Deputy Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee (first left) Le Hong Son and Sports & Culture's Editor-in-Chief Le Xuan Thanh (first right) give The Grand Prize to musician Hong Dang's relatives. Photo courtesy of the organisation board

The Grand Prize is among awards announced at the 14th Bùi Xuân Phái -- For the Love of Hà Nội Awards by Thể Thao & Văn Hóa (Culture & Sports) daily.

The awards were launched in 2008 by the paper and family of the late artist Bui Xuan Phai. 

The awards aim to honour the contributions of individuals and organisations to Hanoi and their love for the capital city. 

Musician Dang is honoured for his compositions about Hanoi including two prominent songs entitled Hoa Sữa (Milkwood Pine Flower) and Kỷ Niệm Thành Phố Tuổi Thơ (Memories of Childhood City). 

The song Hoa Sữa served as the main soundtrack for the movie Hà Nội Mùa Chim Làm Tổ (Nesting Season in Hanoi) in 1978. 

Like many famous songs that were originally from the movie, Hoa Sữa became popular even though the lyrics do not include the word Hanoi.

Born in Yen Thanh District, the central province of Nghe An, Dang came to Hanoi to study at the first generation of Vietnam National Academy of Music. 

"The jury made a good decision to give the Grand Prize to musician Hong Dang," said Do Hong Quan, chairman of Vietnam Union of Literary and Arts Associations. 

"In the context of the pandemic, the honour of a musician proves that music has the effect of encouraging the spirit and refreshing the human soul."

At the awards ceremony held in Hanoi yesterday, three other awards were given, including The Work Prize; The Job Prize and The Idea Prize. 

German photographer Thomas Billhardt took The Work Prize for his photo book and photo exhibition Hà Nội 1967-1975.

His photo exhibition held last October introduced for the first time in Vietnam some 130 black-and-white and colour photos taken during his trips to the country. The exhibition provides an honest view of the city from 1967 to 1975.

"This wonderful award is not for me and my photos," Billhardt said in a video message.

"It also honours the book designers, the publisher, Goethe Institute in Vietnam and for all involved to do this project."

Two nominations out of four in total are given The Idea Prize. The winners are the idea of building an underground highway and renovating the To Lich River into a historical, cultural and spiritual park and the Red River urban subdivision planning project. 

The To Lich River project was initiated by Nhat Viet Environment Company. It made a proposal to the Hanoi authorities to recover the river, which was once one of the capital city’s most beautiful.

Meanwhile, the Red River project highlights a fresh environment in the future riverside city. About 70 per cent of the area ideally will be for tree growing and public space. 

Beating two strong contenders in The Job Prize, the COVID-19 vaccination campaign and efforts of Hanoi City's COVID-19 prevention and control forces was the winner.

Source: Vietnam News

Composer wins award for work dedicated to Hanoi

The annual Bui Xuan Phai – Love for Hanoi prizes were announced on Wednesday at the Vietnam News Agency headquarters in Hanoi.