Cultural contest connects Vietnamese youth in Japan with President Ho Chi Minh
A children’s cultural contest held in Tokyo has helped nurture pride, creativity and a deep connection to President Ho Chi Minh among Vietnamese families living across Japan.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan on December 15 held the award ceremony for the 2025 contest “Storytelling, drawing, singing and poetry recitation about President Ho Chi Minh for children.”
The ceremony welcomed many delegates, parents, teachers and Vietnamese children living and studying in different parts of Japan. The gathering created a respectful, warm and meaningful atmosphere.
Vietnamese diplomats and officials join a group photo with the prize winners. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The contest began in May 2025 for Vietnamese and Japanese children and teenagers, aiming to help participants better understand the ideology, ethics and lifestyle of President Ho Chi Minh.
It also targets to nurture love for the homeland, strengthen national pride, encourage artistic talent and preserve the Vietnamese language within overseas Vietnamese communities.
Through four categories – storytelling, drawing, singing and poetry recitation – the contest offered a meaningful platform for children. The activities helped spread the image of President Ho Chi Minh to younger generations and preserve Vietnamese cultural identity abroad.
This year, the contest attracted nearly 100 entries from 16 provinces and cities across Japan. Participants ranged in age from 3 to 22.
Primary school students made up the largest group, showing the contest’s strong influence on young children who represent the future of overseas Vietnamese communities.
Drawing accounted for the largest number of entries, followed by singing, poetry recitation and storytelling. These forms reflected the many ways children expressed their affection for President Ho Chi Minh.
Judges praised many entries for their careful preparation and creativity in both content and presentation. Colorful drawings portrayed President Ho Chi Minh as simple and close to children, while songs, poems and stories conveyed sincere and pure emotions.
Many works skillfully connected images of Vietnam with the children’s daily lives in Japan. These creations showed a strong sense of roots and a heartfelt attachment to the homeland despite living far away.
At the ceremony, Minister-Counselor Nguyen Sau said that 2025 marks a year of major events associated with President Ho Chi Minh, the beloved leader of the Vietnamese people.
He added that the contest serves as an educational activity shaping character, values and civic awareness among young Vietnamese overseas.
The minister-counselor shared his emotion when he spoke about the children’s pure feelings, national pride and strong attachment to Vietnam reflected in each entry.
At the awards ceremony, the organizing committee awarded 15 individual prizes and two collective prizes.
The special prize went to seven-year-old contestant Trinh Anh Tu from Aichi Province for the drawing titled “President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese young shoots abroad.”
Along with cash prizes, the organizers presented two round-trip air tickets between Japan and Vietnam. These gifts carried symbolic meaning and offered children and their families a chance to return home and visit Vietnam.
Minister-Counselor Nguyen Sau (right) and first-prize winner Kim Tra My.
First-prize winner Kim Tra My shared her excitement and pride in joining the contest and receiving an award.
She thanked the embassy staff for creating a meaningful platform that helped children learn more about President Ho Chi Minh.
My promised to study hard and behave well to live up to the title of a good child following his example.
The contest left a lasting impression and reaffirmed the role of cultural and educational activities in connecting the Vietnamese community in Japan. It continues to nurture love for the homeland and spread the nation’s positive values to younger generations.
