On the evening of March 8, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Central Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization, the Vietnam Publishing Association and Vietnam Television, held the ceremony for the 8th National Book Awards, honoring numerous works of outstanding academic, intellectual and cultural value.

According to the organizers, this year’s awards prioritized book series with long-lasting value and meaningful contributions to the intellectual and spiritual life of society. The jury awarded two A prizes, 17 B prizes, 23 C prizes, five encouragement prizes and five Readers’ Favorite Book awards.

At the highest level, the A prize was awarded to two notable works.

In the category of books by domestic authors, the title “Lich su Viet Nam bang hinh” (Illustrated History of Vietnam) by Dong A and multiple authors, published by the University of Education Publishing House in partnership with Dong A Culture Joint Stock Company, was recognized for its innovative visual approach to presenting national history.

The work offers a panoramic view of the process of nation-building and defense throughout Vietnamese history, from the earliest prehistoric inhabitants on the territory to the formation of a modern nation.

It also introduces the layers of Vietnamese culture from the earliest periods of the Stone Age and Metal Age to the flourishing cultural identity during the Ly and Tran dynasties, continuing through later historical periods.

Through a rich system of images accompanied by concise explanations, the book recreates numerous historical events, figures and famous battles, helping readers better understand major turning points in the nation’s historical journey.

In the translated book category, the A prize was awarded to “The Story of Civilization,” an extensive work by authors Will Durant and Ariel Durant, consisting of 11 parts and 45 volumes.

The Vietnamese edition was translated by Huynh Ngoc Chien, Phan Thanh Luu, Pham Viem Phuong, Bui Thanh Chau, Bui Xuan Linh and Do Lan, and published by the Social Sciences Publishing House in cooperation with the Institute of Education IRED.

This monumental series examines the development of human civilization across history and has been praised for its academic value as well as its contribution to bringing historical and cultural knowledge of the world to Vietnamese readers.

Alongside the main award categories, the organizers also presented the Readers’ Favorite Book awards to five works. These included “Mua do” (Red Rain) by writer Chu Lai; “Thu cho em - Chuyen tinh tuong Hoang Dan va vo qua loi ke con trai” (Letters to You - The Love Story of Hero Hoang Dan and His Wife, Told by Their Son) by Hoang Nam Tien; “Tu duy mo” (Open Mindset) by Nguyen Anh Dung; “Ganh ganh… gong gong…” by Xuan Phuong; and “Kheo khon voi tien tranh nhung uu phien” (Be Wise with Money to Avoid Worries) by Le Thi Thuy Sen.

At the ceremony, Trinh Van Quyet, Head of the Central Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization, congratulated the authors, translators, researchers, publishers and book professionals whose works were honored.

He noted that the National Book Awards have increasingly affirmed their position as a prestigious state award in the publishing sector. The awards recognize works of intellectual, academic, cultural, scientific and artistic value while encouraging authors, translators and publishers to continue creative efforts that contribute to the country’s development.

He also emphasized that over the years the awards have become an important cultural milestone, reflecting the vitality of scholarly life, cultural development and the dedication of those working in the publishing industry.

To further strengthen the publishing sector in the coming period, he urged management agencies, publishers, authors and translators to continue enhancing the intellectual and cultural quality of their works.

He also called for greater innovation and digital transformation in publishing activities, including expanding electronic publishing, audiobooks, digital libraries and modern reading platforms. Technology should be applied more widely in editing, management, distribution and promotion in order to build a modern and professional publishing ecosystem.

At the same time, he stressed that promoting reading culture should remain a core objective and a long-term foundation for developing knowledge and improving human resources.

Reading spaces should be expanded within families, schools, communities and institutions, with particular attention to fostering reading habits among younger generations so that reading becomes both a natural need and a lifelong source of learning inspiration.

Tinh Le