VietNamNet newspaper, the Vietnam Writers’ Association and the Vietnam Musicians’ Association on August 16, jointly launched a song and poetry competition entitled “This is Vietnam’s sea”.

From the left: Poet Tran Dang Khoa, writer Nguyen Tri Huan, poet Bui Si Hoa – VietNamNet’s chief editor, composer Do Hong Quan and poet Nguyen Quang Thieu at the launching ceremony in Hanoi.
The contest opens for all Vietnamese people, here and abroad, as well as foreigners living in Vietnam.

At the launching ceremony, poet Bui Sy Hoa, VietNamNet’s editor-in-chief, expressed his hope that both professional and amateur song and poem writers will enthusiastically participate in this competition, to send the voice of the mainland to the country’s remote islands, where are defended by many soldiers and people.

According to Chair of the Vietnam Musicians’ Association, Do Hong Quan, the association held a song writing contest on islands and took composers to Truong Sa (Spratly) islands that received more than 400 songs. He said that the poets and musicians from that round would take part enthusiastically in the new contest.

Vietnamese naval soldiers
Quan also said that “This is Vietnam’s sea” contest is launched at the time the country’s art and literature needs new works. He believed that through VietNamNet, a prestigious newswire in Vietnam, new songs and poems will be judged by the third examiner – Vietnamese audiences.

Writer Nguyen Tri Huan, Vice chair of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, editor-in-chief of the Art and Literature Newspaper, said that “This is Vietnam’s sea” is a new and interest topic, which is very suitable to the current situation, when the whole nation is directed toward the sea.

Famous poet Tran Dang Khoa, said that Vietnamese’s patriotism and their love to the country’s sea is always burning and that love will be further honors through such a competition like “This is Vietnam’s sea”.

Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, vice chair of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, shared: “Writing the best songs and poems about the country, the nation and the sea is showing the deep love to the country. I call for and hope that poets and songwriters who wrote wonderful songs and poems in the wartime to once again give us burning songs and poems. I wish to see beautiful and meaningful works which can compare with the works that have deeply absorbed into the heart and soul of millions of Vietnamese people in the wartime.”

Contestants can send up to two unpublished works to the organisational board by December 15. All the entries will be edited and used by the VietNamNet in accordance with Copyright Law.

The entries can be sent through the post to the VietNamNet office (C'Land Building, 156 Xa Dan 2, Nam Dong Ward, Dong Da District, Ha Noi) or via email to Vnn.vanhoa@gmail.com.

The jury includes composer Do Hong Quan, Chair of the Vietnam Musicians’ Association, senior composer Hong Dang, former Vice chair of the Vietnam Musicians’ Association, senior musician Nguyen Cuong, famous poet/journalist Tran Dang Khoa, chief of the Art and Literature of the radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV), director of the TV channel of VOV, senior poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, vice chair of the Vietnam Musicians’ Association and poet Bui Sy Hoa, chief editor of VietNamNet newspaper.

The following awards will be presented:

Two grand prizes for song and poem: VND50 million ($2,500)
Two first prizes for song and poem: VND30 million ($1,500)
Two second prizes for song and poem: VND20 million ($1,000)
Two third prices for song and poem: VND10 million ($500)
Ten consolation prizes for song and poem: VND5 million ($250)

Ho Huong Giang/Hoa Binh