(VOVWORLD) - People’s Artist Vu Thi Kim Dung dedicated more than half a century to the art of poetry recitation. She brought verses to millions of listeners through the Poetry program on the Voice of Vietnam. Dung’s recitations evoked memories and history.
 People's Artist Vu Thi Kim Dung |
The deep, warm, emotional voice of People’s Artist Kim Dung captivated generations of audiences.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Kim Dung, along with other poetry reciters like Chau Loan, Linh Nham, and Tran Thi Tuyet, created a distinctive identity for the Poetry program on the Voice of Vietnam. Journalist Tran Nhat Minh, Head of the Literature-Arts-Music Department, regarded Kim Dung as one of the best poetry recitation voices in VOV’s history.
“Many people agreed that Kim Dung possessed a golden voice and a technical mastery of poetry recitation. She elevated poetry recitation to a new height and brought poetry to the public and to soldiers in the field. Thanks to artists like her, the Voice of Vietnam's cultural broadcasts gained prestige and a reputation for quality. Even today we continue to use her recorded works, which still remain popular on air,” said Minh.
Born in 1945 in Nam Dinh, Kim Dung developed a passion for the arts at a young age. At 16 she was admitted to the Central Cai Luong (reformed opera) Troupe. Instead of pursuing a theatrical career like her peers, she chose poetry recitation, which is an art form that demands no formal training but requires emotional sensitivity and strong expressive ability. Kim Dung said recitation is not merely performance, it’s a matter of understanding, empathizing with, and merging yourself with each poem.
“To master poetry recitation, one must convey emotions to the audience. In traditional culture, the poetry reciter needs to know how to select the right melody to convey the work so the listeners can feel it,” said Dung.
Kim Dung’s voice resonated in hundreds of radio programs and live performances across Vietnam, in wartime and peacetime. She had a special connection to President Ho Chi Minh’s Prison Diary, dedicating herself to reciting the entire collection. She said “Ho Chi Minh’s poetry embodies profound humanity, wisdom, and compassion.”
Kim Dung was distinguished not only by her golden voice but also by her meticulousness and discipline in both art and life. To her colleagues and students, she was a role model. Professionally, Kim Dung was deeply committed to her work. Even after retirement, she remained passionate about contributing to the arts. She recorded The Tale of Kieu by the great poet Nguyen Du and presented it to the Voice of Vietnam, later donating a copy to the Ha Tinh People’s Committee on the 250th anniversary of Nguyen Du’s birth. With her passion for Ca Tru (ceremonial singing), she studied with the two legendary artists Quach Thi Ho and Nguyen Thi Phuc, and personally recorded 20 Ca Tru pieces. Journalist Tran Nhat Minh called her a true artist who lived and worked with absolute dedication.
“She was a true artist, passionate about her profession and always conducted herself with utmost professionalism. I learned a great deal from her—not just about the profession but also about the heart and responsibility required to uphold the quality of radio broadcasting,” said Minh.
 People's Artist Vu Thi Kim Dung meets Tran Nhat Minh, Head of the Literature-Arts-Music Department when she returns to Vietnam to receive the People's Artist title in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Tran Nhat Minh) |
After retiring in 2000, Kim Dung moved to the Czech Republic to live with her children and grandchildren. She continued performing for the Vietnamese community there, and mentored several students who were inspired by her poem recitations.
Nguyen Anh Tuan, who now lives and works in Boston in the US, said he has admired Vu Thi Kim Dung since his school days. “When I left Vietnam for Boston, the poem recitation voice of Kim Dung accompanied me. It was the voice of my homeland, my people, and my country. Her renditions of Pure Con Sơn and the Homeland were simple, but profoundly moving and evocative.”
People’s Artist Vu Thi Kim Dung passed away last Wednesday in the Czech Republic at the age of 80. Her passing left a deep void in the hearts of poetry lovers and people who cherished the VOV Poetry program—where for decades her voice was a iconic symbol of Vietnamese culture.