The ceremony was attended by representatives of the leadership of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army; writers, poets, researchers, and literary critics; numerous close collaborators of the Magazine over many generations; and staff and editors of the Army Literature and Arts Magazine.
Speaking at the ceremony, Colonel and writer Nguyen Binh Phuong, Editor-in-Chief of the Military Arts and Literature Magazine, emphasized: Throughout its nearly 70-year journey of development, the Magazine has always been a prestigious literary and artistic forum of the People's Armed Forces, making an important contribution to vividly reflecting the reality of military life and deeply portraying the noble image of revolutionary soldiers in various periods.
Literature about the armed forces and soldiers has always held a mainstream position in the flow of Vietnamese revolutionary literature, because it is where the values of ideals, character, dedication, and the beauty of serving the community are most clearly embodied.
According to writer Nguyen Binh Phuong, entering a period of peace and development, soldiers still carry on their fundamental functions as both a fighting force and a working force, as well as a force participating in labor and production, contributing to building the country.
Wherever the hardships and dangers are greatest, from the borders and islands to areas affected by natural disasters and epidemics, the image of Uncle Ho's soldiers is always present, becoming a solid support for the people. This reality demands that literature continue to delve deeper into reflecting, discovering, and truthfully portraying the lives, thoughts, aspirations, and silent sacrifices of soldiers in modern life.
The Editor-in-Chief of the Military Arts and Literature Magazine believes that writing about soldiers is not about one-sided praise, but about spreading the beauty of humanity, the beauty of responsibility, dedication, and love for the homeland expressed in their ordinary daily actions.
The collaborators' meeting is an opportunity to express gratitude and honor the dedicated and persistent contributions of artists and writers both within and outside the military; it also serves as a space for professional exchange and provides further creative inspiration for authors involved in the themes of the armed forces and revolutionary war.
At the ceremony, the unit announced and presented the 2025 Army Literature and Arts Award to authors, translators, and artists whose outstanding works were published in the Army Literature and Arts Magazine and online editions over the past year. In the prose category, short story author Nguyen Ngoc Loi was awarded the prize for his collection of three short stories: "Where the Sound of Gunfire is Far Away," "The Deep Blue Sky," and "White Clouds in the Sky."
In the essay category, author Trinh Hoa Binh was honored for two works: "My Father" and "It's Also a Battle". In the field of literary translation, translator Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh was awarded for her translation of Ye Chun's "The Sun and the Moon".
In the poetry category, author Kieu Duy Khanh was awarded for his collection of poems, including "My Father is a Blacksmith," "Pha Din," and "The Clove Tree on the Cat's Ear Cliff," which impressed with their simple tone, rich imagery, and emotional depth. In the field of literary criticism, poet Huu Thinh received an award for his collection of articles: "Le Thanh Nghi - The Older the Ginger, the Spicier" and "Nguyen Tri Huan and the Essence of 'Suddenly Golden Apricot Blossoms'," demonstrating his broad perspective and subtlety in evaluating the value of the works and authors.
On the online platform of the Army Literature and Arts magazine, author Nguyen Phuoc Thao was awarded for two photo series: "The Flood Season" and "When a Writer Sees His Character Through the Lens," offering vivid and artistic perspectives on life and people. In the field of fine arts, painter Thanh Chuong was honored for his illustrations published in the magazine in 2025, contributing to the distinctive and harmonious aesthetic blend of literature and painting within the Army Literature and Arts magazine.
Also within the framework of the event, the unit officially launched the 2026 Poetry and Essay Contest. The contest is organized with the hope of having more high-quality works published in the Magazine, thereby continuing to honor the image of the soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army in the new era.
The competition is a practical activity to celebrate the success of the 14th National Congress of the Party; and to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2026) and the 70th anniversary of the first issue of the Army Literature and Arts Magazine (January 1957 - January 2027).
According to the regulations, the entries should focus on truthfully and vividly reflecting the life, work, thoughts, and feelings of today's soldiers in various fields such as training, combat readiness, protecting sovereignty , participating in peacekeeping, search and rescue, labor and production, and civilian affairs... The organizing committee respects traditional writing styles while encouraging works with new perspectives, humanistic depth, and artistic value.
The competition is open to all Vietnamese citizens both in Vietnam and abroad. Entries must be original works, not previously published in any media; epic poems, satirical poems, and works with artificial intelligence (AI) support will not be accepted. The essay category includes memoirs, reportage, and notes, with a maximum length of 10,000 words.
The organizing committee will award prizes for each category of poetry and essays, including: one First Prize, two Second Prizes, three Third Prizes, and four Fourth Prizes. Works that meet the criteria will be published in the Army Literature and Arts Magazine and the Army Literature and Arts online. The competition begins accepting entries in January 2026 and ends on December 31, 2026; the awards ceremony is expected to be held in January 2027, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the first issue of the Army Literature and Arts Magazine.
The ceremony took place in a solemn and warm atmosphere, reflecting the strong bond between the Army Literature and Arts Magazine and the nationwide community of artists and writers, further affirming the role of literature and art in building a national defense system and fostering the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the new era.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/phat-dong-cuoc-thi-tho-va-ky-nam-2026-post941296.html
