It consists of 365 pages, each of which has a picture illustrating each paragraph of the poem. The pictures are painted by artist Huu Hieu and partners during a two-year period.
The Tale of Kieu, whose original title in Vietnamese is Doan Truong Tan Thanh (A New Cry From a Broken Heart), is an epic poem in Vietnamese and is widely regarded as the most significant work of Vietnamese literature.
Written in luc bat ("six–eight") metre, the poem recounts the life, trials and tribulations of Thuy Kieu, a beautiful and talented young woman who had to sacrifice herself to save her family.
Besides its editions in Nom and the national language, the poem has been translated into various languages worldwide, including Japan, French, English and German, as well as Swidish, Polish and Romanian.
