HONOURED: From left to right Phan Ngọc Đại Ngọc, Phùng Thị Phương Anh and Võ Lê Tú Anh were the first-prize winners. Photo courtesy of the organisers

 HÀ NỘI — A story writing contest held by Việt Nam More Production and Kim Đồng Publishing House wrapped up on October 20 with prizes given to winners in Hà Nội. 

The winners and their families attended the award ceremony with the participation of delegates from Japanese and Vietnamese organisations. 

"This is the third year the contest has been held in Việt Nam. I'm glad because the contest has been held successfully despite the COVID-19 pandemic," said Hirano Masahito, from JX Nippon Oil & Energy Vietnam (JXEV) Consulting and Holdings Company, the contest sponsor. 

"The award ceremony is held today thanks to all members of More Production's Mogu Bookworm."

The contest winners include Phan Ngọc Đại Ngọc; Phùng Thị Phương Anh and Võ Lê Tú Anh. 

Entitled Những Hạt Mưa Đi Đâu (Where Rain Drops Go), the story by Ngọc was awarded the first prize at the elementary school level.

The eight-year-old girl is from the Central Highlands Province of Lâm Đồng. This is the first time she has written a short story although she has written poetry and prose.  

HCM City-based Tú Anh, 29 years old, won first prize for his work entitled Cột Đèn Tổ Chim (Bird's Nest - Lamppost) in the open category, while Hà Nội's Anh picked up the top prize in the junior high school category. 

Anh's story Ngôi Sao và Mặt Trời (Star and Sun) earned her the Special Prize in the contest. She is 14 years old. Anh plans to go to Japan to attend the global award ceremony when the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control. 

The second and the third prizes were presented to recipients in the three categories. 

Six others from Hà Nội, the central province of Nghệ An, northern provinces of Vĩnh Phúc and Quảng Ninh, received certificates.

Jurors included Japanese popular writer and cartoon illustrator Nagano Hideko; children’s writer Lê Phương Liên; Doctorate in Education and Chairwoman of Book Reading With Children Club Nguyễn Thuỵ Anh and others. 

Entitled Đóa Hoa Đồng Thoại (Bouquet of Children's Stories Contest), the event is held annually in Japan running since 1970. It was brought to Việt Nam in 2018 as an event commemorating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Việt Nam. 

The contest aims to inspire Vietnamese people to write stories for children. 

About 1,300 entries were sent to the organisation board, three times higher than the contest last year. 

A compilation of award-winning stories is sold together with a Vietnamese translation of A Bouquet of Children's Stories from the ENEOS Children's Story Award.

Proceeds from sales are donated to fund picture book promotion activities and scholarships.

JXEV is committed to supporting the growth of picture books in order to foster healthy minds among children in Japan and Việt Nam. — VNS