Da Nang’s Nguyen Dac Xuan Thao was presented with the 38th Universal Postal Union’s letter writing competition first prize during an award ceremony on May 28.

For this year’s contest, pupils have to write a letter explaining how decent working conditions could lead to better life.

Thao’s letter to President Nguyen Minh Triet was rewarded for its human value and creativity. In it, he played the role of a little girl whose father was in an accident at work.

In the letter, the 7^th grade pupil from Nguyen Hue high school highlighted how unsafe working conditions do only affect workers themselves but also those who are close to them.

The organisers said that Thao’s letter would be entered in the UPU’s International Writing Contest, along with a French translation.

Second prizes went to Da Nang City’s Nguyen Thi Hanh Nguyen (Trung Vuong high school), Hua Hai Quynh (Kim Dong high school) and Dao Ngoc Linh from Nguyen Huy Tuong high school in Hanoi.

The organisers said that this year’s subject was quite difficult but the quality of the majority of entries was exremely good. Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City submitted the largest number of qualities of entries.

Five third place prizes and 30 consolation prizes were also handed out.

The annual competition, for pupils under 16, was organised by the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Corporation and the Thieu Nien Tien Phong (Young Pioneer) newspaper.

The competition, which attracted more than 1.5 million entries, aims to help students understand more about the role of the post and telecommunications in today’s developing society while improving their writing and cognitive skills.

Last year, grade 10 pupil Ho Thi Que Chi, from the Bac Ninh high school, won a supporting prize at international level with her letter to terrorist Osama Bin Laden.

She wrote about the pain caused by terrorism and tried to convince him to live with love and compassion.

Since the inaugural UPU competition in 1971, millions of young people from across the world have entered at international level.

Since they first entered in 1987, Vietnamese pupils have won several of the top prizes.