%%Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm (1491-1585) - a great scholar and poet in the 16th century - had Vĩnh Bảo (Hải Dương in the past) as native land. Until his 45th year, he took an examination and graduated as first-rank doctor, then was proclaimed Trình Quốc Công (briefly called Trạng Trình) by Mạc Đăng Dung. He submitted a petition asking the king to behead 18 power-usurping courtiers. Because of the disapproved petition, he resigned and led a secluded life under the pen-name Bạch Vân Cư Sĩ, indulged in making verses and teaching. Thanks to his wide learning on Confucianism, his poems were abundantly realistic and philosophical.