Vietnam Poetry Day 2025: Responsibilities and aspirations of poets

Poetry must carry the breath of life

On the morning of February 12, at the discussion “Responsibility and Aspiration of Poets” held in Ninh Binh, writers looked back at the role, mission and passion of poetry in the flow of society. Looking back at the history of Vietnamese poetry, poet Vu Quan Phuong commented: “Responsibility and aspiration are not opposites but complement each other. Responsibility is the launching pad for aspiration to reach far, and aspiration is the driving force that helps responsibility to be deeply implemented”.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Anh Tuan recites the poem "Nguyen Tieu" (Full Moon Festival of January) by President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

Great poets such as Xuan Dieu, Huy Can, Che Lan Vien... abandoned their romantic egos to devote themselves to revolutionary poetry, placing their responsibility to the nation above all else. They understood that true art is not only beautiful verses, but also has the mission of beautifying life.

However, is poetry today really meeting those expectations; does it accurately reflect reality, bring faith and aspiration, or is it avoiding burning social issues such as morality and culture; is poetry insensitive, turning its back on reality, or is it still keeping its responsibility?

Writer Nguyen Binh Phuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Writers Association, believes that art, especially poetry, cannot be separated from life. It needs to engage and accompany people through ups and downs, helping them face reality, find hope and human values. Poetry is not only for enjoyment but also a mirror for ourselves, so that each person can perfect themselves.

From a critical perspective, poet Dang Huy Giang warns that poetry cannot stop at mere personal emotions, but needs to expand to the great issues of society. He quotes the reminder of poet Che Lan Vien: Life is big but the page of poetry is small/ The house cat wants to drown out the tiger's cry, to affirm that poetry is not only a means of expressing emotions but also a tool to reflect, criticize and promote social change. According to him, if poetry only stops at the beauty of form but lacks depth of thought, poetry will gradually lose its true value.

Poet Nhu Nguyen also shared a similar perspective: “Poetry is not only a personal voice, but must be the voice of the times. We cannot write poetry while turning our backs on the changes, disagreements and slow dreams of society.” Poets do not only compose about beauty and love, but must also commit themselves to and confront the great problems of humanity. Following the example of their predecessors, today’s writers must carry within themselves a high sense of responsibility towards art and society. Only then will poetry truly live intensely and persistently, becoming a flame that illuminates the human soul and reflects the spirit of the times.

Southern Youth

This year, Vietnam Poetry Day in Ho Chi Minh City takes the theme “Song of Unification”, both to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, and to review the appearance of the city’s poetry over the past half century. Writer Bich Ngan, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, said that in the past half century of building and constructing Ho Chi Minh City, we have witnessed the presence of modern works serving the people, the work of nurturing cultural values ​​in which literature and art play an important role, in which poetry always has a special position.

The city's poetry has a unique and profound continuity and inheritance from generations of pre-war poets such as Che Lan Vien, the anti-French period such as Bao Dinh Giang, Vien Phuong, the anti-American period with Hoai Vu, Diep Minh Tuyen...; then the generations of poets wearing soldier uniforms returning from Cambodia such as Pham Sy Sau, Le Minh Quoc; the Youth Volunteer generation with Bui Nguyen Truong Kien, Nguyen Nhat Anh, Cao Vu Huy Mien; the generation that matured from university lecture halls with Truong Nam Huong...; and now the young poets born after 2000, a generation full of openness and integration.

Poet Le Thieu Nhon, Head of the Young Writers Committee - Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, Deputy Organizing Committee of Vietnam Poetry Day 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, said: "Ho Chi Minh City poetry is undergoing a huge shift among poets, especially Gen Z. They compose without being bound by traditional rules, they write as a way to release all their emotions and ideas...", said poet Le Thieu Nhon.

In addition, according to poet Le Thieu Nhon, the generation of poets born after 2000 is good at information technology and foreign languages. Thanks to that, they can convey their poems to the public in the fastest and widest way; at the same time, they can write in English themselves or convert from Vietnamese to English to reach the world. "It must be admitted that they are the new faces of the new era, the era in which we confidently integrate without having to go through the translation system," poet Le Thieu Nhon expressed.

Like many other authors, poet Dinh Nho Tuan, who just won first prize in the second “Humanity and Justice of the Southern Land” poetry contest, is also a person who started his career in Ho Chi Minh City. Originally from Ha Tinh, living in Ho Chi Minh City for 20 years now, poet Dinh Nho Tuan said that this Southern land has brought him many things: in addition to family and friends, there is also a priceless asset which is the love of poetry. “I think that in Ho Chi Minh City, there are enough conditions to support poets. However, there are still not many works that meet the expectations of readers. All of this is a question for the future,” poet Dinh Nho Tuan shared.

Nowadays, life is more hectic and traditional publishing methods have also changed. Now, poetry is not simply enjoyed on paper, but also has other variations such as posting online, video art, illustrated readings, or being presented in the form of ideas, telling a story through poetry on YouTube... With new technologies, poetry is increasingly connecting more quickly with other art forms such as: photography, painting, cinema, theater... In the digital age, the role of the poet is also clearer, stronger and broader. Today's poets cannot just retreat into a lonely oasis in the art world, but need to step out into the vibrant life outside.

On the morning of February 12, the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association held the opening ceremony of Vietnam Poetry Day 2025 with the theme "Song of Unification". Attending the opening ceremony were comrades: Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Delegation, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Pham Chanh Truc, former Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, and many poetry lovers in Ho Chi Minh City. At the ceremony, comrade Nguyen Phuoc Loc, on behalf of the city leaders, performed the drum beating ceremony to open Vietnam Poetry Day in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025.

On the same evening, in Hoa Lu City, Ninh Binh Province, a poetry night was held to celebrate the 23rd Vietnam Poetry Day. The poetry night featured famous poets, long-established poets, and young poets who are trying to assert themselves on the path of poetry. The audience enjoyed performances of famous poems such as Nguyen Tieu (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnamese Standing Position (Le Anh Xuan)...

In particular, the poetry night also had the participation of American veteran poet Bruce Weigl with his performance of the poem To a Vietnamese Mother. In addition, this year's poetry day space also displayed works by 20 poets who won the Ho Chi Minh Prize along with ancient and modern poems about Ninh Binh.

MAI AN - HO SON

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ngay-tho-viet-nam-nam-2025-trach-nhiem-va-khat-vong-cua-nha-tho-post781638.html