BANGKOK — Two Vietnamese writers, Nguyễn Tham Thiện Kế and Phạm Thị Xuân Ban (Y Ban), have been honoured with the prestigious Southeast Asian Writers Award (S.E.A. Write Award) for 2024–2025 in recognition of their outstanding literary works.

Ke received the award for his short story collection Một Mùa Hè Dưới Bóng Cây (A Summer in the Shade of Trees), which explores themes of emotional detachment in modern life, loneliness, and the memories of soldiers returning from war. Meanwhile, Ban was honoured for her short story collection Trên Đỉnh Giời (On the Edge of the Sky), which portrays diverse facets of human destiny.

Addressing the award ceremony in Bangkok on December 16, Dhipavadee Meksawan, head of the organising committee, said the S.E.A. Write Award has become a cherished tradition that celebrates exceptional literary voices and works reflecting the depth of the human experience.

The award, she noted, helps to enrich the spiritual life and fostering a shared cultural voice across ASEAN.

Launched in 1979 under the patronage of the Thai Royal Family, the S.E.A. Write Award is recognised as one of the most esteemed literary honours in the region.

Notably, this year’s ceremony also saw the debut of the official S.E.A. Write Award song, The Power of the Write, with lyrics by Thai poet Naowarat Pongpaiboon. The song was performed for the first time by the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and was regarded as a new highlight of the event, contributing to cultural ties among ASEAN countries. — VNA/VNS