A contest promoting the importance of a united and prosperous ASEAN community launched in Hanoi on January 8 in an effort for Vietnamese to better understand ASEAN and Vietnam’s contribution to the association.

Hosted by the Radio Voice of Vietnam, the contest is expected to help mobilise national support of Vietnam and its role in ASEAN to achieve a strong regional community by 2015.

The contest includes a writing portion where essays reflecting ASEAN’s importance will be awarded accordingly: first prize at 5 million VND, two runners-up with 4 million VND each, and three third place winners allotted 3 million VND each.

Beginning on Jan. 15 and ending on May 15, the contest will be broadcasted internationally hoping to attract the participation from local and abroad Vietnamese as well as foreigners who can speak and write Vietnamese language fluently.

In addition, Voice of Vietnam will conduct a weekly quick answer quiz where the first three persons with the correct answers will receive 500,000 VND each./.