The 2015 Literature and Art Prizes were awarded to 67 works of literature, fine arts, music, cinema, photo-graphy, dance, folk art and theatrical art yesterday.

The award ceremony.

The awards honour members of literature and art associations throughout the country.

The award system is divided into the categories A, B, C and Encouragement, as well as special prizes for young authors.

Prize A in literature was given to Phan Duy Nhan, 76, for his poetry collection titled Phan Duy Nhan – Poetry and Life.

He published poems in the 1950s in patriotic youth magazines in Quang Nam and Da Nang, and then Sai Gon (now HCM City).

Nhan used to be among the most active members of anti-American youth movements in southern cities before the fall of Sai Gon in 1975.

Photographer Nguyen Trung Kien from southern province of Can Tho received Prize A for photography this year for Thang Hoa (Peak Moment) featuring a pop singer in a music show.

The photo had been awarded Gold Medal at the Viet Nam International Photo Contest 2015.

According to chairman of the Viet Nam Union of Literature and Arts Associations Nguyen Huu Thinh, the quality of entries this year is better than the previous ones.

"Awarded works really represent the whole literature and art scene in the country," he said.

"The annual prize reflects consolidarity among artists and helps discover young talents. The entries show professionalism and hard work by artists."

All the entries were published and displayed at exhibitions throughout last year and received warm welcomes from the public.

Many entries focused on domestic hot issues including national territorial sovereignty.

VNS