On December 1^st, the nation-wide painting competition for primary school children in Vietnam under the theme “I Draw My Dreams” which is co-organised by Embassy of Denmark and the Vietnam-Denmark Friendship Association VIDAFA announced the winners. The prizes were awarded during a ceremony and exhibition at the Danish residence.

The painting competition “Denmark in your eyes - I Draw My Dreams” attracts the participation of nearly 800 students from all over Vietnam and among them 63 were awarded with prizes.

The competition is an initiative of the cultural exchange programme “Denmark in your eyes” and VIDAFA – to celebrate the 46^th anniversary of Vietnam – Denmark diplomatic relations.

Ambassador of Denmark to Vietnam Charlotte Laursen commented on the quality of the paintings “I am very impressed by the creativeness of the children participating in the competition. The use of bright colors, and the stories about Denmark and Vietnam portrayed in each painting bring me to the journey of children’s dreams. Their dreams are so happy, so lively and full of surprise. I am very happy that the competition provided the children an opportunity to play and to be creative”.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Chairman of VIDAFA Mr. Tran Hong Ha, at the event, said: “Through the use of various topics and materials in the paintings, the students expressed their beautiful dreams about a green and clean world, about a safe and sustainable environment. Their dreams are also the messages they want to share with all of us: Let’s take the responsibility in protecting the environment, keeping peace for the world, and building friendship among different nations”.

Also at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Bui Khac Son awarded the medal for peace and friendship between peoples for Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Charlotte Laursen.

Mr. Bui Khac Son said that Charlotte Laursen has made a very positive contribution to the promotion of bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark in the fields of investment, trade, energy, education, climate change, clean energy and environmental protection. She is always enthusiastic in supporting Danish-Vietnamese Association in Viet Nam, supporting many delegations of Vietnamese organizations and agencies to visit and seek opportunities of cooperation in Denmark. .

The Friendship medal is to recognize and honor Charlotte Laursen's contributions to people's diplomacy, contributing to the strengthening of the traditional goodwill friendship between the two countries.

VUFO Vice Chairman Bui Khac Son awards Friendship medal to Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Charlotte Laursen

“Denmark in your eyes” competition

In 2016, during the 45^th anniversary of Vietnam -Denmark diplomatic relations, the first competition under the title “Denmark in your eyes” was launched by Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam and VIDAFA. Since then, the competition became an annual event, with different theme each year.

In 2017, the painting competition “Denmark in your eyes - I Draw My Dreams” attracts the participation of nearly 800 students from all over Vietnam and among them 63 were awarded with prizes. The special prize (a Canon camera and a set of LEGO toy) went to Do Khanh Linh, student of class 3D, Le Van Tam primary school, Thanh Hoa city. The two first prizes (LEGO toys) went to Nguyen Minh Hoang, class 4B, Ngoc Lam school, Long Bien, Hanoi, and Vu Huyen Phuong from class 3B, Cuong Son school, Luc Nam, Bac Giang province.

Mr. Tran Hong Ha presents special prizes and first prizes to pupils

Ngoc Tran