Mekong river literature award presented

Writer Huu Thinh (right) gives the award to a female writer at the ceremony held in Hanoi on June 15

The winning works included short stories collections, novels and poetry collections reflecting friendships between peoples in the region.

Two Vietnamese authors won awards, namely writer Le Van Vong with the short story collection Nhip Cau (Bridge) and writer Nguyen Ngoc Moc for the novel Nguoi Ve Tu Song Nam Non (Returning from Nam Non River).

Following the initiation of Vietnamese Writers’ Association, leaders of writers’ associations of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia met on October 6, 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City. The participants at the meeting decided to establish the Mekong River Literature Award to honour writers from the countries. The member countries then have taken turns to host the awards ceremony.

The first ceremony was held in October 2007 in Hanoi, where 15 writers from three nations were awarded.

“Over the past ten years, from three founding members, the event has gathered six countries in the Mekong Delta region,” said Huu Thinh, Chairman of Vietnam Literature and Arts Association. According to him, more than 100 works have been honoured over the past nine awarding ceremonies among more and more competing works every year.

“The award has helped strengthen the relationship between the neighbouring countries, praise values of cultures and make the cultures closer to one another,” he said.