Nguyen Du

There's no Vietnamese person that hasn't heard of Nguyen Du, who is widely regarded as among the greatest Vietnamese writers of all time!

Born in 1766, Nguyen Du is best known for his epic poem, "The Tale of Kieu," (Truyện Kiều) - considered by millions of Vietnamese readers and even international critics as the pinnacle of Vietnamese literature.

"The Tale of Kieu" tells the story of a young woman named Kieu who faces numerous hardships in her life, including being sold into prostitution to save her family from financial ruin. The poem is a masterpiece of Vietnamese literary work, with its beautiful language, intricate plot, themes of love, sacrifice, and the search for spiritual enlightenment!

And the story doesn't end there; Nguyen Du's contribution to Vietnamese literature goes beyond just "The Tale of Kieu." He was also a prolific writer who produced many other works in other genres, such as essays and historical texts. His writing style was characterized by a combination of traditional Vietnamese literary techniques, combining folk poetry and legends and small degrees of Chinese literary influence to create a unique blend that is distinctly Vietnamese.

In addition to his literary achievements, Nguyen Du was also an important cultural figure, holding various government positions during his lifetime. His legacy continues to inspire generations of Vietnamese writers and intellectuals, and his work remains an important part of the country's literary and cultural heritage.

Age: 1766 - 1820

Most famous works: The Tale of Kieu (Truyện Kiều), Various Poems Made in the South (Bắc hành Tạp lục), Literature of the Ten Kinds of Beings (Văn tế Thập loại Chúng sinh)