AWARD "OUTSTANDING CULTURAL

The three fields that readers are interested in, including literature, photography and fine arts, in 2025, all clearly demonstrate creativity in each work considered and nominated.

Arousing emotional depth

In 2025, the literary life of the whole country that readers in Ho Chi Minh City are interested in is a strong transformation through many new publications and notable anthologies. Short stories such as "Ben Ban Floating Market" (Nguyen Chi Ngoan), "Tet Gift" (Vu Tu Nam), "Firecrackers and Firecrackers" (Ho Anh Thai), "Chan Than" (Luong Kha Tu) or the essay "The Road Home" (Truong Thi Bach My) continue to affirm the vitality of Vietnamese pens - both inheriting tradition and touching on the issues of contemporary people.

GIẢI THƯỞNG — Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh is still an author with a large readership. Tre Publishing House will release the book "The Neighbor Girl and the Four Candies" on November 28 (Photo: Tre Publishing House)

The highlight of the year is the collection "Outstanding Short Stories 2025" published by Sbooks, which brings together writers from generations 6X, 7X to Gen Z. Familiar names such as Tran Nguyen Anh with "Spring Night Ferry", Tong Phuoc Bao with "Delta Storyteller", or young writers such as Phan Ngoc Chinh with "Cloud Hunting", Phan Xuan Luat with "Beggar's Grave"... have created a colorful picture of Vietnamese literary life.

The highlight of this year's short stories lies in their humanistic depth: talking about ordinary people who are resilient in the face of change, talking about affection, care and kindness - values that make up the Vietnamese cultural identity. As shared by writer Tong Phuoc Bao: "The collection is like a confirmation of the author and the work."

The first "Literature and Arts Times Novel Writing Contest" (2023-2025) also created a new vitality with award-winning works such as "Time Mirror", "Deep Forest Wind", "Living Under the Sun", "Half a Step 700 Years" and "Eastern Chrysanthemum" - proof of the sustainable development of urban literature in the creative space of Ho Chi Minh City.

Think deeply, speak responsibly

The year 2025 marks a clear step forward for Ho Chi Minh City's photography community, not only taking beautiful photos but also "thinking deeply and speaking responsibly". In major competitions such as "Land of a Thousand Flowers" and Heritage Awards 2025, works from Ho Chi Minh City have shown that the spirit of citizenship is transformed into visual language - when the camera not only records moments but also raises questions about responsibility, dedication and compassion.

"Responsibility is not just for anyone" (first prize, Dedication theme) is not only an impressive frame but also a symbol of collective spirit - people in the flow of modern society. Likewise, "Gentle moments of female blue beret soldiers" or "For a peaceful life" bring deep emotions about people who are silently preserving peace, affirming: photography is not far from reality but is the heartbeat of life.

In the "Thousand-mile Mountains and Rivers" theme, works such as "Ca Mau Cape", "Tuy Phong Fishing Village", "Dawn on the Top of Fansipan" continue the tradition of Vietnamese photography - praising the beauty of mountains, rivers, and sky. But what makes the difference is the youthful, open-minded perspective of photographers from Ho Chi Minh City: not only describing the scenery, but also conveying the spirit of discovery and national pride. This shift shows that the young photographers have stepped out of the "landscape frame", towards the cultural story - where nature blends with people, with labor, with the breath of the city.

The "Heritage 2025" award shows a prominent trend: Ho Chi Minh City photography is strongly exploiting the heritage perspective in modern urban space. Frames of green Ho Chi Minh City, heritage buildings located among high-rise buildings, or moments of daily life in the middle of dynamic streets reflect the cultural identity - the spirit of "sustainable development" that the city pursues. Here, photography is no longer just an art of recording, but an art of dialogue - between the past and the present, between tradition and technology, between people and the environment.

The rise of young photographers shows that they are catching the right rhythm of the creative city: living, feeling and telling stories with the light of the digital age. Each photo - when touching the viewer's heart - does not stop at beauty, but also evokes trust, sharing and a sense of responsibility. That is the profound value of Ho Chi Minh City photography today. In the era of booming visual media, humanistic photographic works have contributed to creating the "cultural brand" of the city - a city that not only develops materially, but also knows how to nurture the soul through art. From prestigious awards to a spirit of dedication, it can be said that Ho Chi Minh City photography is entering a phase of both professionalism and deep socialization.

The breath of the times from color

The exhibition "Achievements of the Creative Camp and New Creations 2025" organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association at the City Fine Arts Museum is the most prominent event of the year, gathering 420 works by 361 authors - a record number showing the strong creativity of painters, sculptors, and urban artisans. According to Professor, Doctor, People's Artist Nguyen Xuan Tien, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, this year's works are diverse in themes - from landscapes, people, homeland to inner thoughts. "Each painting is a separate world of emotions, showing the artist's efforts to innovate in the face of modern life."

The Art Council assessed that lacquer continues to be the strength of the city's fine arts with many large-scale works, good techniques, expressing the identity of the Southern region. In contrast, oil painting has somewhat stagnated this year, requiring more in-depth investment. However, ceramic art has become a new highlight when many young authors boldly create, taking ceramics beyond the manual nature to become independent works with a contemporary breath.

Speaking at the exhibition, Mr. Tran Minh Cong, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, emphasized: "The exhibition is not only a place to introduce new works but also helps the museum approach, collect and promote the aesthetic values of the era."

The Arts Council has selected 52 outstanding works for investment support, including 37 works by members and 15 works by young authors - showing interest in the next generation of the city's fine arts.

"Each photographer becomes a "visual ambassador" of the city. That is "a beautiful perspective of dedication and country" - where light, color and emotion blend into a symphony of Vietnamese beliefs and aspirations.

Honoring dedication and endless creativity

If literature arouses the depth of emotions and aspirations for goodness, photography captures vivid moments of people in labor and dedication; and fine arts take viewers into a space of colors, shapes, and emotions. It can be said that the candidates in these three fields are all worthy of the "Outstanding Cultural and Artistic Works of 2025" Award category of the 31st Mai Vang Award - 2025 organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper. An award honoring the dedication and constant creativity of artists, writers, photographers, and painters on the journey to beautify life.