Quang Tri aspires to soar with the nation.

Another new spring has arrived - the spring of the Year of the Snake - bringing joy, hope, and the best dreams to every region, every home, and every person.

As 2024 draws to a close, the country and Quang Tri province have faced incredibly challenging trials, but it has also been a year of reaping many proud achievements. Amidst countless difficulties and challenges, the spirit of solidarity, compassion, brotherhood, courage, and the will to overcome obstacles of the people and the homeland of Quang Tri have been strongly affirmed.

Delegates and students attend the Vietnamese Poetry Day with the theme "Quang Tri's aspiration to soar with the nation" at Le Loi High School - Photo: NTH

The country and the province have made tremendous efforts and strived tirelessly to achieve and surpass many important socio-economic targets; Vietnam's economic growth rate is among the world's leading, and Quang Tri province has achieved considerable growth; the material and spiritual lives of the people have continuously improved and been enhanced; political and social stability has been maintained; national defense and security have been strengthened; foreign relations have expanded; and the potential, position, and international prestige have been enhanced, earning respect and high regard from international friends. We have every right to be proud of our contributions to the overall achievements of the country and our beloved homeland of Quang Tri.

Last year, the province also witnessed many important events, joining the rest of the country in solemnly commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day; Quang Tri successfully organized the 70th anniversary celebration of the Vinh Linh Traditional Day - a land with a special position in the nation's history; and solemnly organized the first Peace Festival right in the place that suffered utter destruction and ignited the aspiration for lasting peace for the country, homeland, and humanity.

Culture, literature, and art have implemented many practical and meaningful activities, making a significant contribution to the resounding success in celebrating these momentous events. Through these cultural, literary, and artistic activities, the image of Quang Tri's land, people, and culture has been strongly disseminated, creating a positive impression on friends both domestically and internationally. The symbol of a suffering yet heroic Quang Tri, transforming day by day, rising with aspirations for peace and development towards a prosperous future, inspires everyone to dedicate themselves to the country and homeland.

The year 2025, the Year of the Snake, is brimming with important events – a year of “acceleration, breakthrough, and reaching the finish line,” laying a solid foundation for entering a new era – an era of growth, development, wealth, and prosperity. The Party's will aligns with the people's aspirations for the prosperity of the country and homeland. 2025 is also the year of Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 14th National Congress of the Party; the year of celebrating the glorious 95th anniversary of the Party's founding; the 135th anniversary of the birth of beloved President Ho Chi Minh; the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; the 50th anniversary of the complete liberation of the South and national reunification; and many other significant holidays and events.

In the harmonious atmosphere of nature, with hearts filled with emotion and joy welcoming the spring of a new era, the Quang Tri Association of Literature and Arts organized the 23rd Vietnam Poetry Day - Lantern Festival of the Year of the Snake - 2025. With significant events taking place in the year marking the beginning of a new era, the Vietnam Writers Association chose the theme for Poetry Day as "The Homeland Soars High". In that spirit, the Quang Tri Association of Literature and Arts organized Poetry Day with the theme: "Quang Tri's Aspiration to Soar High with the Nation".

Driven by great aspirations and ambitions, as we enter a new era of national progress, each of us will strive with utmost effort, determination, enthusiasm, and renewed spirit and belief to achieve even greater success.

Poetry is a literary genre that is extremely familiar and close to everyone. From ancient times to the present day, many beautiful poems have left lasting impressions and become the voice of many generations of readers. Poetry exists as proof of the vitality of the national language and the sublimation of emotions in the face of vivid reality connected to the destiny of the country and the human condition, the aspiration for beauty.

The journey of poetic creation is also a journey of taking root in life, multiplying fresh humanistic values, transmitting emotions, and spreading goodness. In this creative journey, poets and writers from Quang Tri have, to varying degrees, produced substantial poetic works that have a place and influence in Vietnamese poetry, embraced by readers and life itself. According to poet To Huu: "Poetry is about harmony," and at another time he said, "Poetry only springs from our hearts when life is overflowing." The famous Russian poet Rasul Gamzatov, known as the Eastern sage in literature, rightly said: "You can write as long as you feel you can not write." Poet Xuan Dieu affirmed: "Poetry is the call of the flock"...

Moved and proud, artists and writers in Quang Tri have created many literary and artistic works with new and vibrant colors, full of life, faith, and burning aspirations. The beginning of the new year also marks the 95th spring since the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, established and led by President Ho Chi Minh from one victory to another. Author Nguyen Dang Quang composed the poem "Spring Visits to Uncle Ho," which was successfully set to music by composer Duy Anh with very moving lyrics.

Poet Dung Nhi writes about the Party and spring with boundless love and profound faith: "How proud we are to have the glorious Party / Beloved Uncle Ho lives forever / Steadfastly navigating rapids and waterfalls / Spring ushers in a new era / An era of rising happiness awaits us" (With the Party and Spring). Author Bao Nhan is full of faith in the vitality of spring and the national spirit. In his poem "Aspiration to Rise," he writes: "We cannot resist the power of youth / We cannot stop our love for the Fatherland / The flame of enthusiasm in our hearts shines brightly / Spreading wings to fly high with the glorious era."

Standing before the vibrant and hopeful spring, author Thang Nguyen affirms a simple yet profoundly meaningful point in his poem "Before the New Spring": "The fragrance and colors of spring captivate our hearts / Like a soldier intoxicated by victory / A strong and prosperous nation, a wealthy and powerful people / Quang Tri rises up like Phu Dong Thien Vuong...". And many other poems, verses, and lines by poets and authors from Quang Tri about the glorious new spring of the country and homeland are truly worthy of appreciation.

With that spirit, the 23rd Vietnam Poetry Day - Lantern Festival 2025, with the theme "Quang Tri's aspiration to soar with the nation," will spread faith and aspiration to usher in a new era - an era of national development and prosperity.

Nguyen Van Dung

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/quang-tri-khat-vong-bay-len-cung-dat-nuoc-191641.htm