Awardees of Young Award-Alexandre Yersin in 2014. — VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI (VNS) — The Viet Nam - France Friendship Association coordinated with the Le Liseron Organisation to present the Young Award-Alexandre Yersin competition's awards.

The first prize was awarded to Nguyen Thi Thao, a student from the department of external economics of Foreign Trade University, while the fourth prize went to Nguyen Thanh An, also from Foreign Trade University.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Thao said she was honoured to participate in the competition and thanked Le Liseron Organisation for creating opportunities for Vietnamese students of the French language to demonstrate their understanding of France, its culture and people.

Young Award-Alexandre Yersin is an annual award given to Vietnamese students of the French language who are under the age of 23. The contestants have to write short stories in French on their chosen topics.

The competition was first organised in 2013 by Le Liseron Organisation to celebrate 40 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and France. It aims to attract the participation of Vietnamese youth who are keen on literature, and to enhance the understanding of Vietnamese youth about French people and culture.

The board of organisers selected the four best stories this year for the awards. The second and third prizes will be given to two students from southern Viet Nam.

Le Liseron is a French charity organisation established in 1999 by French people who have deep affection for Vietnamese culture and people. It has implemented several programmes and projects to support poor and disadvantaged people in Viet Nam. — VNS