At total of 27 prizes have been given to winners of the National Book Awards 2020 including three first prizes, 10 seconds, and 14 thirds. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

HÀ NÔI - Đoàn Binh Tây Tiến (Advancing Westward Regiment) by poet Quang Dũng was among three books that have won first prizes at the National Book Awards 2020.

Đoàn Binh Tây Tiến was written in 1952 and published for the first time by Kim Đồng Publishing House in 2019. It has just 124 pages but provides a detailed account of the early days of the establishment of a regiment of the Việt Nam People's Army called Tây Tiến during its westward advance in the resistance war against the French.  

The jury lauded the book for its authentic literary and historical education values.

The two other books that won first prizes were Lịch sử (Histories) by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, translated from English by Lê Đình Chi, and another about medical treatment titled Hình ảnh lâm sàng, Chẩn đoán và Điều trị trong Chuyên ngành Da liễu (Clinical Image, Diagnosis and Treatment in Dermatology) by different authors led by Dr Nguyễn Văn Thường.

Second prizes went come to 10 works featuring issues of different areas including politics, environment, information technology and culture.

Lược Khảo Văn Học (Literature Review) - a series of research about the pre-1975 southern culture by Professor Nguyễn Văn Trung was recognised as very valuable work among the second prize winners.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications and Chairman of the Việt Nam Publishers' Association Hoàng Vĩnh Bảo said the research book with its remarkable literary and historical value had made a great contribution to helping researchers and literature-lovers understand more about progressive literature in the period before 1975 when the country was not united.

Winning books are displayed at the awarding ceremony held last Friday night in Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

The awards were announced at a ceremony held on Friday night at the headquarters of Việt Nam's national radio station Voice of Việt Nam.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam said the National Book Awards were expected to contribute to promoting reading culture.

He said that books are the "greatest schools" of society.

"If Việt Nam wants to become a powerful country like many others from the five continents, we should have a society of study and reading books," he said.

The Deputy PM highlighted the role of books in humanity’s great advances and lauded the development of reading culture in the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam (second right) and other government officials are admiring books at the National Book Awards ceremony. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

He stated that the awards have motivated writers, editors, publishers, and printing and distribution companies to keep creating good books.

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic, the third National Book Awards attracted the participation of 48 publishing houses nationwide with 259 titles, covering many areas of social development.

A total of 27 awards were given to winning books including three first prizes, 10 seconds, and 14 thirds.

The annual National Book Awards were hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communications and organised by the Việt Nam Publishers’ Association and the National Book Prize Council.

The awards aim to honour writers, translators, scientists and publishers nationwide as well as discover, preserve and promote books that are valuable to readers.

They are also expected to stimulate the publishing field.

The awards are presented in different fields such as politics, economics, environment, healthcare, science and technology, culture, literature, arts and children.

Organisers said the awards attracted the involvement of society, receiving much support from enterprises and sponsors and were broadcast widely via various media outlets. — VNS