On February 25 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Writers' Association held a press conference to announce the 24th Vietnam Poetry Day - 2026 with the theme "Before the Great Sea". The event will be held on the full moon of the first lunar month of Binh Ngo year in Quang Ninh province, associated with the sea space and messages about aspirations for development in the new period.
Speaking at the press conference, poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - Chairman of the Vietnam Writers' Association - said that after 23 times of organization, Vietnam Poetry Day has become an annual cultural event with wide spread, bringing poetry closer to the public. In 2026, the selection of Quang Ninh as the host locality has special significance as this is a coastal island region rich in cultural traditions, which has organized Poetry Day on a provincial scale since 1988.
According to the Organizing Committee, the theme "Before the Great Sea" not only evokes a geographical space but also carries symbolic meaning about integration, globalization, scientific and technological development and the strong movements of social life. In that context, poetry is seen as a spiritual support, contributing to preserving cultural identity and nurturing the aspirations of Vietnamese people.
This year's Poetry Day will take place in Bai Chay ward and Ha Long ward (Quang Ninh). The highlight is the Nguyen Tieu Poetry Night on the evening of the full moon of the first lunar month, gathering many generations of poets.
The public will enjoy works written about the sea by famous authors such as Nguyen Khoa Diem, Huu Thinh, Tran Nhuan Minh, Tran Dang Khoa, Thuan Huu, Nguyen Viet Chien... Besides, there is the participation of young faces such as Lu Mai, Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung, creating a multi-voice picture of contemporary poetry.
A new point of the 24th Vietnam Poetry Day is the combination of poetry and music. Accordingly, the poet will directly read the work and share about the creative circumstances before the poem set to poetry is performed. This staging is expected to help the audience better understand the creative process, while increasing the connection between poetry and other art forms.
Within the framework of the event, there is also a seminar "The Dignity of Poetry", chaired by Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Writers' Association Nguyen Binh Phuong. The seminar focused on discussing the role and responsibility of writers in the context of strong social networks and artificial intelligence development, posing the requirement to preserve the true value of poetry.
In addition to the main activities, the Organizing Committee said it will bring poetry closer to life through exchange programs at mines, schools, factories, and military units. The installation art space with 50 good poems about the sea and the anthology "Before the Great Sea" published by the Writers' Association Publishing House are also notable highlights.
Representatives of Quang Ninh provincial leaders affirmed that the locality has proactively coordinated closely to ensure organization, security, technology and communication. The 24th Vietnam Poetry Day is expected to leave a strong impression, contributing to spreading the love of poetry in the cultural and artistic life of the whole country.
