Vietnam has entered the 2028 Hans Christian Andersen Award with two candidates for the first time in the prize’s 70‑year history. Writer Nguyen Huu Quynh Huong and illustrator Ta Huy Long were selected by the national IBBY chapter.

The Vietnam chapter of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) chose the two nominees. This selection follows the IBBY system, where each national section puts forward outstanding authors and illustrators from its country.

Vietnam’s IBBY chapter was only established a few years ago, which explains why the country has not had candidates before now. The recent formation of the chapter has allowed Vietnamese creators to be presented on the international stage.

The Hans Christian Andersen Award, created by IBBY in 1953 and presented every two years, honors living authors and illustrators whose whole body of work has made outstanding, lasting contributions to children’s literature and art. Winners will be announced in April 2028 at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy.

Both Huong and Long have influence beyond Vietnam. Their books have been translated into other languages, and they have taken part in international literary events as speakers and guests, according to Vietnam’s IBBY chapter.