Hanoi (VNA) - Winners of the sixth “De Men” (Cricket) Children’s Awards were announced at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in Hanoi on May 28, with composer Pham Tuyen receiving the grand prize “Hiep si De Men” (Cricket Knight) for his lifelong contributions to children’s music.
His body of work includes timeless compositions, notably “Ve que – Khuc dong dao cua be” (Back to the countryside – A child’s folk melody), co-authored with Pham Hong Tuyen.
VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang attended the ceremony and presented the prestigious award to the veteran musician.
In her remarks, Trang congratulated the laureates and highlighted the noble mission of the annual awards - to celebrate literary and artistic works inspired by and dedicated to children – the future of the nation. She expressed particular admiration for Pham Tuyen, describing his title as a testament to the love and respect generations of children and the public hold for him.
She emphasised that the De Men Children’s Awards is not just an artistic platform but also a place where imagination, compassion and dreams can take flight. Trang expressed her appreciation for the enthusiastic response from a diverse range of participants, including seasoned authors and young talents – all “Cricket Knights” in their own right.
Each awarded piece should become a lifelong companion for children, she said, expressing hope that they will enrich their childhood with wonder and creativity.
She hailed the award's new collaboration with the Vietnam Education Publishing House and singer-songwriter Nguyen Van Chung, the event’s 2025 Inspiration Ambassador, expressing her belief that such partnerships would further strengthen literary and artistic activities for children and help nurture a generation of strong, confident and compassionate Vietnamese youth.
Journalist Nguyen Thien Thuat, Editor-in-Chief of The Thao & Van Hoa (Sports & Culture) and head of the Organising Board, said that this year’s contest received hundreds of entries from across the country – ranging from comic books and short stories to poetry, fine arts, and performance works.
Each work is a world of its own, full of emotion and surprises, he said.
He extended his thanks to all the writers, parents and teachers who supported the contest, and expressed deep gratitude to the Vietnam Education Publishing House, media organisations and others who have helped bring the dreams of children to life.
Thuat voiced hope that the awards will continue to spark creative flames, helping children’s literature and the arts soar ever higher.
Apart from the Cricket Knight Award, the Organising Board announced five Cricket Desire Awards among ten shortlisted works.
The five Cricket Desire Awards went to a series of paintings by 13-year-old artist Pham Hai Nguyen; “Co mot Trai dat phang trong mat em” (There’s a flat Earth in my eyes), a poetry manuscript by Ly Thang Long; “Cuon co thu cua mot mau than” (The ancient tome of a Mother Goddess), a story by Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy from Kim Dong Publishing House; two books by Dy Duyen – “Tu nhung ruong rau o nong trai Cuc Cu” (From the vegetable fields of Cuc Cu farm - illustrated by Dom Dom) and “Nhung thu ban dung de lap day mot cai ho” (Things you use to fill a hole - illustrated by Thanh Vu), published by Kim Dong Publishing House; and “Trang trai cuoi rung” (The farm at the forest’s edge) by Pham Cong Luan, also published by Kim Dong Publishing House.
Certificates of merit was also given to works reaching the final round.
The awards’ Inspiration Ambassador Nguyen Van Chung said he believes every child holds a magical world within them. “If we plant seeds of kindness, love and creativity, those seeds will blossom into rich, fragrant fruit. I’m proud to accompany the De Men Children’s Awards – a platform that inspires and shares the best of what we can give to Vietnamese children.”
Launched by the VNA's The Thao & Van Hoa newspaper in 2020, the De Men Children’s Awards is held annually to honour outstanding creative works either by or for children. The awards comprise the Cricket Knight grand prize, several Cricket Desire prizes, and other discretionary commendations from the jury.
This year’s judging panel was chaired by poet Tran Dang Khoa, Vice President of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, and included artist Thanh Chuong, Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Van Gia, poet Nguyen Tien Thanh, and journalist Nguyen Thien Thuat, among others.
Over five seasons, the Cricket Knight Award has gone to writer Nguyen Nhat Anh (2020), Tran Duc Tien (2023) and Ly Lan (2024). A total of 23 Cricket Desire Awards and 4 commendations have been presented, including seven child authors.
In its sixth year, the awards once again celebrated outstanding works across literature, visual arts and music, reinforcing its role as a cherished cultural initiative nurturing the creative spirit of Vietnam’s younger generation./.
