Answering 10 frequently asked questions about the 54th UPU International Letter Writing Competition

The 54th UPU Letter Writing Competition is attracting a lot of students. Below are answers to some questions and concerns about the competition for students.

In 2025, the UPU international letter writing competition has the theme: “Imagine you are the ocean. Write a letter to someone explaining why and how they should take good care of you”. In English: “Imagine you are the ocean. Write a letter to someone explaining why and how they should take good care of you”.

1. Who can participate in the 54th UPU Letter Writing Competition?

According to the Organizing Committee, the contestants are Vietnamese students from 9 to 15 years old (at the time of submitting the contest entry letter).

2. Can UPU letters be typed or photocopied?

The Organizing Committee only accepts handwritten letters. Typed or photocopied letters are not valid.

3. Can we send the application letter in English?

Entries written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Vietnamese translation. The jury will judge according to the Vietnamese version.

4. Should the entry be written on both sides of the paper?

The letter must be clearly and neatly written by hand on one side of the paper (do not write on the back, you can write on multiple pages, number the pages, and staple them to avoid confusion). Letters typed or photocopied are not valid. The Organizing Committee requires that you write on one side of the paper to ensure that the entire content of the letter is preserved. When writing on two sides of the paper, if the pen is bold, the letters on the back may be imprinted or spread to the front, making the letter smudged or difficult to read.

5. Is participation in the UPU international letter writing competition compulsory for students?

According to the Organizing Committee, the contest does not require 100% of students from the schools to participate. All entries without postage stamps or not sent via Vietnam Post are invalid.

6. Can I post my entry on Facebook?

The copyright of the entries belongs to the organizing committee. Students should not post their entries in newspapers, on television or on social networks until the organizing committee has announced the results.

7. Can I submit my entry in the form of a poem?

The letter is the student's own creative work, must be written in prose on the theme of the contest (not yet published in a newspaper or book), no longer than 800 words.

8. Is the validity of the entry calculated from the date of mailing, postmark, or from the time it reaches the organizer?

The UPU letter's validity is calculated from the date you send the letter, with the stamp of Vietnam Post, not from the date the organizing committee receives the letter.

9. Can a UPU letter be written using 2 to 3, or 4 sheets of paper?

The organizers only limit the number of words (no more than 800 words), not the number of pages. You just need to write your letter neatly and in the correct format.

10. When writing a UPU letter on a second sheet of paper, do I need to leave a space for the examiner to cut the lines?

The organizers glue the sheets, not cut them, so you don't need to leave spaces on the second and subsequent pages.

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