VOV reporter Nguyen Xuan Hung delivers the acceptance speech at the ABU awards ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, October 22, 2024.

The winning work, titled "The way home – Na’s story", featured the successful rescue of an Asiatic Black Bear in Vietnam from a 20-year-long captivity.

“I'm lucky to be here, in beautiful Istanbul, representing my country, my colleagues, and the Voice of Vietnam, knowing that all of them deserve to stand here today, to receive this honor. I’ll leave you with a promise – to use my luck, my knowledge, and everything I’ve learned from TRT, ABU, and all of you here today, to report the news better,” said VOV reporter Nguyen Xuan Hung in his acceptance speech on behalf of the production team.  

Hung said the rescue of the bear was made possible by the dedicated efforts of veterinarians and rescuers at the international animal welfare organization Four Paws International, which drove him to cover the story. Rescued bears, Hung said, are given a new name after they’re saved, which symbolizes the new life and family that bears like Na find at the sanctuary in Ninh Binh province.

This year, 342 entries competed for ABU Prizes, including 110 radio entries.