Hanoi (VNA) – 𝓀The Ha Noi Moi Newspaper on October 24 launched a writing contest on Thang Long-Hanoi, towards the 110th anniversary of the capital city in 2020.

The contest offers an opportunity to promote historical and cultural values, as well as socio-economic achievements of the city, said Nguyen Hoang Long, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper at the launching ceremony. “Those who love Hanoi will have a chance to express their love for and pride of the city, and understand more about the capital through its achievements and limitations,” he said. They will contribute their voice to building Hanoi, making it deserve the titles of “Heroic City,” and the “City for Peace”, and become a peaceful, friendly destination and a worth-living urban area, Long added. The contest is open to Vietnamese at home and abroad, and even foreigners in Vietnam, organisers said. Each entry should not exceed 2,000 words and should include illustrative photos. Each contestant can submit many entries at the same time.

Entries can be sent via email hnmcuoituan@hanoimoi.com.vn✨ or post office to the address Ban Chuyen san Bao Ha Noi moi, 44 Le Thai To, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, from October 25, 2019 to August 30, 2020.

The contest includes a first prize worth 30 million VND (1,291 USD); two second prizes, each worth 15 million VND; three third prizes, each valued at 10 million VND; and ten consolation prize, each valued at 3 million VND. Outstanding works will be published on Ha Noi Moi Newspaper and its e-website, and collected in a book to be released on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The award ceremony is scheduled to be held in mid-October, 2020.

In 1009, King Le Long Dinh died at the age of 24. Ly Cong Uan ascended to the throne, which began the era of the Ly dynasty (1009-1225).

Eight months after being named king, Ly Cong Uan issued the Edict on the Transfer of the Capital, moving it from Hoa Lu to Dai La and renaming it Thang Long (Rising Dragon).

In 1999, Hanoi was among five cities in five continents presented with the “City for Peace” award by the UNESCO to recognise its contributions to the struggle for peace as well as its development that meet the organisation’s standards of equality in the community, urban construction, living environment protection, culture and education promotion, and care for young generations.

From 2016 to 2018, the number of tourist arrivals in Hanoi grew by 10.2 percent each year. Notably, the annual growth rate of foreign visitors reached 22.5 percent.

🍰 Last year, the city welcomed 26.3 million visitors, up 10.4 percent and accounting for 27.5 percent of total tourist numbers in Vietnam. That included more than 6 million foreigners coming to Hanoi, equivalent to 38.7 percent of all foreign visitors to the country.

Its revenue from tourists increased from nearly 61.78 trillion VND (2.6 billion USD) in 2016 to 77.48 trillion VND in 2018, up 12.1 percent annually on average.The city is striving for 29 million tourists and 103 trillion VND in tourism revenue in 2019. Hanoi aims to welcome 30 million tourist arrivals, including 5.7 million foreigners, in 2020, and attain annual growth of 8 – 10 percent in the sector. Its revenue from tourists is expected to reach 120 trillion VND in 2020 and grow by 15 – 17 percent year on year. This year, Hanoi was again listed in various tourism rankings. Japan’s All Nippon Airways ranked the city 25th among the 26 best Asian cities for a combination of business and leisure. The capital city was ranked fourth among 25 destinations in Asia and 15th among 25 destinations in the world in 2019 by TripAdvisor. Most recently, it was named in the Cable News Network (CNN)'s list of the 17 best places in Asia.

Hanoi has recorded a GDP growth rate🧸 of 6.99 percent in the first quarter of this year, equivalent to the same period in 2018.

The city collected 68.1 trillion VND (2.92 billion USD) for the State budget in the period, equivalent to 28.6 percent of the estimate, and up 30.3 percent year on year.-VNA