Cover of the new illustrated edition of Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều) published by Kim Đồng Publishing House. Photo nguoihanoi.vn

HÀ NỘI — A new edition of Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều) by the 18th-century Vietnamese poet Nguyễn Du (1766–1820), featuring distinctly Vietnamese illustrations, has been unveiled by Kim Đồng Publishing House, offering readers a fresh visual journey through the country’s literary masterpiece.

Forty illustrations by artist Nguyễn Công Hoan, a familiar name at Kim Đồng, bring the timeless poetry to life. Hand-painted on delicate xuyến chỉ paper, the artworks use yellow and green tones to evoke an antique atmosphere while depicting iconic scenes such as the sisters Thúy Kiều and Thúy Vân playing music, the Thanh Minh festival, and Kiều’s first encounter with Kim Trọng. Hoan spent more than two years on the collection, reworking many pieces multiple times to achieve the desired effect.

The edition has been warmly received by fellow artists and editors. Painter Tạ Huy Long praised it as a truly Vietnamese interpretation, enriched with familiar details such as willow groves, bamboo clusters, areca palms and banana trees. Editor Nguyễn Thanh Hương highlighted Hoan’s meticulous approach, noting his humility and deep dedication, with each painting infused with passion and care.

This edition not only revives Nguyễn Du’s poetic legacy but also celebrates Việt Nam’s rich artistic traditions, offering a uniquely immersive experience for both long-time admirers and new readers.

An illustration by artist Nguyễn Công Hoan. His forty works infuse this Vietnamese poetic masterpiece with a fresh visual dimension. Photo laodong.vn

The Tale of Kiều has long been woven into the fabric of Việt Nam’s cultural consciousness. Comprising 3,254 verses in the traditional lục bát (six-eight) form, the epic not only traces the turbulent fate of the young woman Thúy Kiều but also showcases Nguyễn Du’s artistic brilliance and deep humanitarian spirit.

Scholar Phạm Quỳnh famously declared: “As long as The Tale of Kiều exists, our language will exist; as long as our language exists, our nation will exist.”

Nguyễn Du’s contribution to world literature received international recognition in 2013, when UNESCO honoured him as a global cultural figure at its 37th General Assembly in Paris. His masterpiece is widely regarded as Việt Nam’s most important literary classic, translated into more than 20 languages and celebrated for its inventive storytelling, independent thought and rich distillation of Vietnamese culture.

Both Truyền Kỳ Mạn Lục (Miscellaneous Records of Strange Tales, left) and The Tale of Kiều are illustrated by artist Nguyễn Công Hoan. Photo laodong.vn

This new illustrated edition marks the 260th anniversary of Nguyễn Du’s birth (1765–2025) and the 205th anniversary of his passing (1820–2025). It also forms part of Kim Đồng Publishing House’s wider effort to make classic works more accessible to younger readers.

Alongside The Tale of Kiều, the publisher has reissued titles such as Lĩnh Nam Chích Quái (Extraordinary Stories from Lĩnh Nam), Truyền Kỳ Mạn Lục (Miscellaneous Records of Strange Tales) and Nam Hải Dị Nhân Liệt Truyện (Stories of Extraordinary People in the Land of Nam Hải).

With this edition, Kim Đồng aims to offer a fresh experience while helping to preserve the enduring cultural significance of The Tale of Kiều in Vietnamese life. — OVN/VNS