Page turner: Collection of short stories City Away by Nguyen Thi Thu Hue won the Viet Nam Writers Association Prize 2012.

HA NOI (VNS)— The Viet Nam Writers Association awarded its annual prizes for the categories of literary, poetry and critical theory yesterday at the Writers Association Museum.

Five prizes were presented for works by members of the association including a collection of short stories entitled Thanh Pho Di Vang (City Away) by Nguyen Thi Thu Hue; three collections of poems by Thanh Thao, Tran Quang Quy and Pham Duong; as well as a critique of literature theory Da Cuc va Diem Den (Multipolar and Destination) by Van Chinh.

Other works were awarded certificates of merit including novel Tro Choi Huy Diet Cam Xuc (Games Destructive Feelings) by writer Y Ban; historical novel The Ky Bi Mat (A Lost Century) by Pham Ngoc Canh Nam and two collections of poems by Khuat Binh Nguyen and Phan Hoang.

"The award-winning works show an aspect of literature during the year 2012 that is a renewal and diversification of creativity," said poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, vice-chairman of the association.

Writer Hue's collection of short stories City Away tells about loss which is ignored by people in their busy lives.

"We experienced the wars to have peaceful lives that are lost in a developing society due the scramble of modern living," Hue said.

Born in 1966 in the southern province of Ben Tre, Hue quickly became known for her short stories and poems.

She has won many prizes at the national writing contests.

"It's great that my work is welcomed by my colleagues as well as the readers, during the years, I'm still writing. Writing gives me another life," Hue said at the prize awarding ceremony.

The City Away accolade earns Hue an outstanding position among Vietnamese modern writers, according to Thieu.

"Through the work, the writer proves her view to penetrate each person in each house discovering different angles of life," said Thieu.

The prize-winners will receive a cash prize worth VND20 million (US$1,000) each. — VNS