Australian author wins first prize in “My City” writing competition

On March 28, Ho Chi Minh City Women's Newspaper organized a summary and award ceremony for the writing contest "My City", organized by Ho Chi Minh City Women's Newspaper in coordination with Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House, aiming to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).

Singer Nguyen Phi Hung performs the song "50 years of radiant spring" which he composed.

Attending the program were comrades: Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, member of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, former Head of the Propaganda Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Pham Phuong Thao, former Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, former Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council; Pham Chanh Truc, former Standing Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, former Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council; Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Chief of Office of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Nguyen Ngoc Hoi, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Information. Also attending was journalist Nguyen Tan Phong, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Journalists Association.

The organizers awarded certificates to the authors whose articles won the monthly prize.

Launched in October 2023, after nearly 2 years, the writing contest "My City" has received more than 1,000 articles from domestic and foreign authors. The articles are diverse in topics, stories, characters and emotions, showing a panoramic picture of Ho Chi Minh City. There appears a modern Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City urban area rich in cultural and historical sediments with more than 300 years of formation and development.

Ms. Ly Viet Trung, Editor-in-Chief of Ho Chi Minh City Women's Newspaper, spoke.

Speaking at the program, Ms. Ly Viet Trung, Editor-in-Chief of Ho Chi Minh City Women's Newspaper, said: "There are works that make us moved when reading about the cool water bottles, zero-dong lunch boxes on the sidewalks - the simple but noble sharing of the people of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City. There are also pages written about the elderly who are willing to donate land to open roads, about the doctors, engineers, workers who silently contribute... All have painted a vivid portrait of a dynamic, hasty, but warm city."

In his speech at the award ceremony, comrade Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue said he was very touched when reading the articles from the contest. According to him, each author has a different perspective but all are full of emotions about modern and affectionate Ho Chi Minh City. Each article presents simplicity, kindness but is very aspirational and affectionate. The authors all see Ho Chi Minh City as a common home, without any distinction or distance.

Comrade Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, former Head of the Propaganda Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, expressed his gratitude when the contest received the response of many authors at home and abroad.

Awarding Encouragement Prizes to the winning authors

Comrade Nguyen Ngoc Hoi, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Ms. Ly Viet Trung, Editor-in-Chief of Ho Chi Minh City Women's Newspaper, presented awards to the third prize winners.

Comrade Pham Chanh Truc and Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Journalists Association Nguyen Tan Phong awarded second prize to authors Tran Quoc Vinh and Diem Mi.

Comrade Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue and Comrade Pham Phuong Thao presented the First Prize to Australian author Ray KusChert.

At the program, the participants had the opportunity to listen to the emotions and stories from the authors and characters appearing in the articles. They are Ray KusChert, Dr. Tran Quoc Vinh (author of the article The daughter of the person who proposed the name Ho Chi Minh City ) and Ms. Nguyen Thi My Hanh (one of the characters in the series Revival on the fierce lands ). Although coming from different professions, jobs, and even countries, they share the same love and desire to contribute, wishing the city to become richer, more civilized, and more beautiful every day.

Authors and characters interacted at the program. From right to left: author Ray KusChert, doctor Tran Quoc Vinh and Ms. Nguyen Thi My Hanh

At the end of the writing contest “My City”, the Organizing Committee selected a number of award-winning and quality works to be printed into the book Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City - My City . The publication was published by Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House, like a small piece of the puzzle that blends into the common joy of the city and the whole country at the milestone of 50 years of the liberation of the South and national reunification.