The 104-year-old author awarded A prize at the National Book Awards

One of the two A prizes at the National Book Awards went to Nguyen Dinh Tu, who is 104 years old, for his book “Gia Dinh – Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City: Long Miles of History (1689-2020).”

The awards ceremony was attended by Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee (PCC) and Head of the PCC’s Commission for Communications and Education, Nguyen Trong Nghia.

In 2024, 51 out of 57 publishers participated in the National Book Awards, ten more publishers than in the sixth National Book Awards. A total of 372 book titles and sets, including 455 books, were submitted for the seventh National Book Awards, marking an increase of 60 book titles and sets and 20 books compared to the 6th National Book Awards.

This year’s awards were presented to 58 book sets and individual books, with 59 awards in total, including three A prizes, ten B prizes, 21 C prizes, 21 consolation prizes and four most favourite books.

At the awards ceremony, Politburo member Nguyen Trong Nghia stated that the National Book Awards has made a significant mark and become an important event in the country's cultural life. It has attracted the attention of self-publishers, the public and readers nationwide.

He also noted that this year's event attracted the participation of numerous publishers and publishing professionals from across the country. The awarded books and book series are all meticulously crafted publications, rich in passion and investment, with exemplary and distinctive values across various fields. Many of these books have become phenomena in the publishing world, drawing readers' attention, interest, and affection, especially young readers.

To elevate the National Book Awards, the most prestigious and distinguished one of this kind in the country, Politburo member Nghia suggested that the PCC’s Commission for Communications and Education, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the Vietnam Publishers’ Association, and relevant authorities pay attention to effectively implementing key initiatives.

Additionally, the Politburo member recommended encouraging and attracting the participation of authors, publishers, and distributors with high-value works in terms of thought, science, education, and culture, meeting the diverse needs of readers and people from all walks of life. He suggested expanding and adding more categories and forms for the awards.

Along with the A prize-winning work by author Nguyen Dinh Tu, the other two A prizes were awarded to the work “Cam nang chan doan và dieu tri benh noi khoa” (Manual of Diagnosis and Treatment of Internal Medicine) led by Associate Professor Doctor and Specialist Dao Xuan Co, published by the Medical Publishing House, and “Tong tap Nha van quan doi - Ky yeu - Tac pham (Complete Works of Military Writers – Proceedings – Works) (5 volumes), published by the Literary Journal of the Army and the Literature Publishing House.

NDO