Young writer chosen for ASEAN award

Hanoi (VNA) - Nguyen Ngoc Tu, 31, has been selected as Vietnam 's sole representative to receive the Southeast Asian Writers Award (S.E.A Write Award) in 2008, according to the Vietnam Writers' Association (VWA).

This is the first time that a young Vietnamese writer has been nominated for
such a well-known award. Previously, the S.E.A Write Award was presented to
renowned writers and poets such as To Huu, Ma Van Khang, Huu Thinh, Nguyen
Khai, Bang Viet and Do Chu.

The S.E.A Write Award, intiated by the Thai Royal in 1979, has been
presented annually to outstanding poets and writers in Southeast Asian
countries. This year, the award ceremony will be held in Thailand in
early October.

Born into a poor family in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, Tu won a
prize from the Ho Chi Minh City Writers' Association for her first work,
"Ngon den khong tat" (The Ever-shining Lamp), in 2000 and the VWA award for
"Giao thua" (The New Year's Eve) in 2003.

Especially, her story, "Canh dong bat tan" (The Boundless Green Field), was
translated into the Korean language and published in the Republic of
Korea after having won the VWA award in 2006. The book was also the best
seller in Vietnam in 2005.-Enditem