The memoir Ganh Ganh…Gồng Gồng… (Burden of Life) by female documentary filmmaker Nguyễn Thị Xuan Phượng of HCM City was named the best literary work in 2020 from the HCM City Writers’ Association. File photo courtesy of the publishing house

HCM CITY  The HCM City Writers' Association has honoured publicly acclaimed literary works created in 2020 at an awards ceremony held in HCM City.

The memoir Ganh Ganh… Gồng Gồng… (Burden of Life) by female documentary filmmaker Nguyễn Thị Xuan Phượng of HCM City was named the best literary work.

The 308-page book includes stories about the ups and downs of the life of the 92-year-old Phượng since 1945.

Phượng quit school to join the war of resistance against the French in Huế City in 1945.

She served as a dynamite maker and a doctor, before being assigned by President Hồ Chí Minh to become an interpreter and guide to foreign journalists and filmmakers in 1967.

In 1968, she became a documentary director and war correspondent for the Television Department (now Viet Nam Television).

She has made a series of documentaries about the country’s historical events such as Khi Tiếng Sung Vừa Tắt (When Gun Sound Ends), 1975; Khi Những Nụ Cười Trở Lại (When Smiles Return), 1976; and Hai Tiếng Que Hương (My Homeland), 1978.

In 2011, she was conferred the Ordre national de la Legion d'honneur (National Order of the Legion of Honour), the highest French order of merit, both military and civil, for her contributions to developing Viet Nam - France relations.

Ganh Ganh…Gồng Gồng… was published by the Culture, Literature and Arts Publishing House.

The association also awarded a prize to the novel Đất K (Land K) by author Bui Quang Lam, and poetry book Bấm Chan Qua Tuổi Dại Khờ (Walking by Innocent Age) by poet Cao Xuan Sơn.

Both works were released by the Writers’ Association Publishing House.

According to the association’s managing board, the association will recruit 21 new members at the ceremony.

Author Trịnh Bích Ngan, chairwoman of the association’s managing board, said: “The association is working to build solidarity among members and create inspirations for each member to release more quality literary works in the future.” -- VNS