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It's been a long day: The cover of the prize-winning novel Mot Ngay La Muoi Nam (One Day Is Ten Years) and its author, Pham Quang Dau. — File Photos |
HA NOI — Vietnamese writer Pham Quang Dau won the Mekong Literature Awards for his novel Mot Ngay La Muoi Nam (One Day Is Ten Years).
The awards ceremony for writers in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos was held in Vientiane early this week.
Other prizes went to Ngoc Tu, for his memoir Bao Rung (Forest Hurricane), and Nguyen Chien Thang, for his novel Chu Tu, Con La Ai (Uncle Tu, Who Am I).
Seven other award winners were Mao Sam Nang, Yim Sam Nang and Ven Son from Cambodia; and Somsy Dexakhamphou, Sifeuang Manivong, Somsouk Souksavath and Kavinh Kiengkhamsonny from Laos.
All the entrants served their countries during the Second Indochina War.
The Mekong Literary Awards were first held in Viet Nam in 2007.
Among those attending the event was Laos's Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who said this year's event was particularly important to his country as 2010 marked the 450th anniversary of Vientiane's foundation.
"The Mekong Literature Awards are important because they provide a great opportunity for our three countries to discuss literature," Somsavat said.
The awards have helped to boost relations between the three Mekong countries, he added.
He went on to urge those with war memories to write about their experiences.
"We want people to understand our brave history, especially our younger generation," he said.
Meanwhile, poet Huu Thinh, who is chairman of Viet Nam Writers' Association, said he and other Vietnamese writers would do their best to boost literature and spirituality in the three countries. — VNS