On the morning of April 13, 2025, at Building G - 120 Hoang Minh Thao, the Grand Finale of the 2025 Chinese Speech Contest took place with vibrant enthusiasm and emotion. The event drew significant interest from students and lecturers of the Chinese Language Department, School of Languages - Humanities and Social Sciences (LHSS), Duy Tan University.

Teachers and students take souvenir photos at the competition

This year’s contest revolved around the theme: "The Role of Vietnamese Youth in Promoting Vietnam-China Relations" — a timely and strategic topic in the context of increasingly deep regional cooperation. The contest served not only as a platform for students to showcase their linguistic talents but also as a forum for the younger generation to express their critical thinking, sense of responsibility, and vision regarding youth’s role in fostering long-lasting friendship between the two nations.

Following the preliminary round, the Jury Board selected nine outstanding contestants for the Grand Finale. The competition consisted of three main sections, requiring participants not only to demonstrate proficiency in Chinese but also to show comprehensive knowledge, presentation skills, creativity, and personal confidence.

The finale opened with the speech round — the heart of the competition. Each contestant was given a maximum of six minutes to perform, including one minute of self-introduction and five minutes to present their viewpoints on the role of Vietnamese youth in enhancing Vietnam-China relations. This was followed by the talent performance round — a unique highlight of the event. The final segment was the Q&A challenge, in which the top five contestants from the previous rounds answered questions to assess their critical thinking, language adaptability, and practical knowledge.

Candidates participating in the speech contest

Many performances left a lasting impression thanks to their thoughtful preparation, confident delivery, and clear, constructive messages aimed at fostering bilateral cooperation. In the end, the Jury Board announced and awarded the following prizes:

• 1 First Prize: Phan Thi Kim Quy

• 2 Second Prizes: Vo Thi Tuyet Giang, Le Thi Quynh Nhu

• 2 Third Prizes: Dang Thi Cam Ly, Trac Thi Le Nguyen

• 3 Consolation Prizes: Tong Thi Quynh Duyen, Huynh Thi Thao Ly, Do Thi Bich Tai

• 1 Potential Prize: Dam Thi Mai

The judges awarded the first prize to Kim Quy (right)

Kim Quy shared emotionally: "I used to be quite shy and insecure; even raising my hand to speak in class was a big challenge for me. However, when I entered university, I realized I needed to change to grow and create more opportunities for myself. I had missed many chances to participate in competitions before because I doubted my abilities. I hadn't planned to join this contest either, but thanks to the encouragement from my lecturers, I decided to give it a try — and ended up winning First Prize, which was beyond my expectations. More valuable than the award itself was what I learned from other contestants and the personal growth I experienced."

Currently, Kim Quy is preparing for the HSK6 exam and planning to apply for an international scholarship.

"No matter who you are, or how unsure or timid you might feel, be brave enough to give yourself a chance. The moment you step out of your comfort zone, you’ll begin to see yourself in a more positive light, recognize your own worth, and discover many new opportunities for growth. These four years of university are the best time for students to actively participate in school and extracurricular activities — the ideal time to develop soft skills, gain practical experience, and build a solid foundation for the future. Make the most of this precious time to not only acquire knowledge, but also to truly 'learn to be human'." These were the heartfelt messages Kim Quy wished to share with fellow students.