Mr. Nguyen Quang Thieu: The Government and the Ministry of Culture need to review investment in culture.

Ông Nguyễn Quang Thiều chia sẻ tại buổi họp báo - Ảnh: T.ĐIỂU — Mr. Nguyen Quang Thieu shared at the press conference - Photo: T.DIEU

Mr. Nguyen Quang Thieu shared his thoughts at the press conference of the Vietnam Writers Association on February 16 to inform about the upcoming Vietnam Poetry Day at Thang Long Imperial Citadel on the occasion of the full moon of January.

350,000 billion VND for cultural revival is nothing

Talking about money to organize the 22nd grand Vietnam Poetry Day, inviting runner-up Thuy Van as MC... Mr. Thieu said the program received contributions from many individuals working together.

"Last year's program, director Le Quy Duong told me it needed 5 billion VND, but we only had 1/5 of that amount. And this year is the same," said Mr. Thieu.

Regarding the money for organizing activities of the Vietnam Writers Association, Mr. Thieu said that in 2023, the Vietnam Writers Association organized a conference to meet veteran writers in Hai Phong when "there was not a single penny".

The Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association said that the country is developing strongly, the State spends a lot of money on cultural activities in some places but does not spend money on things that really need money.

"The government must review this, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism must review this. The problem is how to choose what is necessary to spend.

We spend a lot of money on culture. 350,000 billion VND is nothing. But is it in the right place, in the right necessary activities?", Mr. Thieu shared and hoped to receive support from the Writers Association and other professional associations.

Honoring poet Ho Chi Minh and ethnic minority poets

Regarding the 22nd Vietnam Poetry Day, Mr. Thieu said that this is the second year this activity takes place at Thang Long Imperial Citadel (free for Poetry Day participants).

With the theme "The Harmony of the Country", this year's Poetry Day honors mountain poets, ethnic mountain poets or poets who write a lot and write well on ethnic and mountainous topics.

The main event took place on the 15th day of the first lunar month (February 24) with two main activities: a discussion with the theme "From the poet's courage to his identity" in the morning and a poetry night "The Harmony of the Country" in the evening.

Poetry seminar chaired by poet and writer Nguyen Binh Phuong - Vice President of Vietnam Writers Association.

The poetry night, directed by Le Quy Duong, includes performances and poetry readings by 16 authors from the Northern region, the Central region - Central Highlands - Southern region, international poets...

This is the second time Mr. Duong has directed Vietnam Poetry Day and it has only been the past two seasons that Poetry Day has invited professional directors. Mr. Duong has just been admitted to the Vietnam Writers Association in 2023.

From January 14 (February 23), the public can start visiting the memory house, the poetry street, participating in the poetry quiz game; exchange sessions introducing authors and works of young poets; famous poets; activities of some poetry clubs in poetry shops.

The Memory House, organized by the Vietnam Literature Museum, this year will display memorabilia, artifacts, and works of 12 outstanding poets, headed by poet - President Ho Chi Minh, and 11 ethnic minority poets who received the Ho Chi Minh Prize for literature and art.

Poetry Day 2024 will become an International Poetry Festival

Inviting three international poets to read poetry at Vietnam Poetry Day this year is to kick off the International Poetry Festival to replace Vietnam Poetry Day next year.

The festival is expected to last for a week, inviting about 100 poets from 50 countries to attend.

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