This is the second year the event has been included as part of the activities of the First Full Moon Festival.
Attendees included Mr. Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo Member and Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee; Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of HCMC, and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of HCMC; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, former Central Party Committee Member and former Deputy Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee; Mr. Pham Chanh Truc, former Deputy Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, along with many poetry lovers in HCMC.
Vietnam Poetry Day, established in 2003, is based on the spirit of President Ho Chi Minh's poem Nguyen Tieu (First full moon). Over the past 23 years, the event has become a beloved cultural occasion. In HCMC, thanks to the support of the HCMC Party Committee and the People's Committee of HCMC, Vietnam Poetry Day has become a key cultural activity during the First Full Moon Festival, which takes place on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Following a recitation of President Ho Chi Minh's Nguyen Tieu poem by People's Artist Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Phuoc Loc performed a drum ceremony to officially open the Vietnam Poetry Day 2025 in HCMC.
In her opening speech, writer Bich Ngan, Chairwoman of the HCMC Writers' Association, stated that this year's Vietnam Poetry Day embraces the theme "Song of Unity" to commemorate 50 years of national reunification. Over the past half-century, HCMC has evolved with modern infrastructure serving its people while fostering cultural values, where literature and the arts play a crucial role—poetry, in particular, holding a unique significance.
"Song of Unity" is a milestone to reflect on and celebrate Saigon–HCMC's poetry within the rich tradition of Vietnamese poetry, carrying the vibrant and fertile essence of Southern verse. Poetry has always accompanied our ancestors in expanding the nation—wherever land is cleared, poetry follows. Poetry has been a part of every historical change. Every poet follows the call of their heart—to share the joys and sorrows of life's ups and downs, of society, and of the nation," writer Bich Ngan expressed.
Vietnam Poetry Day in HCMC has left a lasting impression on the public. The event featured songs adapted from poetry, celebrating the nation's resilience and pride, such as Dat Nuoc (The country) (poem by Ta Huu Yen, music by Pham Minh Tuan), Ngay Mai Anh Len Duong (I leave tomorrow) (poem by Le Giang, music by Thanh Truc), Tieng Viet Oi, Tieng Viet (Oh Vietnamese, Vietnamese) (poem by Truong Nam Huong, music by Huu Xuan), and Mua Chim En Bay (The swallow season) (poem by Diep Minh Tuyen, music by Hoang Hiep). Audiences also experienced excerpts from epic works like Duong Toi Thanh Pho (Road to the city) by Huu Thinh, Hoa Cua Nuoc (Flowers of the country) by Tram Huong, and Di Chuc Cua Mot Nguoi Phuong Nam (The Last Will of a Southerner) by Dao Phong Lan.
At Vietnam Poetry Day 2025, poetry lovers had the chance to hear from poets who were once soldiers, embodying the spirit of “There must be steel in poetry; a poet must also know how to charge forward.” The panel discussion 'We Wrote Poetry and Fought', featured poets Nguyen Binh Hong Cau, Tran The Tuyen, and Dang Nguyet Anh.
In the exchange session, poet Dang Nguyet Anh shared, "I grew a lot during our nation's resistance against the US, and from that experience, I discovered my poetry."
HCMC, with its vibrant spirit, has further demonstrated its role as an open, dynamic metropolis over half a century of national reunification, nurturing a creative and active mindset. In this thriving urban landscape, many young literary talents have emerged, bringing fresh and diverse voices. Under the theme “The Voice of Young Poetry in a Young City,” the audience had the chance to hear young poets Tran Duc Tin, Doan Nguyen Anh Minh, and Tran Trong Doan discuss their latest works and their passion for poetry in today’s world.
