The winning works were “Green Shoots Sprouting on the Rocky Peak of Chư Nâm” by Trúc Phùng, which received a Consolation Prize in the Photo Album category, and “‘Doctor’ in the Hearts of the People” by Đào An Duyên, honored in the Inspiring Character category. Both authors are members of the Literature Subcommittee of the Gia Lai Association of Literature and Arts.
Trúc Phùng’s photo reportage chronicles the journey of Đinh Việt Thanh and Phan Thị Thúy Phượng, a couple from Pleiku, as they plant seedlings atop Chư Nâm mountain. The project reflects their belief that each newly planted shoot brings them closer to building a “forest of happiness.”
Đào An Duyên’s entry portrays Lê Quốc Trung (born 1975), a resident of Diên Hồng Ward, Gia Lai province, and his nearly two decades of volunteer service. Without formal medical training, Trung has traveled to remote villages to care for and support people affected by leprosy, earning him deep trust and respect comparable to that of a doctor.
Launched from April 16 to October 16, 2025, the fifth “Living Beautifully” contest attracted nearly 700 entries nationwide across reportage, memoir, notes, short stories, and photo albums. Of these, 246 works were published on Thanh Niên Online and in print, with 26 short stories, 40 reportages, and 29 photo works advancing to the final round.
At the awards ceremony, organizers presented 27 prizes, including three first prizes, four second prizes, six third prizes, and 14 consolation prizes. Additional honors were given for Most Popular Article, Outstanding Environmental Article, and Inspiring Character, recognizing five individuals.
On the occasion, Thanh Niên Newspaper also launched “The Miracle of Kindness,” a book compiling works that reached the final round of the contest.
