82 poets from 28 countries around the world gathered in northern Quang Ninh province this morning to take part in the first Asia Pacific Poetry Festival.

The opening ceremony of the five-day festival was held in Ha Long City, which was recently recognised as one of the world's natural wonders. The poets took part in a bilingual conference on Vietnamese and English this morning titled 'Poetry for a Peaceful, Co-operative and Developed Asia-Pacific'.

The festival draws the participation of prominent and globally acclaimed poets, including Canada's Susan Blanshard, a member of the International Pen Women Writers' Committee; China's Tian Xiao Hua and Israel's Naim Araidi, a founder of the International Poetry Festival in Maghar.

The famous contemporary poet Ko Un from South Korea, a candidate for the Nobel prize in literature last year, is also attending the festival along with 40 Vietnamese poets.

Nguyen Quang Thieu, vice-chairman of the Viet Nam Writers' Association, said poems penned by participants had been translated into English and Vietnamese to help readers understand and enjoy the work on show at the event.

During the festival, foreign poets will meet and exchange ideas with Vietnamese poets and readers. International poetry nights will be held in Ha Long tomorrow night and in Ha Noi on Saturday.

Guests and hosts will join in celebrations of Vietnamese Poetry Day, which falls on Sunday, on the 15th day of the first lunar month, and meet Viet Nam's president Truong Tan Sang. This event will attract more tourists to Quang Ninh, Halong bay and develop Vietnam tourism.