A group of folk music artists have gathered together in a project honouring Vietnam’s 18th century masterpiece ‘Truyen Kieu’ (Tale of Kieu) by celebrated poet Nguyen Du (1765-1820). People’s Artists Thanh Hoai (centre) reciting an extract from ‘The Tale of Kieu’. Under the project, all 3,254 verses of the epic poem were recited and recorded in a total time of 561 minutes. Across 3,254 verses, written in luc bat ("six–eight") meter, the ‘Tale of Kieu’ is widely regarded as the most significant work of Vietnamese literature. The poem recounts the life, trials and tribulations of Thuy Kieu, a beautiful and talented young woman, who has to sacrifice herself to save her family.
