In autumn 2017, the Goethe-Institut Hanoi invited writers in Vietnam to submit short stories which would give German readers an impression of life in Vietnam today. We received several hundred submissions. For these contributions we would like to sincerely thank you. We received stories about everyday life, about life in the city, in the countryside, about being together with the family, with friends, with animals at home and in nature. The stories were touching and gave new, authentic impressions of Vietnam.
Five independent experts on Vietnamese literature selected the best stories. They received the submissions anonymously and worked their way through hundreds of pages. Thank you very much to them. Then three teams worked on translating the stories for a year and a half. The stories will now appear as a book at the Frankfurt Book Fair in autumn 2020. Many thanks to the Mitteldeutsche Verlag!
Alias: Liêu Thái, born 1976
lives in Điện Bàn, Quảng Nam, works as independent journalist.
The selected short story is: TÔ GIỚI
German title: Konzession
born 1983
has a degree from Culture University Hanoi.
Has been working for online paper Tổ quốc
The selected short story is: TRƯỞNG THỨ
German title: der Stellvertreter
born 1982, has a degree from Dance Academy Vietnam, lives in Hanoi.
Has a number of publications, film scripts for TV, Independent contributor for ANTV and media company STV
The selected short story is: DỌ-TƠM-AMÍ
German title: Brauchtum
born 1977 in Tuy Hoa, Phú Yên. Holds a university degree in economy and law
Works as journalist for magazine Nha Trang- Khánh Hòa.
Previous publications: VỢ ĐẸP (Short story collection, 2007), TRÒ ĐỜI (Short story collection, 2015)
The selected short story is: MẸ QUÊ
German title: Mutter vom Land
Alias: Ninh Nguyễn
born 1973 in Thanh Hóa
mastered the Nguyen Du Writing School.
The selected short story is: BAY KHẨN TĂNG NI
German title: den Weg hinauf gehen
Alias Lê Sông, born 1990 in Hanoi, lives in Binh Duong
has a degree from the Academy for Theater and Film, translates from Chinese to Vietmnamese film scripts
The selected short story is: CHỐC LÁT NỮA ĐỜI HẮN SẼ ĐỔI THAY
German title: sein Leben wird bald ganz anders sein
Born in 1995, in Dong Nai
She used to be a collaborator for a number of newspapers for teenagers, adolescents and Radio Ho Chi Minh City.
She is currently the Managing Director of HOA MO TRANG CO., LTD
Selected short story: Cho Xoi Cua Me
German title: Mutters Dampfgarer
(*1958) studied literature at the University of Hanoi. He was drafted into the military in 1978 and served as a lecturer at the military academy. After the war he continued his studies and graduated in 1983. In 1984 he was appointed to the Academy of Vietnamese Sciences, Department of Literary Studies. In 2010 he was elected president of the Hanoi Writers' Union. However, he resigned in 2017 to oppose the intervention of this association in the preparation of the XIIth Congress of Writers. Congress. His membership of the Academy of Sciences also ended in 2018.
Pham Xuan Nguyen was self-taught in English, French and Russian and translated various novels and theoretical writings into Vietnamese. He enjoys recognition as a literary critic among the general public. He is actively involved in public discussion and advocates, among other things, the freedom of the word and diversity of opinion.
born 1987 in Hanoi
Lê Thị Tu Ngọc graduated from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities Hanoi in 2009, major subject: foreign literature. 2012 Master of European and American Literature. She is currently working as a literary editor for Phu Nu Publishing and is responsible for legal issues.
Languages: Vietnamese, English, Korean.
Born 1987
graduated from Open University Hanoi in 2008, specializing in English. He works freelance as a journalist, photojournalist, publisher, filmmaker and writer.
Languages: Vietnamese, English.
Born 1954 in Ha Bac, Vietnam
graduated from Karl-Marx University Leipzig in 1976, specializing in employment law. From 1977-1997 she worked as a lecturer at the University of Economics Hanoi. From 1997 to 2003 she worked for Goethe-Institut Hanoi as a management assistant. In 2004-2009 she returned to the University of Economics Hanoi. She holds a doctorate in business law (1993). She has been retired since 2009 and has since been involved in the work of the Goethe-Institut Hanoi on a project-by-project basis
Languages: Vietnamese, German.
Foto: Goethe-Institut Korea/OZAK
born 1956 in Hanoi.
studied architecture at the Bauhaus University Weimar (1980). From 1982 to 1994, he worked as an architect in Erfurt. From 1994 to 2001 he was a court interpreter in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. Since 2001 he has worked in Vietnam as freelance interpreter and translator. He translated more than 30 literary works.
Languages: Vietnamese, German, English.
Nha Thuyen graduated in 2010 from the University of Education Hanoi, major subject Literary Language. She works as a freelance writer, translator, editor in Hanoi. She is also a well-known blogger.
Languages: Vietnamese, English.
