Three photojournalists of VNA honoured

HA NOI — President Tran Dai Quang has presented Ho Chi Minh Awards and State Awards for Literature and Art to outstanding works from three photojournalists of Vietnam News Agency, along with more than 50 other authors and artists.

The three journalists from Vietnam News Agency have been honoured for their photos taken during the American war.

Late journalist Luong Nghia Dung (1935-1972), who worked as a war reporter of Vietnam News Agency during the American war, was given the Ho Chi Minh Award for his collection of five photos, entitled Nhung Khoanh Khac De Lai (The Left Moments). The five photos feature Vietnamese soldiers during war. He died on Quang Tri battlefield in 1972.

Lam Tan Tai (1935-2001) was honoured with a State award for photos taken from his two photobooks about the war. The first one is entitled Duong Ho Chi Minh (Ho Chi Minh Trail) also known as Truong Son Rail. This featured the logistical system that ran from North Viet Nam to South Viet Nam through neighbouring Laos and Cambodia. The system provided support, in the form of manpower and materials to the National Front of the Liberation of South Viet Nam and the People’s Army of Viet Nam, or North Vietnamese Army.

Hua Thanh Kiem was given the State award for his photo collection entitled Duong 20- Quyet Thang (Road 20- Quyet Thang). This road, connecting East Truong Son Road to West Truong Son Road, was nicknamed the “fire” road as it was regularly bombed by the US.

Held for the first time in 1996, the Ho Chi Minh Awards and the State Awards for Literature and Art are presented to writers and artists who have made important contributions to the country’s cultural development.

The Ho Chi Minh Award is the most prestigious award of Viet Nam for art.

An awards ceremony will be held at Ha Noi’s Opera House on May 19 (May 19 marks the 137th anniversary birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh). — VNS