Vietnam News Agency Deputy General Director Đoàn Thị Tuyết Nhung (left) and OIF’s Regional Representative Edgar Doerig (right) award the first prize to the winning writers. — VNS Photo Lê Việt Dũng

HÀ NỘI — The 9th annual Francophone Young Reporters competition culminated in an awards ceremony on Thursday, celebrating the burgeoning talent of young writers and their passion for the French language.

Organised by Le Courrier du Vietnam, Việt Nam’s only French-language newspaper, the competition drew a record 107 entries from 190 participants, including writers from Romania and Congo.

Thirteen prizes were awarded, including those sponsored by the Romanian Embassy, the Moroccan Embassy, the AUF Asia Pacific, Phenikaa University and the University of Science and Technology of Hà Nội.

The first prize went to the group of authors Đỗ Thanh Tâm, Trịnh Phương Linh, Nguyễn Thị Liễu Hằng, Ngô Quốc Khánh and Phạm Hoàng Hải for their work 'JT HANUvelles, a creative Francophone adventure.'

Lê Thị Ngọc Lan came in second with her article 'Mobile Cafe: A start-up combining learning and cultural exchange', followed by Nguyễn Quỳnh Ly, Nguyễn Hà Phương, Nguyễn Thị Thu Huyền and Đào Minh Phương for their piece 'To enhance Vietnamese cultural heritage using technology.'

First prize winner Trịnh Phương Linh told Việt Nam News that her team wrote the story to offer young people a new way to learn French and show them that French is a beautiful language that is not as difficult as it seems.

"As members of the HANU Francophoniles club, we've had a lot of fun producing French news broadcasts. We wanted to share our experiences and what we've learned with others, so we wrote about our club," she said.

A group photo at the ceremony. — Photo courtesy of Le Courrier du Vietnam

Speaking at the event, Vietnam News Agency's Deputy General Director Đoàn Thị Tuyết Nhung highlighted the competition’s success in fostering interest in French among young Vietnamese.

She noted the competition’s yearly growth as a testament to its appeal and reach.

The competition aligns with the spirit of the 19th Francophonie Summit, which took place in October in Villers-Cotterêts and Paris, centering on the theme 'Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in French.'

With the support of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), Le Courrier du Vietnam designed this year’s theme to encourage participants to think creatively and embrace entrepreneurial mindsets within the Francophone community.

Nguyễn Hồng Nga, Editor-in-Chief of Le Courrier du Vietnam, emphasised the broader impact of the event.

“Today, we not only celebrate the achievements of our young talents, but reaffirm the core values of the Francophone community: French language and cultural diversity," she said.

"This year’s competition has encouraged participants to engage in innovation and start-ups, a theme inspired by the 19th Francophonie Summit."

Reflecting on the competition’s success, head of the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation in Việt Nam Pierre du Ville praised the participants for their quality entries and commitment to fieldwork.

"We greatly appreciate your creativity and especially your desire to tell beautiful local stories that will inspire many young people," he said.

The competition also reflects broader Francophone collaboration in Việt Nam and across Asia-Pacific. Edgar Doerig, OIF’s Regional Representative, commended the initiative, underscoring its importance as Việt Nam strengthens ties with the Francophone community.

“I greatly appreciate their writing quality and originality, and I would like to congratulate all the participants, the winners, and their teachers," he said.

"It is they who transmit knowledge and, through it, the love for the French language and the values of solidarity and tolerance that it carries."

The Francophone Young Reporters competition, now in its 9th year, has become a flagship event for Le Courrier du Vietnam, expanding the reach of French in Việt Nam and the region. — VNS