietnamese poetry beyond its current boundaries”.
Sharing Nguyen Nhu’s sentiments, Phung Thi Huong Ly, a young poet from Bac Kan and a recipient of the Young Writer Award from the Vietnam Writers’ Association, emphasises that writing is a serious creative work with words.
To her, poetry serves as both a dialogue with the world and with oneself, awakening dreams, aspirations, reflections, and emotions in readers. She believes that beyond talent, a poet must possess depth and compassion to truly touch hearts.
As Vietnam Poetry Day unfolds across the country, each locality brings its unique spirit to the celebration. Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, highlighted this year’s theme inspired by the work "Dang dung Vietnam" (Vietnamese postures) by poet Le Anh Xuan.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of national reunification, the event honours and expresses gratitude to those who dedicated their lives to independence, freedom, and unity. Their stance is the stance of a nation, which is filled with genuine aspirations and an unwavering will to act upon them.
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