The Vietnam- Hue Ancient Capital Haiku Poetry Club is a place for Haiku lovers to meet, share their creations, and together spread the cultural bridge between Vietnam and Japan.

Bringing Hue and Vietnam into Haiku poetry.

During a poetry exchange between the Huong Giang Poetry Club of Hue and the Vietnam Haiku Poetry Club of Hanoi , Mr. Dinh Nhat Hanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Haiku Poetry Club of Hanoi, introduced a form of poetry that is extremely short but rich in evocative power. He said that reading Haiku seems simple, but "the more you contemplate, the more beautiful it becomes," and the more you listen, the deeper its meaning becomes. It was from that meeting that the idea of ​​establishing the Vietnam Haiku Poetry Club of Hue was sparked.

The club was founded at the end of 2020 with 27 members. To date, it has 56 members, including teachers, doctors, engineers, artists, students, and more. This diversity creates a vibrant and colorful community of poetry lovers.

Beyond being a place for creation and sharing, the club has also published five books on Haiku, most notably "Lighting the Torch by the Perfume River." This is the first poetry collection to affirm the presence of Haiku in the ancient capital city. It is expected that by the end of this year, the club will release a commemorative book, "Vietnamese Haiku - Hue Ancient Capital," documenting the creative journey and achievements of its members.

Mr. Le Ba Duc, the club's chairman, shared: "Initially, it was just curiosity after reading a few Haiku poems. But the more I learned, the more I was captivated by their conciseness and subtlety. I wanted to try incorporating Hue and Vietnam into the Haiku form to see how familiar things could be expressed through such a short and concise style."

Beyond the theme of friendship, the Vietnam-Hue Ancient Capital Haiku Club also depicts nature and daily life. Familiar images such as the moon over Ngu Binh peak, the distant sound of bells, the figure of an elderly mother… enter the Haiku with a simple yet profound language, making this poetic form of the land of cherry blossoms feel close to the Vietnamese soul.

Continuing the bridge

While older members find tranquility in Haiku, younger generations approach it with an eagerness to explore . Tran Thi Phuong Thuong, a young member of the Vietnam Haiku Poetry Club in Hue, confided: “I’ve always liked learning new things. When I heard about Haiku, I wondered why this form of poetry was so special. Curiosity led me to the club, and then I realized that this form of poetry is extremely short but full of meaning.”

Through these activities, Phuong Thuong gained a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, while also gaining a more profound insight into the culture of Hue and Vietnam. For Thuong, Haiku is both a "relaxing playground" and a place to hone her talent. "I hope that in the future, more people will learn about Haiku, helping them understand Japan better and become even more connected to their homeland," Thuong said.

Not only Phuong Thuong, but many other young people also find novelty in Haiku. They compose, share, and experiment with their own ways of expression, making Haiku poetry in Hue increasingly diverse. Meanwhile, dedicated members like Mr. Nguyen Dac Trung see this extremely short Japanese poetic form as a spiritual anchor. He confided: "Each Haiku poem opens up a moment of quiet reflection, helping me maintain balance in modern life."

After five years, the Haiku movement in Hue has proven its enduring vitality. From a few dozen initial members, the club has now become a close-knit community where poetry lovers come together to share, reflect, and build cultural bridges. Not only does the club have members directly in Hue, but it also has online members from many other locations, creating a broad connection and helping Haiku poetry spread more widely.

In Hue, where the Perfume River and Ngu Mountain have left their mark on Vietnamese poetry, Haiku poetry quietly "blossoms." These concise and refined verses contribute to enriching the literature of the homeland, while also becoming a lasting "bridge" connecting the two cultures of Vietnam and Japan.

Throughout its history, the Vietnam-Hue Ancient Capital Haiku Poetry Club has received numerous accolades. On the occasion of its 2nd anniversary, the Club and its Chairman, Le Ba Duc, were awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Hue City. In January 2024, the Club received another Certificate of Merit from the Union of Friendship Organizations of the province (now Hue City). Ms. Do Thi My Chau, President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Hue City, commented: “The Vietnam-Hue Ancient Capital Haiku Poetry Club has demonstrated enthusiasm and perseverance. Beyond poetry creation, the club members have also actively contributed to friendly exchanges and building cultural bridges between the two countries.”

Bach Chau

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/noi-nhip-cau-van-hoa-viet-nhat-158657.html