Hanoi, (VNA) – The 12^th༺ Bui Xuan Phai Awards – for the Love of Hanoi (2019) has been a great success. General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Nguyen Duc Loi affirmed that the quality of the awards, which were initiated in 2008 by the VNA’s The Thao & Van Hoa daily and Bui Xuan Phai’s family, has remarkably improved over the years.

The awards have been organised annually by the Hanoi People’s Committee and sponsored by the The Thao & Van Hoa newspaper and Bui Xuan Phai Fund to honour painter Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988), a founder of modern art in Vietnam. Winners of the 12th “Bui Xuan Phai: For Love of Hanoi” Awards were announced at a ceremony in Hanoi on August 27. Speaking at the ceremony, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi praised the efforts by the newspaper in organising the awards, which have served the mission of discovering and honouring significant contributions to the capital city. The awards are classified into four categories: Grand Prize, Idea Prize, Job Prize, and Work Prize. From more than 30 nominations, after two rounds, the jury has selected 10 authors, works, ideas and jobs for the official list of nominations, from which five awards have been presented in four categories.

Associate Professor-Doctor-Meritorious Teacher Nguyen Thua Hy honoured with Grand Prize

This year’s Grand Prize went to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thua Hy. Born in Hanoi in 1937, he has carried out major research projects on Thang Long – Hanoi in various centuries in the past across several fields of socio-economy, history and culture. His research works began 40 years ago and have been regularly updated.  His latest book on Hanoi was released in 2018 and more are expected to come. The winner of the Meritorious Teacher title has greatly contributed to the studies of the capital city.

In particular, his work “Thang Long – Hanoi in the 17^th, 18^th, 19^th🌼 centuries” is considered one of the most useful tools for researchers both in and outside the country when studying Thang Long – Hanoi in the medieval period.

“The people of Hanoi create a multi-colour painting. In the time ahead, we should pay more attention to foster dignity and morality towards sustainable development,” the scholar said.

A combination of tradition and modernity

The Idea Prize were presented to the determination to revive To Lich River of Hanoi authorities and local people, and the building of the Formula 1 race circuit and hosting of Formula 1 Grand Prix in Hanoi for the first time in April 2020. The journey to revive To Lich River demonstrated the city’s resolve to preserve a witness of the capital’s history and create a clean and green environment in the area, ending the pollution that seriously affect the lives of residents. “The revival of To Lich River is a desire and also an urgent need of Hanoi, which is considered a river city. I hope functional agencies and the community will persist with efforts to realize this idea, and then in the future, other rivers such as Nhue, Day and Kim Nguu will also be cleaned up and regain their vitality as in the past,” Professor-Doctor-Architect Hoang Dao Kinh said. Meanwhile, the idea to build the Formula 1 race circuit is honoured as it show that besides traditional values, Hanoi is also a dynamic, creative and modern city. The building of the 5.5km-long circuit and hosting of the Formula 1 race will be a chance to promote the country and people, and Hanoi as a safe and ideal destination for international entertainment and sporting events. The book entitled “Hanoi mot thoi hat” by Nguyen Truong Quy earned the Work Prize. This is an extremely meticulous research work on Hanoi’s lifestyle in the 1947-1954 period through the music of well-known composers of the time such as Doan Chuan, Pham Duy, Van Cao, Hoang Trong and Hoang Duong.     The Job Prize went to a Hanoi sketching group, who have worked to keep memories of the capital city through their paintings, especially Hanoi’s old tenements.The group was set up in September 2016 and its membership has now expanded to more than 3,000, comprising both Vietnamese and foreigners of all ages and occupations. Addressing the awards ceremony, Nguyen Duc Chung, Party Central Committee member and Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee said the awards have contributed to forming a community of people who love Hanoi. Alongside the awards ceremony, a photo exhibition showcasing the most outstanding nominations for this year’s awards was opened on the same day at the National News Centre, 5 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi. It will run until August 30./.