Artefacts are "storytellers" of Literature

Update: 16/08/2023

(TITC) - Located in a small alley, quite far from the city centre areas, yet, the Vietnam Literature Museum has never been forgotten. Especially when here on weekends there are always literary tours. We often hear, often read about works, writers and poets through books, newspapers, but with the night tour "Chu Tai, Chu Tam" (characters meaning “talent”, “heart”), the artefacts at the museum are the true and most realistic "storytellers".

The night tours of the Museum of Literature can be compared to a gift-opening journey, each display area is a box containing memorabilia.

(Photo: Vietnam Literature Museum)

Here, you can see firsthand the development journey of the writing of ethnic groups in Vietnam. From sinology characters, ancient demotic script characters, Quoc Ngu characters (Vietnamese Roman alphabet or National language) printed on dó paper (mulberry paper), engraved on boards, and bronze books. Or the 200-year-old "leaf book" of the Thai, Cham, and Khmer ethnic groups; Cham letters on cloth; demotic script of Tay and Dao groups…

A booth displaying the craft of making dó paper (mulberry paper) and paper written on leaves of the ethnic people (Photo: Vietnam Literature Museum)

Artefacts associated with the literary life of famous authors, from mediaeval to modern times: such as Le Quy Don, Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Nguyen Huy Tuong, Nguyen Tuan, Xuan Dieu, To Huu, Van Cao, President Ho Chi Minh... all display here.

What is the wooden table that the great poet Nguyen Du used to write poetry and literature on during his days spending in Thai Binh - His wife's hometown? The cane is engraved with place names, a testament to the mobilityism that Nguyen Tuan pursues? Or do you know why poet Te Hanh has a whole collection of magnifying glasses given by friends? Then the bicycle that writer Nguyen Minh Chau used until his death, now only a rusty frame? Treasures of President Ho Chi Minh's compositions? All will be answered in detail in this journey of discovery.

The table Nguyen Du used to sit and compose; The magnifying glass in the memento of Te Hanh; The Nguyen Tuan’s cane engraved with the place names (Photo: Vietnam Literature Museum)

In addition, visitors can also listen to the eloquent and lively voice of Nam Quốc Sơn Hà, Bình Ngô Đại Cáo (versions of the Declaration of Independence in 11th century under Ly dynasty and in in 15th century under Le dynasty), see Chi Pheo - Thi No (characters of literature work of Nam Cao) and the love story from a bowl of onion porridge... At the end of the visit there will be activities for you to write your own calligraphy, crossword puzzles, tea ceremony…