Vietnam Poetry Day not held in Hanoi for the first time

On February 6, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Writers Association said that 2025 marks a special turning point in the history of Vietnam Poetry Day when this event is held outside the capital Hanoi for the first time.

The 23rd Vietnam Poetry Day, themed “The Fatherland Takes Flight,” will take place in Hoa Lu City, Ninh Binh Province, a newly established city that is aiming to become a millennium heritage city. “This is a groundbreaking decision to bring National Poetry Day closer to the public across the country, while honoring the unique cultural, historical and landscape values of the ancient capital,” said poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.

The theme “The Fatherland soars” is inspired by the verse “The Fatherland soars in the boundless spring” in the poem “Vietnam’s Stance” by poet and martyr Le Anh Xuan. This theme not only reflects the nation’s aspiration to rise but is also associated with the country’s major events in 2025.

The poetry night “The Fatherland Takes Flight” took place on the evening of February 12 in Hoa Lu City (Ninh Binh) and brought together many generations of poets, from typical figures of the anti-American resistance period such as Nguyen Dinh Thi, Nguyen Khoa Diem, Huu Thinh, to promising young poets such as Nguyen Bao Chan, Nguyen Tien Thanh, Phung Thi Huong Ly.

The public will enjoy classic poems such as “Nguyen Tieu” by President Ho Chi Minh; “Duc Thuy Son” by Truong Han Sieu; “Dang Cao Viet Nam” by Le Anh Xuan... In addition, the program also has poetry recitations, singing poems and the special participation of American veteran poet Bruce Weigl with a poem dedicated to a Vietnamese mother, creating a meaningful cultural connection.

In parallel with the Poetry Night, the Vietnam Writers Association also organized a discussion on “Responsibility and Aspiration of Poets” on the morning of February 12, aiming to stimulate in-depth debates about the role of writers in modern society.

The Poetry Day space is also decorated with a poster exhibition of 20 typical Vietnamese poets who received the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, along with ancient and modern poems written about Ninh Binh.

MAI AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ngay-tho-viet-nam-lan-dau-tien-khong-to-chuc-tai-ha-noi-post780758.html