The top prize at the 8th National Book Awards is expected to be significant in both content and form, with one of the two highest awards going to a translated work. Do Quang Dung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Publishers Association and Vice Chairman of the awards council, stated at a press conference on the afternoon of 3/3 in Hanoi that many high-value books were submitted this year, and the top prize winner will be "excellent and beautiful".

The awards ceremony on 8/3 will honor 50 books and book sets, including two top prizes, 17 second prizes, 23 third prizes, 5 consolation prizes, and 5 reader's choice awards. This year's awards aim to enhance selection quality and recognize more valuable and influential works.

Do Quang Dung at the press conference before the awards ceremony. Photo: Organizing committee

The awards saw participation from 46 out of 52 publishers nationwide, submitting 397 works (512 books). The number of entries increased compared to the previous season, with a winning rate of one in ten books. The judging council comprises professors, scientists, leading experts, and experienced managers. After two rounds of preliminary and final selection, a review round will ensure fair and objective judging.

This year's event introduces several new aspects in its award structure, book selection process, and work quality. The council streamlined categories from five to four: political, economic, social sciences, and humanities books. Nguyen Nguyen, Director of the Department of Publication, Printing, and Distribution, explained that this change is practical, as political theory, economics, and humanities are increasingly intertwined, making separate categorization difficult. "An interdisciplinary council will enable experts to cross-read, enhancing the quality of the awards", he said.

According to Nguyen Nguyen, "never before have books on political theory and economics received such attention". This year, the council not only selected theoretically sound books but also recognized works addressing issues of public concern.

The Director of the Department of Publication, Printing, and Distribution discusses changes to the awards. Photo: Organizing committee

The science category expanded to include education and innovation. Additionally, the organizing committee utilized media data analysis in the selection process. For works nominated for high awards, they collaborated with a technology unit to compile and analyze public opinion data from the press and media platforms. Public sentiment accounts for 15-25% of the scoring, ensuring social consensus and reflecting public interest in the works.

The 8th National Book Awards include a category for translated works, aiming to encourage publishers to promote this segment. When judging, the council focuses on the content and social significance conveyed by the work. Concurrently, the quality of the translation is also considered. If a book has an appealing title and addresses current issues but has a poor translation, the council will not select it.

Beyond nominations from publishers, the awards continue to expand their reach, allowing readers and media agencies to submit works. The reader's choice award category is maintained, combining expert judging with public voting. Currently, the organizing committee has received 1,368 nominations for 150 books.

The novel "Mua Do" by writer Chu Lai is nominated in the reader's choice award category. The work, first published by Nha Xuat Ban Quan Doi Nhan Dan in 2016, was adapted into a film of the same name, released in late 8/2025, grossing nearly 714 billion VND. Photo: Nha Xuat Ban Quan Doi Nhan Dan

The 8th National Book Awards ceremony will take place at 20h on 8/3, broadcast live on VTV1. As part of the program, the organizing committee will collaborate with publishers to display and introduce a series of high-value books released recently and past award winners.

The National Book Awards have been held annually since 2004, initially named Vietnam Books. In 2018, the event was officially renamed the National Book Awards. At the 7th awards, top prizes went to "Gia Dinh - Sai Gon - TP HCM: A Long History" (author Nguyen Dinh Tu), "Handbook of Diagnosis and Treatment of Internal Diseases" (edited by Associate Professor, Doctor Dao Xuan Co), and five volumes of "Anthology of Military Writers - Proceedings - Works" from Van Nghe Quan Doi Magazine.

Phuong Linh