The award ceremony for literary and artistic criticism works published in 2024, organized by the Central Theoretical Council, was held solemnly at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.
The event not only reviewed a year full of significant milestones but also looked forward to 2026 with hopes for a new phase of development in Vietnam’s culture and arts. It was an occasion to affirm the special role of literary and artistic criticism in guiding creativity, enhancing the aesthetic life of society, and safeguarding the ideological foundation of the Party in the field of literature and art.
Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Thắng, Member of the Politburo, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, delivering a speech at the ceremony.
Sixteen press agencies, journals, and publishing houses were honored for their important contributions to promoting, disseminating, and improving the quality of literary and artistic criticism. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Thắng, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, emphasized that the awards not only recognize scholarly achievements but also provide an opportunity to reflect on nearly 40 years of literature and arts accompanying the country’s Renovation (Đổi Mới) prAocess and nearly 20 years of implementing Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW.
He stated that as the country steps into a new era of development, literary and artistic criticism must undergo profound innovation in both thinking and methodology, remaining steadfast in the Party’s ideological foundation while ensuring freedom and democracy in creativity. Criticism should inspire dedication and creativity among artists, enhance scientific rigor, persuasiveness, and critical engagement, become a core force in defending the ideological front, and adapt to digital transformation to spread cultural and artistic values to a broader audience.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Thế Kỷ, former Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department and Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, noted that this year’s selection results clearly reflect the maturity of the field in both quantity and quality. The evaluation process has increasingly delved deeper, timely addressing new issues arising from cultural and artistic life, especially the relationship between literature, arts, cultural industries, and modern technology. The success of the awards rests not only on rigorous selection procedures but also on the persistent effort, professional dedication, and social responsibility of scholars, alongside the support of press and publishing agencies in disseminating academic value.
Sixteen press agencies and publishing houses were awarded by the Central Theoretical Council in recognition of their contributions to promoting, disseminating, and enhancing the quality of literary and artistic criticism.
Since 2010, over 11 rounds of selection, the awards have received nearly 1,000 research works in various forms, including monographs, scientific studies, and articles in newspapers and specialized journals, with 241 exemplary works honored. This year, the Council awarded 23 works across levels A, B, C, and Encouragement, maintaining a multi-tier structure that balances rigorous academic evaluation with motivating researchers to continue innovating methods and perspectives.
A notable feature this year is the balance between studies on literature and other art forms such as music, cinema, theater, dance, and photography, as well as contemporary cultural issues like cultural industries and heritage. This demonstrates that literary and artistic criticism is expanding its scope, offering multidimensional and in-depth reflections on the country’s rich artistic life.
Two works achieved the highest A-level award, standing out for their scholarly depth. Researcher Bùi Trọng Hiền, with Ả đào – A Study on History and Tonal Systems, devoted nearly nine years to elucidating the historical, musical, and cultural value of Ả đào art, contributing to heritage preservation and providing foundational knowledge of Vietnam’s cultural life. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trần Văn Toàn, with Literature as Discourse, applied Michel Foucault’s discourse theory to open new approaches in Vietnamese literary history research, allowing deeper analysis of literary phenomena and enriching theoretical thinking in the context of global integration.
In addition to outstanding authors, the Council also honored 16 exemplary press agencies, journals, and publishing houses, affirming the crucial role of the media and publishing in disseminating scholarly research to society, bridging researchers and creators with the public, and fostering a healthy, open, and substantive academic environment.
Overall, the selection and awarding process shows that the event is not only a celebration of scholarly works but also a convergence of intellect, responsibility, and dedication from the community of literary and artistic critics. In the context of the growing cultural industry and digital technology, the awards reaffirm the essential role of criticism in guiding creativity, safeguarding core values, and building a progressive Vietnamese culture and arts that are rich in national identity and meet the requirements of sustainable development.
Military Arts and Literature Magazine received one collective award and three individual awards, including a B-level award for Dr. Nguyễn Thanh Tâm with Vietnamese Poetry after 1975: Appearance and Identity; two C-level awards went to writer Phùng Văn Khai for 80 Faces of Artists and critic Hoàng Đăng Khoa for Ngắn dần đều. These awards recognize the serious scholarly efforts and contributions of individuals and organizations to the development of literary and artistic criticism in Vietnam.
Translated by MINH KIÊN
VNQD