The Slovakian poet introduced her translations of the poems by Vietnamese poet Ho Xuan Huong. Photo: VOV

(VOVworld)- The second Asia-Pacific Poetry Festival opened Monday in Hanoi where Vietnamese and foreign poets from Poland, Egypt, China, India, the UK, and Slovakia presented their works in both their mother tongues and English. The event also included traditional music performances and Ao dai (or Vietnamese traditional dress) show. Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, Vice President of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, said that despite different sensibilities, languages, and styles, a love of poetry and a desire for peace are common values of this year’s festival. He said: "Every country and every culture has its own typical beauty which will be doubled when it interacts with other countries. The spirit of the Asia-Pacific Poetry Festival and Vietnamese Poetry Day focuses this year on Vietnam’s peace and independence. The beauty of daily life involving love and devotion to homeland is another highlight of the event.”

The festival is part of a series to promote Vietnamese literature overseas taking place in Hanoi and northern Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh province between March 1 and March 7. Other events include an International Conference on Vietnamese literacy promotion and Vietnamese Poetry Day.