HÀ NỘI — The third National Press Awards “For the Development of Vietnamese Culture” officially entered its final round in Hà Nội on October 9 with 122 outstanding works selected for judging.

Launched less than four months ago, the awards received an impressive 1,040 entries from both central and local media agencies across the country.

Judges evaluate entries in the final round of the third National Press Awards “For the Development of Vietnamese Culture.” — VNS Photo Trần Huấn

According to the organisers, this is a remarkably high number for a specialised press award, especially as media organisations are currently being restructured and streamlined in line with Resolution No.18 of the Party Central Committee.

After careful screening, 927 eligible entries advanced to the preliminary round, which took place from August 30 to September 15, 2025. Following independent assessment and focused discussions, the preliminary judging panels selected 122 works across various journalism categories for the final round.

At the opening of the final judging session, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lê Hải Bình, who also serves as Head of the Organising Committee, emphasised that the Party and the State have always attached great importance to cultural development, as reflected through numerous resolutions on culture.

He said the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is currently drafting a new Politburo Resolution on revitalising and developing Vietnamese culture in the new era. Once issued, this resolution will create strong momentum for advancing the country’s cultural development.

“With the positive progress made in culture, sports, and tourism in recent years, journalists will have even more material to write about, contributing to the mission of developing Vietnamese culture,” Bình said.

He added that beyond honouring and encouraging journalists, the award serves as a platform to spread inspiration for writing about cultural development.

“Under the leadership of Chief Judge Lê Quốc Minh, Chairman of the Việt Nam Journalists Association, the judging process will continue to inspire and motivate more creative works that promote Vietnamese culture,” he said.

According to the preliminary judging council, this year’s entries stood out not only for their volume and diversity of topics, but also for their high professional quality. Entries came from major as well as smaller media outlets at both central and local levels.

Journalist Lê Quốc Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Việt Nam Journalists Association, and Editor-in-Chief of Nhân Dân newspaper, serves as Chief Judge of the final council. — VNS Photo Trần Huấn

Trần Thái Sơn, Head of the Professional Affairs and Communications Department of the Việt Nam Journalists Association, said most submissions closely followed key national themes and vividly reflected major cultural, information, sports, tourism, and family-related events of 2024–2025.

“Many groups of authors explored significant topics such as the rise of Vietnamese culture in the new era, opportunities in developing the entertainment industry, film and publishing markets, and reading culture,” Sơn said.

“Other recurring themes included tourism and sports development, family building and child protection, preservation of relics and heritage, and the cultural identity of Việt Nam’s 54 ethnic groups, including the worship of the Hùng Kings, the God of Agriculture, and the Tam Giáo (Three Teachings) belief system.”

The award ceremony is expected to take place in November 2025 in Hà Nội, with the attendance of leaders from the Party, State, ministries, central agencies, media organisations, and distinguished journalists.

The event will be a celebration of journalists in the cultural sector, a platform for exchange, experience-sharing, and creative inspiration. VNS