Thousands of voices unite to promote culture of law compliance nationwide
With contributions ranging from schoolchildren to senior citizens, “The Culture of Law Compliance 2025” writing contest has grown into a nationwide civic conversation on how respect for the law takes root in daily life across Vietnam.
THE HANOI TIMES — Nearly 4,000 submissions from across Vietnam have turned the first edition of the writing contest "The Culture of Law Compliance 2025" into a major public forum that reflects strong respect for the law among citizens nationwide.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thanh Loi, Editor-in-Chief of Kinh te & Do thi (Economic & Urban) Newspaper and Head of the Organizing Committee, said many submissions show serious investment and creative presentation.
Deputy Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Luu, second from the right, and representatives of the Organizing Board present awards to the First Prize winners. Photos: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times
Speaking at the award ceremony today (December 23), Loi highlighted emotional artworks created by primary school students as a notable feature.
"The overall quality of the entries reflected sincere thinking, authentic emotions and diverse perspectives on law compliance drawn from everyday life," said Loi.
Many articles have portrayed living and working in accordance with the Constitution and the law, as well as effective models and practical approaches to legal education and communication.
Authors also proposed solutions to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement and expand access to legal knowledge for citizens and businesses.
Their contributions expressed strong respect for the Constitution and the law, supporting the construction of Vietnam’s socialist rule-of-law state of the people, by the people and for the people.
“The contest’s greatest achievement lies in the strong spread of respect for the law in everyday life and in the performance of duties by officials and public servants,” Loi said.
Its influence extends beyond Hanoi to many localities nationwide.”
He added that many practical proposals from the submissions merit further study and real-world application to strengthen the development and implementation of a culture of law compliance in the city.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Loi, Editor-in-Chief of Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper, speaks at the event.
Pham Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Justice, emphasized that efforts to streamline administrative structures and improve governance efficiency require officials, civil servants and citizens to possess strong professional capacity, ethical standards and a firm culture of law compliance.
“Building a culture of law compliance plays a central role in shaping elegant and civilized Hanoians, developing a cultured, modern and civilized capital and meeting the current demands of building Vietnam’s socialist rule-of-law state,” she said.
“A culture of law compliance raises legal awareness, fosters civilized behavior toward the law and spreads positive legal values throughout the community,” Huong, also Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi Council for Legal Dissemination and Education Coordination, added.
Phan Thi Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Nghia Do Ward People’s Committee in Hanoi, won a first prize for her article “The Culture of Law Compliance, the Foundation of Discipline for Vietnam’s Era of Aspiration”.
She said her writing drew from her legal education and years of experience in judicial affairs and state administration.
Ha stressed that the law exists to serve the people and that the core challenge lies in effective implementation.
“When officials and citizens share a clear understanding of the law’s righteousness, problem-solving becomes smoother,” she said.
Such consensus, she added, helps improve enforcement effectiveness and strengthens public trust in authorities.
Another first prize went to Nguyen Van Khanh from the Hanoi Law University for her article “Building a Culture of Law Compliance among Students of Hanoi Law University”, which aims to promote respect for the law in academic environments.
Writers receive consolation prizes at the event.
From a law student’s perspective, Khanh proposed solutions to raise awareness, encourage lawful behavior and highlight the importance of recognizing positive actions.
She expressed hope that the contest entries would help young people better understand the significance of law compliance and apply it actively in daily life.
The writing contest The Culture of Law Compliance 2025 was launched in early November 2025 by the Hanoi Department of Justice and Economic & Urban Newspaper to mark Vietnam Law Day 2025 (November 9).
Many local leaders, schools, and universities submitted entries directly, broadening the contest’s reach and impact. Notable highlights included the oldest contributor, aged 92, and the youngest participant, just seven years old.
Contestants came from all 126 wards and communes of Hanoi, as well as many provinces and cities nationwide, including two major city of Haiphong and Ho Chi Minh City and provinces of Quang Tri, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Phu Tho, Cao Bang and Hung Yen.
Participants represented diverse backgrounds, ranging from grassroots officials and armed forces personnel to teachers, pupils, students, workers and foreigners living and working in Hanoi.
Their entries spanned a wide range of formats, including reports, commentaries, analytical essays, academic papers, memoir-style writings, short stories, photo essays and videos.
After preliminary and final judging rounds, the jury selected 27 outstanding works for awards, including two first prizes, four second prizes, six third prizes and 15 consolation prizes.
