The Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations organised a ceremony to honour the winners of the “Hanoi in Me” writing contest on October 26.
These activities are part of a series of events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the capital city's Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - 2024) and the 25th anniversary of receiving the UNESCO "City for Peace" title (July 16, 1999 - 2024).
At the ceremony, Tran Thi Phuong, Permanent Vice President of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations, said that the "Hanoi in Me" writing contest was organised with the desire to create opportunities for international friends and Vietnamese people living abroad to express their feelings for the capital Hanoi, thereby contributing to increasing understanding of the thousand-year-old capital, the City for Peace.
At the same time, the events is expected to help promote solidarity and friendship between the Vietnamese people, especially the people of Hanoi, and international friends.
The contest received nearly 200 entries from diplomatic officials, foreign students studying in Hanoi, and Vietnamese people abroad.
The entries not only highlighted the authors' attachment to the land and people of Hanoi, but also showed their understanding of the city's history, culture, and cuisine, thereby helping to spread the beauty of Hanoi's culture and people, contributing to building the capital city to be increasingly rich, civilized, and modern.
The jury selected 50 excellent entries for the final round and selected one special prize, two first prizes, three second prizes, five third prizes, and ten consolation prizes.
With love for Hanoi, the work “Hanoi — the golden star in me” by Honorary Citizen of the Capital, Professor, Doctor Ahn Kyong Hwan (from the Republic of Korea) won the special prize.
The first prizes went to Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama and contestant Mei Leng (China).
On the occasion, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisation also organised a festival of peace and friendship melodies with the theme “Echoes of the city for peace”.
The festival included 15 outstanding art performances performed by friendship associations and member organisations of the union, with the main contents praising Hanoi and Vietnam as well as the friendship between the Vietnamese people and people of countries around the world.
