Thai Ba Loi, a Vietnamese writer, won the 2013 Southeast Asian Writer Award (S.E.A Write Award) for his novel “Minh Su”. The award ceremony took place in Bangkok, Thailand.

In his acceptance speech, writer Thai Ba Loi said that no matter when and where you live, humanity always pursues true values for life, which a writer should strongly believe in and allow to inspire his writing. With their works, writers can contribute to eliminating evil and praising kindness, which will make them happy.

It took him over 4 years to complete the 400-page novel at a farm at the foot of Ba Na Mountain. The novel tells a historical story about Lord Nguyen Hoang who ruled Quang Nam in the 16th century. The story is told by a historian, who fought in the B2 battlefield during the resistance war in the 1970s.

The S.E.A. Write Award has been presented annually since 1979 by the Thai Royal Family to outstanding poets and writers in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese winners include poet To Huu in 1996, writer Ma Van Khang in 1998, poet Huu Thinh in 1999 and writer Nguyen Khai 2000.

Source: Thanh Nien

Translated by Vu Linh