Hanoi (VNA) – A string of new activities are expected to takeplace within the framework of the 16th Vietnam Poetry Day, scheduledto start on February 27 (the 12th of the first lunar month), in thehope of attracting more audiences.
In the previous years, the even kicked off in the 15th day of the first lunar month and art performances honouring Vietnam’s poetry organisedon the previous night.
However, this year’s event, themed “Literature accompanyingthe nation”, will take place over four days, from February 27 to March 2.
Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association Nguyen TriHuan said the association issued 1,500 more invitations to members of poetryclubs compared to previous years to increase the presence of audience at theevent.
Four members from Japan’s poets association have beeninvited to exchange with Vietnamese poetry lovers on the occasion.
A photo exhibition on Vietnamese writers who participated inthe General Offensive and Uprising in the Spring of 1968 will be held on themargin of the event.
Poetry recitation contests and art performances will takeplace on March 1 at Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature).
The 16th Vietnam Poetry Day will officially kick off onMarch 2, the 15th day of the first lunar month, at Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam.
The organising board is also looking to gradually turningthe Poetry Day into a festival for literature in general.
Towards this goal, besides a workshop featuring Vietnam’scurrent poetic issues on February 27, a discussion on fiction reform will beheld on February 28.
Since its debut on Nguyen Tieu (the 15th day of the firstlunar month) in 2003, the Vietnam Poetry Day, the biggest poetry festival inthe country, has become a national tradition, taking place in the spring ofeach year.
Starting out as an initiative of the Vietnam Writers'Association, the Poetry Day has been organised in many provinces and cities tohonour poetry, which has been an integral part of Vietnamese culture forthousands of years.-VNA