On December 15, the Hanoi Writers’ Association held its 2025 year-end conference and unveiled the 2026 agenda. The event included the announcement of its 2025 Literary Awards, the Lifetime Literary Achievement Award, and the Contribution Awards.

In accordance with the Association’s charter, the annual Literary Awards recognize outstanding works in poetry, prose, literary criticism, and translation, published between October 1 of the previous year and September 30 of the award year. This year, only three exemplary works were chosen for recognition.

Three outstanding works awarded in a selective literary year

In the poetry category, the award went to Di ve phia mat troi (Toward the Sun) by poet Le Canh Nhac, published by the Writers’ Association Publishing House in 2024. The collection is noted for its lyrical depth, musicality, and humanist philosophy, steeped in love for the homeland, people, and romantic affection.

The prose award was given to Thi tran ca bong (The Town of Little Fish) by Dinh Phuong, published by the Women’s Publishing House in 2025. The short stories delicately portray characters quietly living with profound longing and unnamed emotions. Though a young writer, Dinh Phuong demonstrates maturity and narrative strength in character development, giving emotional weight to the stories.

In the category of literary translation, the award went to Nhung con bao tuyet (Snowstorms), a bilingual Russian-Vietnamese poetry collection translated by Thai Xuan Nguyen and published by the Writers’ Association Publishing House. The book features 100 poems by Sergei Yesenin, marking the 100th anniversary of the Russian poet’s death (1925–2025). The translation has been highly praised for honoring the beauty of both the original and Vietnamese languages.

Lifetime honor for a voice of resilience and depth

The Lifetime Literary Achievement Award was bestowed upon author Tran Thi Truong, a multifaceted writer in Vietnam’s literary scene. She is well known for novels such as Loi cuoi cho em (The Final Word for You, 1990), Ke mac chung dien (The One With Madness, 1992), and especially Pho Hoai (Hoai Street, 2020). The latter drew acclaim for its narrative structure, stylistic elegance, and deep exploration of urban space and human psychology. Her work consistently explores themes of human dignity, personal identity, and the individual’s relationship with society.

Beyond writing, Tran Thi Truong is also a respected music commentator, literary critic, and visual artist. The fusion of literature, music, and painting in her work contributes to a unique, humanistic artistic voice. She is also known for her civic engagement, having served for many years on the Inspection Committee of the Hanoi Writers’ Association.

In addition, the Contribution Awards were presented to writers Banh Thanh Ban and Nguyen Xuan Tuan for their dedication to Vietnamese literature.

Reflections from the awardees

In a conversation with VietNamNet, poet Le Canh Nhac expressed his emotion upon receiving the award for Toward the Sun. He noted that this year, very few works were recognized - no award was given in the literary criticism category, and only one title was selected per genre.

The poet shared that his collection had previously been nominated in 2024, but he voluntarily withdrew it due to its publication falling outside the award's timeline. This year, it was re-nominated by the poetry council and received unanimous approval from the association's executive board.

Author Tran Thi Truong, also speaking with VietNamNet, remarked that for a writer, whether or not awards come, writing remains an inseparable part of life. Still, receiving collective recognition at the age of 76 brought her profound and cherished emotions after years of quietly creating.

She emphasized that literature has the power to affect society directly, as language is a medium for conveying thought and emotion across all walks of life. In her view, literature also serves as a vital source of inspiration for painting, helping creative energy to flow and elevate.

Tinh Le