A cultural week to mark the 250th birth anniversary of Nguyen Du, prominent Vietnamese poet and World Cultural Celebrity (1765 – 2015), will take place in northern Bac Ninh province, his mother’s homeland, in October this year.

The week features a host of events including a seminar on the influence of his mother’s homeland, Kinh Bac or Bac Ninh, on his hallmark “Truyen Kieu” (the Tale of Kieu), an exhibition on the poet and objects once owned by his family in the province. Talks on the author will also be held at local organisations and schools.

The activities are part of local tribute to Nguyen Du’s contributions to Vietnamese and global culture.

Nguyen Du, also known as To Nhu and Thanh Hien, was born in 1765 in a noble family in Thang Long (Hanoi).

His father was born in Tien Dien village, Nghi Xuan district, central Ha Tinh province; his mother came from Kim Thieu village, Tu Son town, Bac Ninh province.

His most beloved work is the Tale of Kieu, a 3,254-line classic verse novel written in “luc bat” (six-eight), a traditional verse format of Vietnam.

The Tale of Kieu is vastly popular in Vietnam, so much so that many people know the epic by heart and it has been published in various languages worldwide.

Several of his notable works include “Thanh Hien Thi Tap”, “Nam Trung Tap Ngam”, “Bac Hanh Tap Luc”, “Van Chieu Hon” and “Van Te Truong Luu Nhi Nu”.

Nguyen Du was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Celebrity among 108 others in 2003.

VNA