Hanoi youth oratory contest 2025: Showcasing dialogue, courage and social responsibility

The 2025 oratory contest spreads the spirit of dialogue, courage, and social responsibility of Hanoi's youth in the new era. (Photo: Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports)

The final round left a strong impression of intelligence, courage, and the aspiration for integration among Hanoi's youth.

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This year's contest, themed “Hanoi's Youth - Courageous, creative, and integrative in the new era”, attracted the attention of numerous students and oratory enthusiasts.

Surpassing over 100 teams from universities, colleges, and high schools across the city, the 24 best teams made it to the finals. Over nearly three hours of competition, the teams delivered persuasive, emotionally rich speeches with deep arguments, clearly showcasing the courage, critical thinking, and social dialogue skills of the young generation.

The highlight of this year's final was the four opposing debate topics, placing contestants in open-ended issues without absolute right or wrong answers. Participants were required to analyze from multiple perspectives, present tight arguments, and convincingly express their viewpoints.

Over nearly three hours of competition, the teams delivered persuasive, emotionally rich speeches with deep arguments, clearly showcasing the courage, critical thinking, and social dialogue skills of the young generation. (Photo: Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports)

The first topic revolved around value choices in the context of globalization: Should young people prioritize preserving traditional customs or be open to Western culture? The debates clarified the dialectical relationship between preservation and integration, affirming that tradition is the foundation of identity, while integration is essential for development if selectively adopted.

The second topic delved into the realities of the modern labor market with a controversial viewpoint: Prioritizing “good attitude” or “high competence” in recruitment. Through examples from the corporate environment and the rapid adaptation required by the digital economy, contestants demonstrated that this is not just a human resources issue but also a matter of organizational culture, learning ability, and long-term human value.

For the third topic, teams candidly discussed peer pressure on students. Besides pointing out the psychological consequences if pressure exceeds limits, many arguments suggested that when properly guided, peer pressure can become a positive motivation, fostering a spirit of effort, healthy competition and self-improvement awareness.

The Organizing Committee awards the outstanding teams. (Photo: Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports)

Reflecting the spirit of the technological era, the fourth topic focused on the strong development of artificial intelligence (AI), with the question: Will AI unleash creativity or stifle the independent thinking of the young generation? The speeches emphasized the role of humans in mastering technology, asserting that AI is a supportive tool if used correctly, capable of expanding creative boundaries rather than replacing human thought.

At the end of the contest, the Organizing Committee awarded 1 First Prize, 3 Second Prizes, 4 Third Prizes, 16 Consolation Prizes, and 10 Prospective Prizes, recognizing the professional quality and serious spirit of the participating teams. The First Prize was awarded to the Tsunami team, consisting of contestants Do Hai Anh, Vu Minh Tien (Hanoi Foreign Trade University) and Le Thi Thu Ha (National Economics University).

PhD. Tran Tuan Anh, Director of the Hanoi Cultural and Library Center, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee, speaks at the event. (Photo: Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports)

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the contest's final round, PhD. Tran Tuan Anh, Director of the Hanoi Cultural and Library Center, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee, affirmed that the oratory contest is a meaningful activity in nurturing soft skills, inspiring creativity, and discovering potential young faces who will contribute to building Hanoi into a Creative City, a center of knowledge and culture for the nation.

The contest concluded, but its positive impact continues to spread. It truly serves as a forum for connecting, developing skills, encouraging community initiatives, and gradually forming a network of “Oratory Ambassadors”, spreading the spirit of dialogue, courage, and social responsibility of Hanoi's youth in the new era.

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