The event took place within the framework of the first Francophone Comics Festival – Comics Without Borders in Ho Chi Minh City, organised by the French Institute in Viet Nam.
At the ceremony, the organising committee awarded the first prize to “Be Happier” by Truong Hoang Ngoc Anh (pen name: Nhum); two second prizes to “Today is a Good Day” by Le Trung Tien (pen name Phan) and “A Dream of Endless Spring” by Pham Thi Dao (pen name Muc Chi).
The third prize was presented to “My Husband and I” by Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai (pen name Monarch), while a consolation prize went to “Silk” by Nguyen Phat Tai (pen name Arvil Trente).
According to the organisers, the first prize-winning book “Be Happier” tells the story of a small boy deprived of both material comfort and affection, who longs to earn money to build a better life.
By chance, he encounters a mysterious man who seems to have known him before and shares with him strange insights. Only upon meeting the man again as an adult does he come to understand what he had missed while being consumed by the pursuit of money. The book is published in a unique bilingual Vietnamese–French format with a reversible layout.
Ngoc Anh shared that this was her first time participating in a comics creation contest. Although she had long been creating comics, it was only now that she felt confident enough to enter the competition organised by the French Institute in Viet Nam. As a student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, she said she would continue pursuing his comics projects in the future.
Following the success of the first contest in 2024, the second edition in 2025 received 95 valid submissions. The entries covered a wide range of themes and styles, reflecting the creativity and enthusiasm of authors from different age groups.
After preliminary and final rounds of judging, the panel—comprising renowned artists from France, Belgium and Viet Nam (Clément Baloup, Emilie Gleason, Daniel (Dany) Henrotin, Ta Huy Long, Nguyen Thanh Phong)—selected the most outstanding works.
“Be Happier” by Truong Hoang Ngoc Anh was awarded the first prize, which includes a trip to the Angoulême International Comics Festival in France in January 2026—an invaluable opportunity for Vietnamese artists to exchange ideas and gain experience from leading comic creators worldwide.
The contest not only provides a platform for authors and comic artists to showcase their talent, but also contributes to building a creative community and fostering the development of this art form in Viet Nam.
At the ceremony, the organisers also launched the third Comics Creation Contest, themed “Fake News”.
As part of the Francophone Comics Festival – Comics Without Borders, Kim Dong Publishing House is organising meet-and-greet sessions and book signings with Vietnamese and international authors and artists.
The event marks an important milestone for the comics industry and publishing cooperation among France, Belgium, Viet Nam and Cambodia, combining professional exchanges with a festival open to the public.
It also offers readers the chance to learn about the creative process of comics and to foster exchanges among authors and artists, contributing to the continued growth of Viet Nam’s comics scene.
