VietNamNet Bridge – Novels and short stories have once again dominated the list of awards this year by the Viet Nam Writers Association, with a notable absence of poems and non-fiction.

Tieng Khoc Cua Nang Ut (Ut’s Cry) by Nguyen Chi Trung. (Photo: VNE)

While plenty of prose was submitted this year, and received national attention, the lack of poems and non-fiction seems to be an ongoing trend, as this is the second year neither genre is recognised by this award.

The award-winning authors are all familiar names as well, especially 80-year old writer Nguyen Chi Trung, with a noticeable lack of young authors.

Words, words

Song Chim (Sink Wave) by Dinh Kinh. (Photo: VNE)

These poems even received a flurry of private literary awards, such as La Trau and Bach Viet prizes, some of them bringing in millions of dong.

The winning pieces will be published in a book by the Viet Nam Writers Association.

(Source: Viet Nam News)