Writing contest highlights life of Vietnamese women abroad
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Bui Le Thai poses for a photo with delegates at the contest award ceremony. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – An award ceremony was held in Budape𒐪st on June 15 for the first-ever literary contest dedicated to Vietnamese women living oversಞeas.
The event held greater significance as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Hungary and the 35th anniversary of Vietnam – EU diplomatic ties.
From a pool of 182 submissions by 144 authors from 18 countries, the organisers selected 18 winning pieces in two categories: poetry and prose. The 2,000 USD first prize went to “Vong quay” (The Rotation) by Nguyen Thi Hong An from France. A notable surprise for the jury was 76-year-old Huynh Ngoc Nga from Italy, the oldest participant, who won the second prize for her short story “My Father’s Chessboard”.
Poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association and head judge, said the contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme. This was a new and complex topic, yet profoundly moving, he noted, adding that the entries offered readers a deeper understanding of the life of overseas Vietnamese women.
Dr. Phan Bich Thien, President of the Vietnamese Women’s Forum in Europe and head of the organising committee, said the life abroad demands great effort and silent sacrifices from Vietnamese women, and often involves untold struggles. The writing competition provided a wonderful platform for them to share their personal stories of navigating life far from the homeland, she added.
The award ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Hungarian National Assembly, also saw the presence of First Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Matrai Marta./.
This year’s event also included men, business leaders, and intellectuals, helping foster dialogue, networking, and empowerment on the path to position the Vietnamese value in the world.
Vietnamese is more than just a language—it is a bridge to our roots, culture, and traditions. In today’s podcast, we’ll hear stories from Vietnamese language classes in Australia, Thailand, and Russia to better understand the efforts made by overseas Vietnamese communities to preserve the language for future generations and to bring Vietnamese culture closer to international friends.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) wrapped up the 2024 training course on Vietnamese language teaching for Vietnamese teachers abroad, the 12th edition of its kind, in Hanoi on December 13.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Vietnam continues to sit just behind continental powerhouses Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The event served as a vibrant display of solidarity, promoting peace, cooperation, and development through cultural dialogue, and reaffirmed HCM City's role as a dynamic hub for cultural diplomacy and international friendship.
The Indian Film Festival not only honours the artistic value of cinema but also contributes to strengthening the friendship and enhancing cultural exchange between the people of Son La in particular and Vietnam in general and India.
An art exchange programme between Vietnam and Cambodia was held on the evening of June 13 in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long as part of the 2025 Cambodia Culture Week in Vietnam.
Digitalisation does not mean commercialisation or oversimplification of culture. It is a way of selecting, adapting, and spreading traditional values through a modern language.
The 11th edition is expected to serve as a vital channel for conveying Vietnam’s development message to the international community, and represent a milestone in the implementation of the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 57 on continuing to improve the quality and efficiency of external information service in the new situation.
In the standard chess event for grandmasters, Vietnamese player Banh Gia Huy claimed the championship title in Group 1, while Vu Nguyen Bao Linh took the top position in the women's category of the blitz chess event at the second Quang Ninh GM/IM/FM Chess Tournament 2025.
The Cambodian Culture Week in Vietnam 2025, an important part of the countries' cultural and artistic cooperation plan for the 2023-2027 period, takes place in Bac Lieu and Vinh Long provinces.