Vietnamese authors Nguyen Binh Phuong and Nguyen Mot have been honored with the Southeast Asian Writers Award (S.E.A. Write Award) for 2022-2023, presented by the Royal Family of Thailand and the Writers' Association of Thailand.
Writer Nguyen Binh Phương (third from right) poses with fellow award-winning authors at the S.E.A Write Award ceremony in Bangkok on November 25. Photo: Vietnam News Agency
Nguyen Binh Phuong, born in 1965 in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, is currently the editor-in-chief of the Military Literature Magazine. He received the S.E.A Write Award 2022 for his novel Mot Vi Du Xoang [A Mediocre Example], which also won the Vietnam Writers Association Award in 2021.
Phuong has published six novels, including Nhung Dua Tre Chet Gia [The Children Who Die Old] and Minh Va Ho [Us and Them], as well as five poetry collections, such as Buoi Cau Ho Hung [The Indifferent Fishing Session]. His works have been translated into English, French, and Korean.
The S.E.A Write Award is regarded as one of the most prestigious literary events in the region, celebrating the works of contemporary poets and authors from 10 ASEAN countries.
The award ceremony took place on the evening of November 25 in Bangkok, attended by 17 award-winning writers and poets from nine countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. The event also drew a large audience of diplomats, scholars, and literary enthusiasts.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency in Bangkok, Nguyen Mot expressed that the significance of this literary award lies in its ability to bring people closer together through literature, fostering greater understanding and cultural exchange. He also hopes for the establishment of a similar award in Vietnam to promote cultural exchange, especially in literature.
Established in 1979, the S.E.A Write Award honors the works of contemporary poets and authors from ASEAN countries, solidifying its status as one of the region's most esteemed literary events.
DO HUONG
VNQD