More than 50 outstanding books and book series across five different categories were honoured at the 8th National Book Awards ceremony held in Hanoi on March 8.

Head of the Party Central Commitee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet presents A prize to the winning authors and groups of authors.

The event, which was jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation, the Vietnam Publishing Association, and Vietnam Television, attracted the participation of 46 out of 52 publishing houses nationwide, with 397 book titles and series submitted.

Two A prizes, the highest distinction of the awards, were granted to Lich su Vietnam bang hinh (Vietnamese History in Pictures) by Dong A and multiple authors, jointly published by the Publishing House of Hanoi National University of Education and Dong A Culture Joint Stock Company.

The second A prize was awarded to Lich su Van minh the gioi (The Story of Civilisation) by authors Will & Ariel Durant. The Vietnamese edition was translated by a group of translators including Huynh Ngoc Chien, Phan Thanh Luu, Pham Viem Phuong, Bui Thanh Chau, Bui Xuan Linh, and Do Lan, and published by the Social Sciences Publishing House in collaboration with the IRED Institute of Education.

In addition, the organising board presented 17 B prizes, 23 C prizes, five consolation prizes, and five Reader’s Favourite Book awards to outstanding works and groups of works by authors and author groups.

Addressing the ceremony, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet emphasised that throughout the nation’s history, culture, knowledge, and books have played a particularly important role in the country’s development.

Culture serves as the spiritual foundation of society, knowledge as a key development resource, while books crystallise human intellect and preserve, disseminate, and nurture the noble values of both the nation and humanity across generations, he said.

Quyet noted that the National Book Awards have increasingly affirmed their position as a prestigious State-level prize in the publishing sector, with practical significance in honouring works of high ideological, academic, cultural, scientific, and artistic value.

The awards also serve to encourage authors, translators, researchers, publishers, and those working in the book industry to continue their creative efforts and contributions to national development.

Based on the practical development of the publishing sector in the new context, he urged relevant agencies, publishers, authors, translators, and book professionals to focus on several key tasks.

These include improving the ideological and academic quality as well as the cultural value of each publication; promoting innovation and digital transformation in publishing activities; fostering a stronger reading culture across society; enhancing international cooperation in publishing and translation; and further elevating the National Book Awards so that they truly become a reputable cultural institution with broad influence and value orientation.

Quyet expressed confidence that with Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of valuing learning and knowledge, along with the nation’s aspiration for progress, the country’s publishing sector will continue to develop strongly and reading culture will be further promoted across society.

The awards will increasingly affirm their prestige, quality, and value, becoming a meaningful symbol of intellect, creativity, and dedication to the development of Vietnam’s culture, people, and nation, he added.

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