Hanoi (VNA) –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 anniversaryof Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties.

The event was co-hosted by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations(HAUFO), the Hanoi chapter of Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association and theAustralian Embassy in Vietnam.

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

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

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

Theyanswered multiple-choice questions and wrote essays demonstrating their insightsinto 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 150entries 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 consolationprizes.

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