First Vietnamese female writer wins 30th ASEAN Literature Award

VGP - Today, September 30, Nguyễn Ngọc Tư, the female author of "Endless Field" collection of short stories, was granted with the ASEAN Literature Award by Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

September 30, 2008 3:55 PM GMT+7

Writer Nguyễn Ngọc Tư and her "Endless Field"

The Organizing Board of the ASEAN Literature Award was founded in 1979, under the initiative of Bangkok Oriental Hotel, Thai Airways, Thai Writer Association, and Thailand Pen Pal.

Nguyễn Ngọc Tư is the youngest and first female receiver of the honorable prize.

Born in 1976 in Tân Duyệt Commune, Đầm Dơi District of Việt Nam southernmost province of Cà Mau, Tư started her literary career at the age of 20.

The prize-winning "Endless Field" comprises of Tư’s 14 latest and best short stories which chiefly depict such themes as countryside, peasants, poor people and artists.

Before Nguyễn Ngọc Tư, 11 other Vietnamese writers have won the ASEAN Literature Award, namely Tố Hữu (1996), Ma Văn Kháng (1998), Nguyễn Khải (2000), Nguyễn Đức Mậu (2001), Nguyễn Kiên (2002), Bằng Việt (2003), Đỗ Chu (2004), Inrasara (2005), Lê Văn Thảo (2006) and Trần Văn Tuấn (2007).

By Kim Anh