In this year’s contest, many submitted entries demonstrated excellent quality, meticulous investment, and a creative presentation, showcasing both substance and form. Several original fiction pieces exhibited rich imagination, creativity, and a writing style suitable for the student age group. Numerous emotionally charged stories were shared with genuine sentiment, reflecting a deep understanding and passion for reading.
Over the past few years, Hanoi has implemented various activities contributing to the development of a reading culture in the city, notably the Reading Culture Ambassador Contest. Targeting students and university students citywide, the competition serves as an opportunity for them to exchange and share their reading experiences. This, in turn, encourages and promotes a reading movement among the younger generation, instilling habits and reading skills, thereby contributing to the development of a reading culture within schools and the community, fostering the creation of a learning society.
The contest is organized with close coordination between the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the Department of Information and Communications, the Department of Education and Training, and the Hanoi Youth Union, ensuring a cohesive and unified approach. It has garnered attention from all levels and sectors, with collaborative efforts from across the city, particularly involving students and young members of local communities.
The contest contributes to fostering a reading movement among the youth, cultivating reading habits and skills.
In 2023, the 3rd Reading Culture Ambassador Contest in Hanoi took place under the theme “Books: Connecting Knowledge – Building the Future.” During the Preliminary round, the contest garnered a significant participation of 112,320 written entries, 3,834 videos, and 3,869 paintings from primary, secondary, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities across the city. This marked a fivefold increase compared to 2022. Following the Preliminary round, the Organizing Committee received 4,040 written entries, 397 videos, and 300 high-quality paintings for the Semi-final.
This year’s contest witnessed numerous high-quality entries that displayed meticulous investment, creativity, and aesthetically pleasing content and form. Several pieces of fiction demonstrated rich imagination, innovation, and a writing style suitable for students. Many emotionally charged stories were shared with sincere emotions, reflecting a profound understanding and passion for reading. Several entries presented ideas and concrete solutions, effectively urging the community to engage in reading. Some video clips were vividly constructed, featuring meticulously invested models with unique and creative ideas. Stories and poems promoting reading were composed, affirming the role of books and reading culture, as seen in the poem “Books – the ladder to success”:
I open a page of a book
Feeling excited in my heart
Turning each page, each page
The whole world in front of me…
Many entries clearly expressed their love for books, integrating creative ideas into characters, combining illustrations with vibrant colors and whimsical drawings, and conveying meaningful messages to the community. Contestants conveyed encouraging messages about reading, such as “Books – connecting souls – shining the light of faith,” “Books – Human knowledge” cultivating reading habits, skills, and interests, and “Exploring the world of knowledge through each page of a book.” Some participants drew about the “Library in their school” with pride. Others praised reading for nurturing the soul, fostering a rich imagination, and envisioning a beautiful future: “Books, the wonder within me.” A contestant painted a picture illustrating “Gratitude” toward the firefighting forces and civilians who courageously rescued people during a mini-condominium fire. Another participant depicted “Spreading the love of reading” for ethnic Vietnamese children…
In addition to the achieved results, the contest still faces certain existing limitations and shortcomings in terms of communication efforts in some districts and towns, proving ineffective and lacking a proper understanding of the purpose and significance of the contest. Consequently, some districts and towns did not have any entries, and certain submissions were deemed rudimentary, utilizing a writing style unsuitable for the participants’ age group and failing to align with the reading movement in the capital.
At this year’s contest, the top 65 entries were selected for awards, comprising 5 first prizes, 10 second prizes, 20 third prizes, and 30 encouragement prizes. Additionally, four units, including the Departments of Education and Training in Ung Hoa, Gia Lam, My Duc, and Phu Xuyen, received the Movement Award for their achievements in promoting the 3rd Reading Culture Ambassador Contest in Hanoi – 2023, at the local level.
The success of the 3rd Reading Culture Ambassador Contest in Hanoi – 2023 demonstrates that the competition has generated a positive influence in society, attracting a diverse participation of youth, students, and scholars with a sense of responsibility, creativity, and enthusiasm. It contributes significantly to boosting the academic movement and building a culture of learning within families, educational communities, and the broader society. The 2023 contest plays a crucial role in reigniting the passion for reading among participants, especially the young generation in the capital.
Thao Nhi