Dara started her career as a school teacher and began her writing in 1958. Working with the government as writer, translator and editor until 2001, now retired, she keeps writing and publishing children’s books, novels and poetry.
Dara’s writing theme mostly deals with women’s issues, gender and promotes a better living standard for women through education. Throughout her life, Dara untiredlessly engaged herself in numerous social work activities, especially for the benefit of children and women. Daughter of the well-known scholar Maha Sila Viravong, she also works as curator of old palm-leaf manuscripts and studies classic Lao literature, especially Sang Sin Xay Epic.
In 1996, she was awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize for Culture in honor of her efforts to preserve cultural heritage by compiling a library of palm-leaf manuscripts.
According to laoliterature.tumblr.com and nikkei-events.jp
