PANO - A ceremony to grant awards to the best compositions of the writing contest, entitled “One journey”, launched on February 16th by the Sports and Culture Newspaper, was held on May 28th in Hanoi.

The organising panel, including the newspaper, Let’s Viet Channel-VTC9, the Hanoi Writers’ Association and the Embassy of Sweden in Vietnam, presented three second prizes and four third prizes. Unfortunately, no writing deserved to be given the first prize.

In addition, 20 writings were also given “Memorable Journeys” awards, while “Impressive Writers” Awards were presented to 10 writers. Three best Literature Critic Awards and three most favorite writings selected by votes were also named at the ceremony.

Receiving a prize from the Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam, independent reporter Nguyen Thi Nguyen, a handicapped person, said, “I visited, by chance, a place not very far from my house. Such a short journey is surely not significant for other ordinary people but it was special for me as a disabled person. So, I just wanted to share my feelings and emotions about that short but meaningful journey in my life with other people in my writing”.

Meanwhile, a journeywoman poet, Vi Thuy Linh, an award winner, had another significant trip in her life. Thanks to one of her friends, she was able to know and return to the place where she was born at House 36, Maternity Clinic A. The journey is narrated so touchingly in her writing.

Without the limit to topics of compositions, the “One journey” writing contest has provided a real opportunity for those who wanted to share with others their unforgettable traveling experiences.

At the closing ceremony, writer Ho Anh Thai, a member of the jury, said that the contest would encourage other amateur writers to travel, experience and start to write about their bitter and happy feelings about their journeys and different destinations.

The Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam confided that he has made quite a few trips during 2 years of his office term in Vietnam and he has really enjoyed the time in this beautiful and friendly country. He also added that Vietnam and Sweden have traveled a 40-year journey together in the history of the relations between the two nations.

The contest, under the auspices of the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam, aimed to promote  cultural diversity, literary creativeness and reading culture among Vietnamese people.

Mai Huong