At the award ceremony on the morning of 30/12, People's Artist Le Tien Tho, Director of the Institute for Research, Conservation and Promotion of National Culture, stated that playwright Le Duy Hanh was among the nation's greatest theater authors of the past 50 years, alongside Luu Quang Vu, Xuan Trinh, and Tao Mat.

Playwright Le Duy Hanh was born in 1947 in Binh Dinh, now Gia Lai province. He began writing historical theater scripts in 1980 with "Tam su Ngoc Han". The play was performed over 700 times by the Van cong Ho Chi Minh City Cai Luong Troupe, marking a significant milestone for artists My Chau (as Ngoc Han) and Tuan Thanh (as Nguyen Hue).

Nghe si Kim Tu Long, Que Tran in an excerpt from the play "The Swan Robe" in 2013, written by playwright Le Duy Hanh and adapted for cai luong by Hoang Song Viet. Video: YouTube Kim Tu Long Official

Throughout his career, Le Duy Hanh wrote many acclaimed scripts, including "Hoa doc trong vuon" (about Ngo Quyen), "Ly Chieu Hoang", "Hoang hau hai vua" (Duong Van Nga), "Hon tho ngoc" (Ngoc Han), and "Doi do" (Ly Cong Uan). He also penned experimental scripts such as "Chuyen la", "Hon tuong", and "Dien kich mot minh".

He served as Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association for a period, establishing the Tran Huu Trang competition to foster young talent. The playwright received the State Award, a first class Labor Medal, and numerous other accolades. He passed away in September 2023 due to old age and declining health.

Playwright Le Duy Hanh in 2021. Photo: Mai Nhat

The Outstanding Author category was awarded to playwright Luu Quang Ha (1928-2008), known for his script "Dem trang". Le Sa Long won the Outstanding Artist award, and Meritorious Artist Tran Tua received the Outstanding Singer award.

Three awards for Outstanding Theater Manager were presented to People's Artist Le Ngoc, Chairman of Le Ngoc Theater; Trung Hieu, Director of Hanoi Drama Theater; and Ho Ngoc Trinh, head of the Vam Co Cai Luong Troupe in Tay Ninh.

The Outstanding Work award recognized several productions: "Nguoc chieu binh an" (Vietnam National Drama Theater), "Ngheu, So, Oc, Hen" (Vietnam Circus Federation), "Dau thieng Ha Noi" tuong (Vietnam National Traditional Stage Theater), and "Tu Viet Bac ve Ha Noi" cai luong (Vietnam National Traditional Stage Theater). The Hau Thanh commune tuong club, now Giai Lac commune, Nghe An province, received the Outstanding Amateur Tuong Club award.

During the event, the organizers also honored playwright Mai Van Lang and director Nguyen Thanh Hiep as Outstanding Art Propagators. Director Thanh Hiep expressed his emotion, considering the award not just a personal joy but, more importantly, a recognition and understanding of his long-standing dedication to traditional art.

Director Thanh Hiep, whose real name is Tang Hoang Thuan, is currently the Deputy Head of the Culture and Sports Department at Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper. Since 2010, he has directed and organized over 1,200 performances of the School Theater program at 200 schools in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces. He has also directed historical plays and performance art programs for students, including "Tran Quoc Toan ra quan", "Thai hau Duong Van Nga", "Dung tuong Nguyen Dia Lo", and "Tran Binh Trong". Additionally, he has overseen many programs such as "San khau Vang", "Nhung canh chim khong moi", and "Cau vong tuoi tho".

From left: People's Artist Le Tien Tho presenting awards to playwright Mai Van Lang and director Thanh Hiep.

Dao Tan (1845-1907) was a poet, tuong playwright, and a leading artist in Vietnam during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He established the first school in Vietnam to train tuong artists, contributing to the genre's golden age and its continued existence today. His name is associated with tuong works like "Ho sanh dan", "Co Thanh", and "Tram Huong Cac".

The award named after him was initiated in 2000 by the Institute for Research, Conservation and Promotion of National Culture in collaboration with Van Hien Viet Nam magazine. The event aims to honor groups and individuals with outstanding works in theater, literature, painting, and music who actively contribute to cultural exchange and integration, based on the conservation and promotion of traditional artistic values.

Previously, the award was held once every two years. Since 2005, the event has been organized annually. In 2023, the award ceremony restarted after a four-year hiatus due to Covid-19. The 2025 Dao Tan Awards are held as part of the Institute's 25th anniversary celebration.

Phuong Linh