A bridge connecting love for the homeland.

The writing contest "National Sovereignty Is Inviolable" and the photo contest "The Sacredness of the National Flag" serve as a bridge connecting patriotism and national pride.

After nearly two years since their launch, the 5th "National Sovereignty Is Inviolable" writing contest and the 4th "Sacred National Flag" photo contest, for the years 2024-2026, will officially conclude with an awards ceremony on June 5-6, coinciding with the 7th anniversary of the "Proud of the National Flag" program launched by the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper. While awaiting the final judging panel's selection of the best works for honor, the Organizing Committee has received many shared thoughts and feelings from authors and experts regarding these two contests.

These "living milestones" find their way into the written page.

A common thread among many authors participating in the writing contest "National Sovereignty Is Inviolable" is the emotion felt upon encountering and documenting the everyday yet meaningful stories of soldiers and combatants who are day and night safeguarding the borders and islands of the Fatherland.

Author Nguyen Duy Khanh, an IT engineer in Hanoi , said that this is a very meaningful competition, contributing to arousing patriotism and protecting border sovereignty among all Vietnamese people. "Every Sunday morning, I eagerly await the new entries in the competition (posted on the 'Sea, Islands - Borders' page every Sunday) as a source of inspiration and to share good works with my friends," Khanh expressed.

Major Dang Van Dong (Naval Region 2 Command) and his comrades on duty at sea. (Photo provided by the author)

Nguyen Duy Khanh's work, "Shining Examples from the Border Region," tells the story of Gia Phong, whose three generations have been closely associated with border markers in Cao Bang , working alongside border guards to protect every inch of the sacred land of the Fatherland. According to him, the image of ordinary people like Gia Phong is vivid proof that the responsibility to protect sovereignty belongs not only to the functional forces but is a shared responsibility of every citizen. These "living markers" contribute to affirming national sovereignty through history, law, and their enduring presence in daily life.

Author Nguyen Thi Hong, who works at a unit under the Ministry of Health and is a co-author of the work "Po Hen Revived," believes that the competition helped her gain a closer understanding of the concept of national sovereignty. National sovereignty is present in very ordinary things: the sound of children studying in border villages, the patrols of border guards, or the smiles between soldiers and civilians along the border lines. Ms. Hong shared: "The competition has given me many valuable experiences. I have heard, witnessed, and felt about sovereignty, lived with the people living in border areas, and witnessed the border guards who day and night safeguard the peace of the Fatherland."

Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Huyen, who works at SCTV Cable Television, said that in the 5th competition, she had two works selected for publication: "The Image of the Country" and "Touching the Homeland". She expressed: "I thank the Editorial Board of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper for organizing this competition so that amateur writers like me have the opportunity to express our love for our homeland."

For Major Nguyen Van Thieu, Deputy Political Officer of Squadron 102 (Command of Coast Guard Region 1) - author of the work "Maintaining Peace at the Forefront of the Waves," the competition serves as a bridge to bring the stories of Coast Guard soldiers closer to the public. The competition not only has journalistic value but also contributes to raising awareness and responsibility among all segments of the population, especially the younger generation, regarding the task of protecting national sovereignty in the new situation.

Awakening national pride

While the writing contest evoked patriotism through true stories, the "Sacred National Flag" photo contest created a ripple effect through the language of images. For many photographers and photography enthusiasts, the contest was not only a prestigious photography platform but also a practical cultural and political activity, contributing to the education of traditions, fostering patriotism, and spreading beautiful images of Vietnam and its people to a wide audience both domestically and internationally.

According to journalist and photographer Gian Thanh Son, a member of the judging panel, this year's competition continues to affirm its strong appeal to the nationwide photography community. The submitted works all exude the solemn and sacred spirit of the national flag, depicting the symbolic value of the red flag with a yellow star. Through each frame, viewers can feel the reverence, national pride, and responsibility to protect national sovereignty – the sacred messages that the competition aims to spread.

A field trip to the Cao Bang border region inspired Tran Thi Ngoc Huyen to create her artwork "Touching the Homeland". (Photo provided by the author)

In the final round, the Judging Panel evaluated and scored 40 sets of photographs and individual photos. The content was quite diverse, with the works clearly showcasing the symbolic value of the national flag, conveying a spirit of national pride and a sense of responsibility towards national sovereignty.

Journalist and photographer Gian Thanh Son believes that, in addition to event-related images, the "Sacred National Flag" contest would be richer and more vibrant if it included photos of laborers, rural people, people in mountainous areas, remote regions, and islands. In these places, the national flag is present simply but is incredibly sacred: on thatched roofs, beside fields, in the middle of the ocean, or in public works. It is these everyday moments that highlight the deep-seated connection between the national flag and the lives of the people, affirming that the flag is not only present in momentous events but also a source of pride and spiritual encouragement in every step of labor, production, and defense of the homeland.

From a professional perspective, Mr. Ho Sy Minh - Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists, Editor-in-Chief of Photography and Life Magazine - highly appreciated the quality of the works that reached the final round.

According to him, despite the seemingly narrow and difficult-to-explore topic, the competition still attracted nearly 2,000 entries with diverse approaches. Through the lenses of the authors, the national flag not only appeared in solemn ceremonies but also vividly manifested in labor, production, study, border and maritime defense, and in major national festivals.

"Each image is an intersection of visual art and historical messages, reflecting contemporary life, a testament to the country's transformation and national pride," commented Mr. Ho Sy Minh.

After several seasons, both competitions have transcended the boundaries of mere professional "platforms." The submitted articles and photo collections not only contribute to promoting national sovereignty but also serve as a bridge connecting patriotism, national pride, and a sense of civic responsibility among Vietnamese people. It is these values ​​that have helped the two competitions leave a lasting impression on readers.

A realistic portrayal of the soldier.

Officer Bui Van Tue, working at the General Political Department (Ministry of National Defense), is one of the active participants in the writing contest "National Sovereignty is Inviolable." His work, "Proud to be a soldier-worker in Truong Sa," is one of nearly 10 entries selected for the final round this year. Officer Tue shared: "Through five editions, it can be affirmed that the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper has contributed to promoting and fostering love and awareness of protecting national sovereignty among all segments of the population. Each entry is a snapshot, a story vividly expressing love for the homeland and sharing the hardships and dangers faced by the forces tasked with building and defending the Fatherland."

Meanwhile, Major Dang Van Dong, working at Brigade 171 (Naval Region 2) - author of the work "Sacred Red in the Sea," believes the competition has a very special meaning. "The competition has given me, as well as many comrades, the opportunity to share these authentic stories with readers, helping people understand more about the lives, work, and silent sacrifices of naval soldiers."

N. Duy

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nhip-cau-ket-noi-tinh-yeu-to-quoc-196260530205505389.htm