HÀ NỘI — President Trần Đại Quang has presented Hồ Chí Minh Awards and State Awards for Literature and Art to outstanding works from three photojournalists of Vietnam News Agency, along with more than 50 other authors and artists.

The three journalists from Vietnam News Agency have been honoured for their photos taken during the American war.

Late journalist Lương Nghĩa Dũng (1935-1972), who worked as a war reporter of Vietnam News Agency during the American war, was given the Hồ Chí Minh Award for his collection of five photos, entitled Những Khoảnh Khắc Để Lại (The Left Moments). The five photos feature Vietnamese soldiers during war. He died on Quảng Trị battlefield in 1972.

Lâm Tấn Tài (1935-2001) was honoured with a State award for photos taken from his two photobooks about the war. The first one is entitled Đường Hồ Chí Minh (Hồ Chí Minh Trail) also known as Trường Sơn Rail. This featured the logistical system that ran from North Việt Nam to South Việt Nam through neighbouring Laos and Cambodia. The system provided support, in the form of manpower and materials to the National Front of the Liberation of South Việt Nam and the People’s Army of Việt Nam, or North Vietnamese Army.

Hứa Thanh Kiểm was given the State award for his photo collection entitled Đường 20- Quyết Thắng (Road 20- Quyết Thắng). This road, connecting East Trường Sơn Road to West Trường Sơn Road, was nicknamed the “fire” road as it was regularly bombed by the US.

Held for the first time in 1996, the Hồ Chí Minh Awards and the State Awards for Literature and Art are presented to writers and artists who have made important contributions to the country’s cultural development.

The Hồ Chí Minh Award is the most prestigious award of Việt Nam for art.

An awards ceremony will be held at Hà Nội’s Opera House on May 19 (May 19 marks the 137th anniversary birthday of late President Hồ Chí Minh). — VNS