The soul of Vietnam through poetry, Vo Thi Nhu Mai as cultural bridge in Australia
WVR - For more than 20 years in Perth, Western Australia, poet and translator Vo Thi Nhu Mai has built a unique creative path while quietly becoming a cultural ambassador - using poetry and language to bridge Vietnam and Australia, and to preserve the richness of Vietnamese heritage abroad.
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| Poet and translator Vo Thi Nhu Mai receives a Certificate of Commendation from the Consulate General of Vietnam in Perth for her contributions to promoting Vietnamese culture through poetry and language. (Photo: Consulate General of Vietnam in Perth) |
On May 7, the Consulate General of Vietnam in Perth awarded a Certificate of Commendation to Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Mai in recognition of her enduring contributions to promoting Vietnamese culture through poetry and language.
The ceremony gathered representatives from cultural, educational, and media organizations, as well as members of the Vietnamese community in Australia — highlighting the strong bond between diaspora efforts and the preservation of national identity.
A prolific author, translator, editor, and curator of numerous literary and publishing projects, Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Mai is especially known for her bilingual poetry collections that encapsulate the rhythm, nuance, and spirit of Vietnamese cultural traditions. Works such as The rhythms of Vietnam, The graceful folders of time, and other bilingual anthologies have played a significant role in introducing Vietnamese literature to international audiences.
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| Some works of Vo Thi Nhu Mai. (Photo: Consulate General of Vietnam in Perth) |
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Consul General Nguyen Thanh Ha praised the Vietnamese community in Western Australia for their contributions to preserving traditional cultural identity and maintaining strong ties to the homeland. In particular, she commended Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Mai for her active role in promoting Vietnamese language and culture through literature.
Consul General Nguyen Thanh Ha also acknowledged Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Mai’s participation in the 2024 National External Information Service Awards, noting the originality and cultural depth of the works she submitted.
The Consul General expressed hope that both Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Mai and the broader Vietnamese-Australian community would continue to nurture efforts to preserve the Vietnamese language and cultural values — contributing to the community’s development, resilience, and integration into Australia’s multicultural society.
In her heartfelt remarks, Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Mai humbly shared: “I am simply someone who collects and cherishes every voice, every emotion, and every blooming season in the hearts of friends and the community.
The works I have translated and edited are not merely personal achievements, but the result of friendship, collaboration, and a shared belief in the beauty of Vietnamese literature in a diverse world.”
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| For Vo Thi Nhu Mai, language is the breath of culture – every translation, every published book is a bridge across borders, connecting hearts and nurturing Vietnamese identity. (Photo: European Poetry) |
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