On the morning of March 10, the awards of the Vietnam Writers' Association were awarded to authors in the genres of prose, poetry, literary criticism, translation, children's literature...
Accordingly, the novel "Promised Land" by writer Le Thanh Ky won an award in prose. In the poetry category, the Vietnam Writers' Association award was given to 2 authors, "Scent from Pain" by poet Hoang Thuy Anh (Hoang Thi Quynh Anh), and the poetry collection "On the Hairline" by poet Trang Thanh (Tran Thi Thanh).
In the Content of Theory and Criticism, the 2025 Vietnam Writers' Association Award is awarded to the work "Literature as a discourse" by author Tran Van Toan.
The two translation works awarded are, "White Crane Spreading Wings" (author Tawada Yoko) for translator An Nhien, and "Song of Solomon" (author Toni Morrison) translated by translator Thien Nga.
In the Children's Literature category, the work "Panduranga Prairie" by author Le Duc Duong won the award.
Receiving the Vietnam Writers' Association award for the novel "Promised Land", writer Le Thanh Ky shared with Lao Dong reporters that he currently lives in Phu Ly ward (former Ha Nam) – now belonging to Ninh Binh province. This morning, he woke up early, took a bus from Phu Ly to Hanoi to attend the award ceremony of the Vietnam Writers' Association.
Author Le Thanh Ky has a mechanical workshop for a long time in his hometown of Phu Ly. He has a great passion for literature, often writes and has short stories published in many newspapers, this is the 2nd time he has won an award from the Vietnam Writers' Association.
This year, winning the award of the Vietnam Writers' Association, I am very happy and proud. I wrote the novel "Promised Land" with all my worries, reflections, and experiences of myself and those around me. My novel revolves around the lives of manual laborers, who have to struggle to make a living. I also had to struggle to make a living, witnessed many friends and people around me having to do all kinds of jobs to earn a living, they have to bear great pressure from life and urban speed. Each fate, each life has made me feel heavy, and put them on the writing page" - author Le Thanh Ky said.
Answering the question about the fact that award-winning works are little known, little read, and not widely promoted, author Le Thanh Ky said, "I understand the "rules of the game" of art. Thousands of students learn vocals but only 10 can become singers, out of 10 who become singers, only 2-3 become famous. Writing is also the same, it's not like having a good work - will be famous, or will sell well. I can only do my job best, which is writing. Other things are beyond my reach".
Winning the prize in the poetry category with the poetry collection "Perfume from Pain", poet Hoang Thuy Anh (real name Hoang Thi Quynh Anh) shared that she wrote the poems with real pain, with the fragments of human life when receiving news of a terminal illness, and only having very short time to live. It was in that most difficult and desperate time that the author wrote poetry - when fighting against illness every day. So that today, pain has turned into a smile.
