Six Vietnamese and international scholars were honoured with the Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Award for outstanding achievements in their areas of work at a ceremony held in HCM City on Thursday.

The award marked the 85th death anniversary of Phan Chau Trinh, one of the nation’s most prominent patriots and educators.

The awards were given under four categories: education, translation, research in cultural studies and humanities, and Vietnamese studies.

Prof Hoang Tuy, a world-renowned mathematician, got the education award for relentless efforts to improve education in the country. Tuy has championed the cause of advanced and modern education for several decades now.

Literature critic Lai Nguyen Aân, who has published more than 30 literature review volumes in as many years, won the research award for his prolific, pioneering works, especially in tracing original versions of monumental literary works.

Economist Nguyen Don Phuoc and nuclear physicist Pham Van Thieu won translation awards.

Phuoc, who used to teach economics in Paris and work for the French national statistic agency INSEE, won the award for his meticulous translation of French economist Bernard Guerrien’s works that contain lots of new terminology.

Thieu, a nuclear physicist who studied in France and now works for the Vietnamese Institute of Physics, received the prize for his painstakingly accurate translation of works by Stephen Hawking and Trinh Xuan Thuan, well-known Vietnamese American physicist.

This year’s Vietnamese studies awards went to the Czech Republic’s Dr Ivo Vasiljev and America’s Dr Kevin Bowen.

Dr Vasiljev, who was among the first expert of Vietnamese and Vietnamese studies in his country and has pursued the discipline throughout his career, was recognized for published works on Vietnamese anthropology and the Vietnamese language.

Masachusetts Uni-versity’s Dr Bowen, a veteran of the American War, has been the lead author of several translated anthologies of Vietnamese poetry, including zen poems under Ly-Tran Dynasty, which promote the mutual understanding between the two peoples.

“For now, the biggest clog in the development of the country is education. Education, education and nothing else,” Dr Tuy said in his acceptance speech. “So drastic and comprehensive education reform is imperative.”

Dr Bowen told Viet Nam News that the award was “an important passage of a long journey to bridge cultures and bring understanding between the two countries.” The award was “special moment” to share with his friends and colleagues in Viet Nam, he said.

“The award has found more and more deserving winners through the years, thus enhancing its credibility,” Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice President and chairwoman of the Phan Chau Trinh Culture Foundation which organises the awards, told Viet Nam News.

Phan Chau Trinh (1872-1926), is famous for his yearning to bring democracy into the country and revolutionise education under the French colonial rule. He was also a pioneer in fighting feudalism.

The Phan Chau Trinh Culture Foundation is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation which promotes education and culture in the country.

The Phan Chau Trinh Award, given annually, carries a cash prize of VND15 million (US$720) in cash and a medal.

Source: VNS