On the afternoon of December 15, the 2025 “My Bond with China” Writing and Storytelling Contest Award Ceremony took place at Vietnam Television (VTV). One hundred authors were honored for their exceptional works, which were selected by the Jury through two rounds of preliminary and final evaluations. The 100 prizes categorized as follows: 10 First Prizes, 20 Second Prizes, 30 Third Prizes, and 40 Consolation Prizes, evenly divided between two themes: “Warm Moments in My Journey of Encountering China” and “China’s Modernization Through My Lens”.
In attendance were Mr Chu Wen, Counsellor of the Embassy of China in Vietnam; Ms. Vu Thanh Thuy, Editor-in-Chief of VTV Times and Head of the Organizing Committee; and Mr. Zhang Deshan, Director of the China Cultural Center in Hanoi; along with leaders of several VTV units, the Confucius Institute, and representatives of the Jury. The event was also attended by media agencies, award-winning authors, and students from the University of Languages and International Studies - Vietnam National University, the Confucius Institute at Hanoi University, the Hanoi University of Industry, and others.
Singer Do To Hoa opens the ceremony with a musical performance.
The year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam, and has been designated as the Vietnam-China Year of People-to-People Exchange. To promote cultural exchange and strengthen mutual understanding and the emotional bonds between the two countries' peoples, VTV Times, in coordination with the China Cultural Center in Hanoi, organized a writing and storytelling contest themed “My Bond with China”. The contest was designed to further deepen the humanitarian connection between the two nations.
Ms. Vu Thanh Thuy, Editor-in-Chief of VTV Times and Head of the Organizing Committee, delivers remarks at the ceremony.
The Head of the Organizing Committee noted that, in less than three weeks, more than 800 works had been submitted. Together, these submissions paint a rich humanitarian picture, reflecting the closeness of the two cultures and the enduring bond between their peoples. This, she emphasized, is the most significant value of the contest, as it goes beyond the framework of a conventional cultural event to become a bridge of shared emotions.
Mr. Zhang Deshan, Director of the China Cultural Center in Hanoi, delivers a speech at the ceremony.
Due to the high volume of submissions, the Organizing Committee established two Jury panels for the preliminary and final rounds. Jury members were experienced journalists and experts with extensive knowledge of culture, the arts, and Vietnam-China friendly exchanges. Throughout the judging process, the Jury ensured objectivity and fairness with a strong emphasis on humanitarian and creative values.
Mr. Chu Wen, Counsellor of the Embassy of China in Vietnam, and Ms. Vu Thanh Thuy, Editor-in-Chief of VTV Times and Head of the Organizing Committee, present the First Prizes.
Mr. Zhang Deshan, Director of the China Cultural Center in Hanoi, and Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Mai, Director of the Bac Nha Institute of Applied Linguistics and Head of the Final Jury, present the Second Prizes.
Mr. Nguyen Vinh Quang, Vice President of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, and Ms. Thai Nguyet Que, Deputy Chief of the Office of VTV, present the Third Prizes.
Ms. Tran Thi Thu Ha, Deputy Head in charge of the External Television Department of VTV, and Ms. Dang Thi Diem Quynh, Deputy Head of the Arts Department of VTV and Deputy Head of the Final Jury, present the Consolation Prizes.
Author Nguyen Hieu Tin speaks at the award ceremony.
Author Nguyen Thi Thu Thanh shares her feelings on stage.
Highlights from the 2025 "My Bond with China" Writing and Storytelling Contest Award Ceremony:
Delegates visit the “China Corner” exhibition area before the ceremony began.
Singer Do To Hoa brings the audience to their feet with her rendition of “Mayila Variations” and her soaring vocals.
Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Mai, Head of the Jury, shares remarks at the ceremony.
Delegates, representatives of the Organizing Committee and Jury, and award-winning authors pose for commemorative photos after the program.
