On the afternoon of October 10, the award ceremony of the 1st Literature and Arts Magazine novel Composition Contest (2023-2025) was held in Hanoi.
The judges are prestigious, experienced and passionate writers and critics of contemporary Vietnamese literature. The members of the Jury include: Writer Hoang Quoc Hai, advisor to the Jury; Writer, critic Bui Viet Thang, Head of the Jury; Writer Nguyen Bac Son; Writer, critic Nguyen Thanh Tu; Writer, critic Bich Thu; Writer Vo Thi Xuan Ha.
Writer and journalist Hoang Du - Editor-in-Chief of the Literature and Arts Times, Head of the Organizing Committee affirmed that the contest strictly prohibits "playing for awards", promoting the spirit of transparency. Mr. Hoang Du emphasized that this is an unprecedented novel contest in Vietnam organized by a newspaper since 1945.
Previously, the Vietnam Writers' Association organized 5 novel contests over the past 20 years (1998-2019). The Executive Committee of the 10th Executive Committee of the Vietnam Writers' Association (2020-2025) temporarily suspended the novel contest to focus on children's literature, young literature, literature export, and award organization projects. Therefore, he assessed the contest as a vivid testament to the enduring vitality of the novel - a genre considered the "backbone" of Vietnamese literature. At the same time, it clearly demonstrates the spirit of attachment and companionship of the team of writers of many generations for the contemporary writing movement.
People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, President of the Vietnam Association of Stage Artists, assessed the contest as a valuable cultural initiative, a creative way, not only continuing the tradition of previous creative movements, but also sending hope for the future of Vietnamese novels.
The contest was attended by many authors from different ages. The oldest author born in 1937, this year is 88 years old; there are 2 youngest authors who are high school students, there are 91 male authors, 32 female authors, including 1 nun.
These are numbers that reflect the strong vitality and influence of the novel in today's literary life. The contest gathered a diverse creative force in style and age.
The Head of the Organizing Committee said that the criteria for the first prize are based on ideology, theme, artistic tricks, character image and important messages sent to life. After a serious, objective and responsible judging process, the Jury unanimously determined that this year's competition did not have a truly outstanding work worthy of receiving the First Prize.
However, this does not reduce the value or significance of the contest, but rather affirms the spirit of fairness, transparency and standards that the Jury and the Organizing Committee always uphold.
The Organizing Committee has decided to award 12 official prizes including: 3 Second prizes, 4 Third prizes and 5 Encouragement prizes, at the same time, awarded 1 Special Prize from the Jury and 11 Accompanying Prizes from the Organizing Committee, to recognize the contributions and commitment of the authors to the contest.
Of which, 3 novels won Second Prizes including: Thuong ngan - Author: Vinh Quyen; Vien Da Long Duong - Author: Bui Viet Sy; Phu Sa Dung - Author: Nguyen Trong Tan.
The 4 novels that won the Third Prize include: The Separation of paintings - Author: Thien Son; The North Gate Church bell - Author: Nguyen Dac Nhu; Story of the Death/Story - Author: Le Hoai Nam; Scent of Straw - Author: Dao Quoc Vinh.
5 novels won the Encouragement Prize include: Research of Time - Author: Ha Pham Phu; The Wind of the Forest Visiting the Abyss - Author: Dang Ba Canh; Living Under the Sun - Author: Vien Kieu Nga; Half step 700 years - Author: Thanh Chau; Cuc giau dong - Author: Pham Giai Quynh.
The Dedication Award of the Jury was awarded to the novel "Him Lam Moon" - Author: Chau La Viet.
The Jury's accompanying awards for 11 works: "Dai Viet Hero"; "Golden Seeds"; "Picking Up People's balls"; "Only Love Sends"; "Crash"; "Falling in Love"; "Viet Que Border"; "Salt Forest"; "The King without Throne"; "Where I belong"; "The call of the Long".
