Writing contest on slow living amid COVID-19 invites entries
Vietnamese publisher Skybooks is inviting until August 28 entries for its writing contest about life at the time of COVID-19, aiming to explore beautiful stories and send positive messages to readers as many parts of the country are battling the virus resurgence.
A female office worker in Hanoi works at home, April 2020. (Photo: UNICEF Vietnam)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese publisher Skybooks isinviting until August 28 entries for its writing contest about life at the timeof COVID-19, aiming to explore beautiful stories and send positive messages toreaders as many parts of the country are battling the virus resurgence.
The contest named “Nhung ngay song cham trong dai dichCOVID-19” (Slow-living days during COVID-19 pandemic) is for all Vietnamesepeople living in or outside the country and foreigners in Vietnam.
According to Skybooks, COVID-19 is pushing the economy tothe brink of recession and causing a public health crisis. Many people havedied while survivors have to keep fighting. It has forced businesses to closeand left many unemployed or make them work from home. “For all of us, whetherliving in the epicentres or not, the trajectory of life has changed, more orless.”
The publisher wants people to stay positive andoptimistic, as COVID-19 is an opportunity for people to learn valuable lessons:living slowly to see social changes more clearly, living slowly to betterappreciate the value of life, and living slowly to know how many good thingsthere are in life.
The contest is expected to be a platform for young peopleto share their own experience on how they work from home and take care ofthemselves and their families, and their unforgettable days during lockdown.Contestants can also write about the new hobbies they adopt, things that makethem happy and their living space as a peaceful shelter during the pandemic.
Entries must be at least 250 words and submitted togetherwith one relating illustrative photo to .Winners will be announced on October 4./.
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Cellist Dinh Hoai Xuan in coordination with a number of famous artists in Vietnam has organised an online concert that aims to encourage the people to surmount the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
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For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
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This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
A female office worker in Hanoi works at home, April 2020. (Photo: UNICEF Vietnam) 
