Iconic author: Veteran writer Trang The Hy, a leading contemporary writer of southern Viet Nam. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY (VNS) — Author Trang The Hy, one of the region's leading contemporrary writers, died on Tuesday at his home in the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta City of Ben Tre Province. He was 91.

Writer Hy was born Vo Ngoc Canh in 1924 in Ben Tre Province's Chau Thanh District.

He was a participant in wars against France and the US. After 1975, he worked in HCM City.

He was a member of the executive board of HCM City Writers' Association.

In 1992, he moved to live in his native land, Ben Tre.

He was elected the honorary chairman of Ben Tre's Nguyen Dinh Chieu Literature and Arts Association.

Hy wrote several hundred short stories, novels and poems over a period of 60 years.

His most well-known works include Nang Dep Mien Que Ngoai (Bright Sunshine in the Motherland), Mua Am (Warm Rain), Nguoi Yeu Va Mua Thu (Lover and Fall) and Vet Thuong Thu 13 (The 13th Injury).

His collections of short stories, Tieng Khoc Va Tieng Hat ((The Cry and Voice) and Anh Thom Rau Rong (Thom's Story) won literature prizes presented by the Viet Nam Writers Association in 1994 and Nguyen Dinh Chieu Literature and Arts Association in 1965.

All of his works highlight the beautiful mentality and characteristics of southern people, particularly poor farmers.

In September, he signed a lifetime copyright deal with HCM City-based Tre (Youth) Publishing House.

Under the contract, the printer has exclusive rights to the writer's 65 short stories and two novels written before 1983.

E-book versions of six titles of works, including English-Vietnamese poetry collection Dang Va Ngot (Bitter and Sweet), will soon be published.

The writer's funeral was held at his home in Ben Tre City's Phu Tan Ward. — VNS