Vietnam--Asia Pacific Poetry Festival Part 3

Recently I was in Vietnam for the first Asia Pacific Poetry Festival held in Quang Ninh Provice at Halong Bay and in Hanoi. Following is Part 3 of this experience; Part 1 is here, Part 2 here.

The Evening Gala of Poetry was held on our third day at Hanoi's Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple that dates back to 1076. Arriving at night was a magical experience.

Temple of Literature entrance

Temple of Literature gate

I was honored to read two pages from Orchards

and I read an English translation for a Vietnamese poet

The following morning we returned to the Temple of Literature, on the occasion of Vietnam's National Poetry Day, for more readings and performances with stages set up in two of the temple's large courtyards. It was lovely to see the temple in daylight.

Temple of Literature

With poets Yuka Tsukagoshi and Mariko Nagai

A long parade of poets arriving

one of many ancient steles

huge drum

entirely flowers

crowds waiting for the events to begin

Poetry was interspersed with musical and dance performances.

Poet Cyril Wong, Singapore reading, with Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Poet Anna Retejum, Russia, and her translator

musical performance

Poet Marjorie Evasco, Philippines and translator

folk dance

performance poetry

Poet Mamta Sagar, India, with Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Poet Goro Takano, Japan, with translator

Poet Azam Abidov, Uzbekistan, singing

Reading my poem "Hills North of Ulaan Baatar"

Performances ended in the early afternoon. Later in the afternoon of that day we boarded buses again for a reception at . . . the Presidential Palace.

Presidential Palace

Poets Goro Takano, me, Ngyuen Phan Que Mai, David McKirdy, Mamta Sagar and Sue Wootten

Once we were seated inside a reception hall, the president of Vietnam greeted us. There were speeches by representatives from Vietnam, Laos, China, Cambodia, Russia, India and Japan, then the president spoke about the success of the festival. Outside we gathered on the steps for photos.

Japan haiku poet Ban'ya Natsuishi with the president

The President of Vietnam addresses the poets

The poets gathered with the President of Vietnam

Yuka Tsukagoshi with the president of Vietnam

Expressing my thanks to the president of Vietnam for this incredible opportunity

Poets Mamta Sagar and Sukrita Paul Kumar of India escort Vietnam poet

And to top off the very full day, the evening included a water puppet performance.

And following a wee bit of sleep, the next morning we traveled to the Xu Doai region to visit Tay Pagoda.

Continued in Part 4...