Veteran writer Nguyen Xuan Khanh won the Vietnam Writers AssociationBook of the Year prize for his novel Doi Gao Len Chua (Bring Rice to thePagoda).
The association annual awards for 2011 alsopresented prizes to author Dinh Kinh for his novel Huyen Thoai Tau KhongSo (Legend of the Ships with No Register Numbers), poets Do Doan Phuongand Dinh Thi Nhu Thuy and late professor Hoang Ngoc Hien for work onliterary criticism and theory.
Khanh, 80, won the sameprize in 2003. His novel Bring Rice to the Pagoda was published by theWomen's Publishing House and has created a stir in the local literaryscene.
The novel was highly acclaimed by not only literary critics but also the wider reading public.
The novel, which sold out its initial print run and was reprinted twomore times during a three-month period, has also won acclaim forexplaining the origins of Buddhism in Viet Nam .
"Writing about Buddhism is difficult work, but Khanh did not hesitate tochoose this subject," said literary critic Nguyen Thi Minh Thai.
Khanh said he drew on many of his personal experiences to write the novel.
"I was inspired to write the novel when I was in hospital about 35years ago," said Khanh. "At that time, I shared a room with a monk. Themonk was cared for by a military officer who used to be a novice monk atthe sick man's pagoda, and this officer came to look after the seniormonk every day."
The novel highlights the role of Buddhism in tough times, especially during Viet Nam 's struggle for independence.
Two prizes for poets Phuong and Thuy reflected the absence of a poetryprize being awarded during the past three years, according to poetNguyen Quang Thieu.
Phuong, deputy editor-in-chief ofVietnam News Agency's Culture&Sports newspaper, was recognised as atalented young poet, receiving a prize for his poem Hoan Ca (JoyfulSong).
Phuong's collection of 100 poems was written in asimple style, and were highly introspective. "Life is naturally quietand I try to feel the value of this quietness," Phuong said.
"I'm lucky because I'm young. The Vietnam Writers Association in recentyears has paid more attention to young poets. So, the prize for me alsoreflects a belief in the young generation of writers."
The awards ceremony will be held on Vietnam Poetry Day next month at theVan Mieu Quoc Tu Giam ( Literature Temple ) in Hanoi . /.
The association annual awards for 2011 alsopresented prizes to author Dinh Kinh for his novel Huyen Thoai Tau KhongSo (Legend of the Ships with No Register Numbers), poets Do Doan Phuongand Dinh Thi Nhu Thuy and late professor Hoang Ngoc Hien for work onliterary criticism and theory.
Khanh, 80, won the sameprize in 2003. His novel Bring Rice to the Pagoda was published by theWomen's Publishing House and has created a stir in the local literaryscene.
The novel was highly acclaimed by not only literary critics but also the wider reading public.
The novel, which sold out its initial print run and was reprinted twomore times during a three-month period, has also won acclaim forexplaining the origins of Buddhism in Viet Nam .
"Writing about Buddhism is difficult work, but Khanh did not hesitate tochoose this subject," said literary critic Nguyen Thi Minh Thai.
Khanh said he drew on many of his personal experiences to write the novel.
"I was inspired to write the novel when I was in hospital about 35years ago," said Khanh. "At that time, I shared a room with a monk. Themonk was cared for by a military officer who used to be a novice monk atthe sick man's pagoda, and this officer came to look after the seniormonk every day."
The novel highlights the role of Buddhism in tough times, especially during Viet Nam 's struggle for independence.
Two prizes for poets Phuong and Thuy reflected the absence of a poetryprize being awarded during the past three years, according to poetNguyen Quang Thieu.
Phuong, deputy editor-in-chief ofVietnam News Agency's Culture&Sports newspaper, was recognised as atalented young poet, receiving a prize for his poem Hoan Ca (JoyfulSong).
Phuong's collection of 100 poems was written in asimple style, and were highly introspective. "Life is naturally quietand I try to feel the value of this quietness," Phuong said.
"I'm lucky because I'm young. The Vietnam Writers Association in recentyears has paid more attention to young poets. So, the prize for me alsoreflects a belief in the young generation of writers."
The awards ceremony will be held on Vietnam Poetry Day next month at theVan Mieu Quoc Tu Giam ( Literature Temple ) in Hanoi . /.
