VietNamNet Bridge – A young Vietnamese-French writer was selected as one of 10 finalists in a literary contest involving French-speaking countries and territories from all over the world.

A fairy tale: Huy Tran Minh made the top ten in a global contest.

The judges from five continents recognised the book for its sensibility and subtlety, where modern life is mixed with the imaginary. It was inspired by the sad love story of a Vietnamese myth between a princess Mi Nuong and a poor fisherman Truong Chi, with influence from a true love story Minh shared with a Vietnamese man 14 years ago.

Born in 1979, she is now deputy editor-in-chief of the French magazine Litteraire in Paris.

The author, who was born and raised in France, has already received recognition for the same book which won her the Gironde prize for new literary talents in France. This is her first novel.

The finalists were chosen among 78 pieces of work from 18 French-speaking countries and territories.

The top prize in the contest was awarded to Tunisian writer Hubert Haddad for his book Palestine on October 14. In his book, he tells of an abandoned Israeli soldier taken in by a Palestinian family, a tale imbued with strong political arguments on the fate of the West Bank.

The Prix des Cinq Continents was created by the International Organisation of the Francophonie, awarding annually books that reflect the cultural diversity of French-speaking people living on five continents.

(Source: Viet Nam News)