The launch ceremony for the 55th Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter Writing Competition (2026) took place on the morning of 19/12 in Hanoi. Its theme, "Write a letter to a friend, explaining why human connection is essential in the digital world," has garnered significant attention.

Poet Tran Dang Khoa, head of the judging panel in Vietnam, noted that UPU's annual themes are consistently strong, addressing major global issues. However, he described the 2026 theme as "the best ever," emphasizing its timeliness.

Khoa observed that while this is an era of connection and a digital age, people are losing touch. He cited examples of families who sit together but are each engrossed in their phones or personal activities, suggesting they can "lose each other while together." The poet believes that not only individuals but also nations need connection to foster mutual understanding and empathy, thereby preventing "war, bloodshed, and human tragedy."

Journalist Do Thi Thanh Binh stated that this year's theme offers fertile ground for students' creativity. Poet and Doctor of Education Nguyen Thi Anh also praised the theme, noting that young people use technology as part of their daily lives. Dr. Anh views this as an international social commentary topic, advising students to approach their letters like argumentative essays: using genuine experiences, observations, and emotions. She also suggested students include statistics and information to explain the "loosening" of human connections and its consequences.

Students from Chu Van An Secondary School, Hanoi, at the launch ceremony of the 55th UPU International Letter Writing Competition, on the morning of 19/12. Photo: Vietnam Post

The 2026 competition marks the 38th time the UPU letter writing contest has been held in Vietnam. Entries must be in prose, not exceeding 800 words, and must not have been previously published in newspapers or books.

Drawing from her experience as a two-time national award winner, Le Minh Anh, a former student of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, shared her secret for success: be authentic, using genuine and sincere language in the letter. Additionally, contestants should thoroughly research the theme to select their message and define the roles of sender/recipient, creating a personal mark on their entry.

Students should submit their letters in a sealed envelope, with a postage stamp, clearly addressing it to Bao Thieu nien Tien phong va Nhi dong (Young Pioneers and Children Newspaper) via the Vietnam Post Corporation's postal system. The submission period is from 19/12 to 5/3/2026 (based on the postmark).

The organizers will award one first prize, three second prizes, 5 third prizes, 30 consolation prizes, 61 promising writer prizes, and 10 idea generation prizes. Additionally, 10 schools demonstrating the most active participation, quality, and creativity will receive team awards. The national first-prize winning letter will be forwarded to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Switzerland, accompanied by an English or French translation.

This year, the letter sent to director James Cameron by Pham Doan Minh Khue, a student from Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted (Da Nang), surpassed over 1,6 million entries to win the international second prize. Responding to the prompt "Imagine you are the ocean, write a letter to someone explaining why and how they should take good care of you," Khue personified the ocean. She used strong verbs and adjectives to convey the ocean's urgent state, imploring the renowned director to create a film that would awaken humanity.

Khanh Linh