President attends celebration of 200th birth anniversary of blind poet
(VOVWORLD) -President Nguyen Xuan Phuc highlighted the significant contributions of blind poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu to Vietnamese literature, education, and culture while attending the celebration of Chieu’s 200th birth anniversary on Friday.
 State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the celebration (Photo: VOV) |
Mr. Phuc said that despite his blindness, Nguyen Dinh Chieu was a popular medical practitioner, teacher, and influential poet during the French colonial period. He said: “Studies should be conducted to shed more light on Nguyen Dinh Chieu’s writing. The poet’s work should be promoted widely in Vietnam and abroad, and the legacy of his life and career digitized. This celebration is to honor Nguyen Dinh Chieu’s dedication to the culture of Vietnam and to draw lessons for Vietnam’s future national development.”
At the celebration, UNESCO Chief Representative in Vietnam Christian Manhart presented to the province a resolution honoring the poet.
Nguyen Dinh Chieu was born in Gia Dinh province (now Ho Chi Minh City). He was known for his nationalist and anti-colonial writings against the French and his exemplary teaching, and was also a popular medical practitioner. He is a role model for people with disabilities around the world.