LookAtVietnam – Awards were presented in Ha Noi on August 31 in the second annual For the Love of Ha Noi 2009 contest.

A scholar and a gentleman: Scholar Nguyen Vinh Phuc (left) receives the Grand Prize in the For the Love of Ha Noi contest on August 31. Phuc was honoured for his lifetime of contributions to Ha Noi.

His two most recent works, 1,000 Cau Hoi Dap Ve 1,000 Nam Thang Long (1,000 Questions and Answers about 1,000-Year-Old Thang Long) and Ha Noi, Coi Dat, Coi Nguoi (Ha Noi, Land and People) were cited as among the most profound works on the city.

The Idea Prize was presented to architect Dinh Viet Phuong and the website ashui.com for ideas for restoring the city’s Old Quarter, including restoration of colonial architecture using 3D technology, and establishing an online museum.

The two projects would aim to establish an entire virtual city on software that would allow people to “walk” in the city and explore streets, houses and architectural details.

The Work Prize was given to writer Pham Van Quy for ten plays on Thang Long in the genres of tuong (classical drama), cheo (traditional opera) and cai luong (reformed theatre).

Quy’s works have been staged by various professional theatre groups around the country, including the drama Ta Quan Le Van Duyet (General Le Van Duyet) staged by director Doan Hoang Giang for HCM City Drama Theatre last year.

He won prizes for his plays in 2005, 2006 and 2007, including a Gold Prize for Drama at the National Television Festival in 2007. He has recently completed three other works: Danh Si Thang Long (Talented People of Thang Long), Le Thai To Vao Thang Long (Le Thai To in Thang Long) and Duyen Kiep Thang Long (Thang Long Fate).

The Job Prize was presented to the Ha Noi People’s Committee for its efforts to transform the Ha Noi Opera Plaza project into the 19/8 Park at August Revolution Square near the Ha Noi Opera House.

The Idea, Work and Job Prizes each include a cash award of VND5 million ($280).

In this year’s awards, organised by the Ha Noi People’s Committee and sponsored by the daily The Thao&Van Hoa (Sports and Culture,) and the Bui Xuan Phai Fund, judges included poet Bang Viet, chairman of the Ha Noi Literature and Arts Association; journalist Ngo Ha Thai, deputy general director of the Vietnam News Agency; painter Tran Khanh Chuong, chairman of the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association; architect Doan Duc Thanh and musician Phu Quang.

The awards were established in honour of painter Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988), a founder of modern art in Viet Nam.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News