In that spirit, the 2026 Law Knowledge Contest on Family and Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, themed "Happy Family," organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, attracted 152 teams from communes, wards, and special zones across the city. Held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Vietnamese Family Day (June 28, 2001 - June 28, 2026), in response to the 2026 National Action Month on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, and as part of the series of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the official renaming of Saigon - Gia Dinh city to Ho Chi Minh City, this event demonstrates that family-related issues are receiving more attention at the grassroots level, especially in the context of Ho Chi Minh City's expanding development space after administrative unit reorganization.
Bringing family law closer to the people.
This year's competition is being held in three regions, in line with Ho Chi Minh City's new development area. Region 3 took place on June 12th at the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Cultural, Arts and Sports Center, Vung Tau Ward, with 26 participating teams; Region 2 was held on June 14th at the Binh Duong Provincial Cultural Center, Phu Loi Ward, with 33 participating teams; and Region 1 took place from June 15th to 17th at the Ben Thanh Theater, Saigon Ward, with 93 participating teams. Following the competitions in the three regions, the closing ceremony and awards presentation are scheduled for June 29th.
The teams competed in three rounds: Greetings, Legal Knowledge Test, and Situation Handling. The content revolved around relevant issues in modern life such as building happy families, gender equality, caring for and protecting children, promoting the role of the elderly, preventing domestic violence, and building a safe and healthy living environment.
Notably, the emphasis on situational handling and dramatization allowed teams to incorporate legal knowledge, interpersonal skills, and practical experience into stories relatable to everyday life. From marital conflicts and generational gaps to the impact of electronic devices and social media on family life, many familiar issues were brought to the stage in a simple and accessible way.
Speaking to Văn Hóa magazine, Mr. Trần Thanh Vương, Head of the Department of Building a Cultural Lifestyle and Family, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, and Head of the Judging Panel, said that this was the first large-scale family activity organized after the merger of the development areas of Ho Chi Minh City, Bình Dương, and Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu. The program attracted nearly 5,000 civil servants, officials, and citizens to participate in the activities.
“Each locality brings its own unique character to the competition. Many teams include children, teenagers, women, the elderly, families of civil servants, teachers, soldiers, and veterans. Notably, some teams are formed from multi-generational families who collectively edit, stage, and perform,” said Mr. Tran Thanh Vuong.
The participation of multiple generations has given the competition its unique vitality. The family is where values are passed down from grandparents and parents to children. When stories about law, social skills, and violence prevention are conveyed through the voices of family members themselves, the message becomes more natural, relatable, and easier to integrate into daily life.
According to the judging panel, many localities had made thorough preparations, from films and illustrative images to dance troupes, costumes, and props. Some skits quite realistically reflected the issues facing families in the age of technology, especially how electronic devices and social media reduce the time spent together, affecting sharing and the quality of communication among family members.
Some segments of the competition elicited laughter, but behind the laughter were insights into listening, respecting, and sharing responsibilities within the family. Many seemingly minor conflicts in daily life, if not identified and handled properly, can escalate into disputes, even leading to violence. Therefore, equipping participants with legal knowledge and skills to prevent and handle situations from the grassroots level is essential. Regulations that are often rigid and inflexible, when presented in theatrical scenarios, helped viewers recognize their own problems, better understand the rights and responsibilities of each family member, and know where to seek support from relevant agencies and organizations when needed.
To ensure sustainable family work from the grassroots level.
Taking place in the first year of Ho Chi Minh City's operation of a two-tiered local government model and the new urban space after reorganization, the competition has added significance in connecting the community. In a large city with diverse populations, occupations, and lifestyles, the family remains the primary support system for each individual to form character, maintain a sense of community, and cultivate responsibility towards society.
Based on his experience organizing the event, Mr. Tran Thanh Vuong observed that the quality of participation varied among localities. Areas that received attention from the Steering Committee for Family Affairs and the People's Committees of wards and communes had better preparations and more systematic investment. Conversely, some localities still entrusted most of the staging to individual households, resulting in limited performance quality and effectiveness in conveying the message.
Following the reorganization of administrative units, the staff responsible for cultural work in general and family affairs in particular in some wards and communes are still insufficient. In some places, there are no dedicated civil servants for family affairs; the workforce of collaborators mainly consists of those who previously worked as population collaborators, while the training budget is not commensurate with the actual workload. These issues need to be frankly acknowledged so that family affairs work does not remain limited to peak periods or campaign activities.
“We hope that after this competition, localities will pay attention to propaganda work, using the high-quality products from the competition to spread awareness at the grassroots level. At the same time, they should focus on building happy families, implementing the set of criteria for building happy families in Ho Chi Minh City in a comprehensive and effective manner, reaching every household and every citizen,” Mr. Vuong expressed.
From a platform for learning about the law, the competition thus raises a broader requirement: family-related work needs to be maintained regularly, deeply rooted in each locality, each population group, and each generation. When legal knowledge, behavioral skills, and a spirit of sharing are nurtured at the grassroots level, each family will have a stronger foundation to maintain peace and happiness and together build a civilized community.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/gia-dinh/lan-toa-kien-thuc-phap-luat-vun-dap-gia-dinh-hanh-phuc-239690.html
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