Award ceremony for the 55th UPU International Letter Writing Competition.

On May 8th, the Organizing Committee of the 55th UPU International Letter Writing Competition (2026) held the closing ceremony and awards presentation in Hanoi. The competition, organized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), had the theme "Write a letter to a friend explaining why human connection is essential in the digital world."

Closing ceremony and awards presentation for the 55th UPU International Letter Writing Competition.

In Vietnam, the competition is organized and implemented nationwide by the Ministry of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union , the Vietnam Writers Association, the Vietnam Post Corporation, and the Youth Pioneer and Children's Newspaper.

Launched on December 19, 2025, and implemented nationwide until March 5, 2026, the competition attracted over 1.3 million entries from students across the country. This result reflects the widespread impact of the competition within the education system and demonstrates the increasing interest of students in social and global issues.

This year's competition theme reflects a significant shift in global thinking: from "connecting technology" to "connecting people through technology." This is also a matter directly relevant to today's generation of students – citizens growing up with the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence, and who will shape the norms of connectivity in the future.

Based on that, this year's entries demonstrate diversity in approach and richness in students' thinking. The concept of "friend" has expanded from familiar relationships such as friends and teachers to technology experts, scientists , as well as entities in the digital world such as virtual assistants and literary and cartoon characters. This approach shows a shift in students' perception of the concept of "connection" in the digital environment.

Based on the judging results, the Organizing Committee has determined the prize structure to include 1 First Prize, 3 Second Prizes, 5 Third Prizes, 30 Consolation Prizes, 61 Promising Writer Awards, 10 Inspirational Idea Awards, and 10 Group Awards. Some prize levels have been adjusted upwards compared to previous years, in order to better recognize and encourage the efforts of the students.

At the same time, in line with the new direction in emulation and reward work, students who win first, second, and third prizes at the national level will be awarded Certificates of Merit and the "Creative Youth" badge by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

The first prize in the 55th UPU International Letter Writing Competition went to Tran Chi Cuong, a 9th-grade student from Binh Han Secondary School, Thanh Dong Ward, Hai Phong City. His letter impressed the judges by telling the story of the robot Buddy (supporting autistic children) and the robot Jibo (caring for the elderly) in the context of increasingly busy family members having less time for each other.

Robots are gradually becoming a familiar part of life, and through interaction with humans, they not only provide assistance but also develop empathy for human emotions. Therefore, the letter conveys the message that technology does not replace human relationships, but rather reminds us that behind every device, every screen, there is always a human being who needs to be listened to and understood.

The article has now been translated into French for submission to the international round of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) competition.

With a tradition of active participation and numerous international achievements in recent years, the Organizing Committee expects Vietnam's entry to continue to achieve high results, thereby contributing to affirming the voice of Vietnamese youth at the international forum.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long assessed: The UPU International Letter Writing Competition has become a familiar annual activity, rich in educational and humanitarian significance for many generations of Vietnamese students over the past nearly four decades.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long delivered a speech at the ceremony.

From a letter-writing competition, the UPU has gradually become a journey of nurturing the soul, stimulating imagination, compassion, and a sense of responsibility in students towards the community and society.

This year, the competition also received special attention as the Universal Postal Union (UPU) collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to spread the message of the theme.

International organizations emphasize that, in an increasingly digitized world, social connection is not only an emotional need but also a crucial part of human health, happiness, and sustainable development.

We are living in an era where digital technology is developing at an unprecedented pace. Artificial intelligence, social media, big data, virtual reality, and more are profoundly changing how people learn, work, communicate, and connect with each other. With just a small mobile phone, people today can chat, share, and access knowledge from all over the world.

Today's students are the generation growing up in this unique context – the generation of digital technology, AI, and global connectivity platforms. They are more adept at technology, more creative in their approach to knowledge, and more confident in communication and international integration. This gives us great confidence in a generation of dynamic, capable, and ambitious Vietnamese digital citizens.

According to Nhan Dan newspaper

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202605/trao-giai-cuoc-thi-viet-thu-quoc-te-upu-lan-thu-55-c1e37ba/