A ceremony took place in Hanoi on December 21 to award winners of a competition on Australia and its people, as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties, VNA reported.

The event was co-hosted by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations (HAUFO), the Hanoi's Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.

The competition not only helps students understand Australia, its people, and the Australia-Vietnam relationship but also improves their self-learning skills, reading and writing proficiency, as well as ability to use and practise English.

Two students from Ngo Si Lien secondary school in Hoan Kiem district secured the first prize in the collective category. Photo: HAUFO

4,315 students of all ages from 45 schools in Hanoi entered the writing contest. Of which 20% of the entries are in English. Many schools participated in the contest with a large number of entries such as Viet Duc High School (1,595 entries), Giang Vo Secondary School (382 entries), Vinh Hung Secondary School (360 entries), and M.V. Lomonosov Secondary-High School (301 entries).

They answered multiple-choice questions and wrote essays demonstrating their insights into Australia and its people across different realms such as history, culture, economy, geography, education, as well as cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Australia.

With 150 entries selected for the final round, the judging board presented three collective prizes; and 20 individual ones, including two first, three second, five third and 10 consolation prizes.

Two students from Ngo Si Lien secondary school in Hoan Kiem district secured the first prize in the collective category, while Dao Nguyen Gia Han from Ngo Si Lien secondary school and Nguyen Hong Phuc from Viet Duc high school won the first prize in the individual category.

The competition helped the children learn about Australia and its people and the relationship between our two countries, while also improving their writing, English language and self-study skills. Photo: HAUFO

Speaking at the event, HAUFO President Nguyen Ngoc Ky said nearly two months since its launch, the competition has received enthusiastic response from teachers and students in Hanoi, with a total of 4,315 entries from 45 secondary and high schools.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski said Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic ties in 1973, and just one year later, the first Vietnamese students arrived in Australia on scholarships. To date, over 80,000 Vietnamese students have pursued their study at educational establishments in Australia.

He thanked the students for participating and HAUFO for organizing the contest, saying “So many students have been involved in this, it really does touch me personally – the level of commitment and sincerity that the Vietnamese people feel towards Australia.”

He also stressed the importance of education to the Australia-Vietnam relationship, “Education is the key that will unlock Vietnam’s future. It’s also the key that will unlock your futures – each and every one of you. If Vietnam’s future rests in the hands of you – who have been writing these essays – then I would say that Vietnam is in very safe hands indeed.”

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