Hanoi, 21st Oct 2010 at the Press Club (59A Ly Thai To Street & 12 Ly Dao Thanh Street) Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation The 2010 Balaban Awards go to Scholars Dao Thai Ton and Nguyen Quang Tuan for their outstanding contribution to Nôm studies. Additionally, Mr. Nguyen Tan Cuong will be awarded the “Young Nôm Scholar Award” for his promising scholarship in Nôm studies.

Dao Thai Ton was born on September 14, 1943, in Hanoi, Vietnam. He studied Bachelor of Han Nom studies at the University of Chinese studies (1965-1972). After that, he finished his master thesis of Han Nom: From some issues relating to Ho Xuan Huong’s biography to legendary and folk evidences surrounding this author. Proffesor’s guide: Cao Xuân Huy. Thesis result: Excellent. Defended master’s thesis before the council of the Institute of Han Nom studies on July, 1977. This master thesis is still kept in the library of the Institute of Han Nom studies with the signal number is LA. 44 a. Furthermore, he did his PhD thesis: Ho Xuan Huong – biography; texts; process of legend; popularization. Science consultant: Assistant Professor: Bùi Duy Tân and Lê Chí Dũng. Defended PhD’s thesis on September, 2002. Thesis result: Excellent.

Nguyen Quang Tuan was born on June 11, 1925, in Yen Mau commune, Vo Giang District, Bac Ninh province, North Vietnam. He had his education during the French domination at Buoi School, and at that time his poem has been published in Tia Sang newspaper. He also wrote “ Tieng dich song O” drama which has been performed in Hanoi Opera House and Ha Tinh Opera House in 1946. During his teaching time at Ngo Quyen High school in Hai Phong, he published Chu Manh Trinh and Thanh Tam Tai Nhan collected poems in 1953. Since after that, he spend most of his time for researching and studying The Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du. In 1955, he compiled a series of Literature textbooks to be taught at grades 6-12 in secondary level when he was a Headmaster at Duy Tan high school in Phan Rang.

Professor Nguyen Quang Tuan is an expert in Han Nom philology who is devoted all his time to read and research the ancient scripts of Vietnamese literature, especially in those of Truyen Kieu. As a result, he now owns almost of all the Kieu copies, the good destiny is, indeed, for him, the researcher with hearted devotion.

A young, talented Han Nom researcher – Mr. Nguyen Tuan Cuong who was born on May 25, 1980, in Thai Binh province. He acquired Han-Nom traditions from childhood with his mother’s lullabies such as The Tale of Kieu. At the year of deciding which field for university study, he chose Han-Nom whereas most of his friends chose IT or economics. He tried to do his best at the two universities (one for studying Classical Chinese and Nom, one for studying Modern Chinese), and he found himself suitable for studying and working in the field of Han-Nom. Between Han and Nom, he thinks Han (classical Chinese) is the common script for all of the East Asian countries, including Vietnam, but Nom is the characteristic script of Vietnam. Nom manifests what belongs only to traditional Vietnam, including its identity. That is the reason why he chooses Nom to study and research. His BA (2003) and MA (2006) theses were on Nom script, and his PhD. dissertation, which will be finished by the end of this year, is on Nom script as well. Nom is the subject of most of his articles, books and academic projects until now.