Nguyen Thi Tinh Thy

Writer Nguyen Thi Tinh Thy respectfully declined a literary award from the independent (non-state run) organization Association of Independent Writers of Vietnam (Van Viet). Her book “Dare to Look Back” won for the category of research-criticism at the 7th Van Viet Literature Awards. She asked the organization to save the award, saying that she would accept it when it’s safe to do so. 

In her letter “How much longer will we suffer?” sent to Van Viet on May 1, 2022, Tinh Thy wrote: “Is there anyone on earth, throughout the ancient and modern eras, in both eastern and western literature who has had to write a letter like this? One that asks for the award organizer to PLEASE KEEP THE AWARD FOR ME?”. 

Tinh Thy cited veiled threats from security police who suggested she should not accept the award in order to keep the peace. “If you want to receive the prize, there should be no award presentation ceremony, no filming, and no posts on social media so that you can avoid getting into unnecessary trouble,” she repeated what the authorities told her.

A few months ago another award recipient, Thai Hao, was assaulted by plainclothes thugs on his way to meet with members of Van Viet. Tinh Thy wrote she recently met with Thai Hao and saw that his face still bore the scars from that altercation.