Twenty young people and a group of students received prizes and certificates, from Ho Chi Minh City’s Young People Association for their efforts in an essay competition of history.

They included three first prizes, two Most Impressive prizes, one for the Best Group and 15 certificates of merit.

The contestants answered questions posed by a jury comprising historians and cultural researchers on the www.tuoitre.com.vn.

The questions were also published every week in Tuoi Tre (Youth), the largest newspaper by circulation in the country.

More than 600 people entered the eight-month contest that was titled “We’re Proud of Vietnamese History” which ended on Feb. 1.

Organisers said they believed the contest helped participants improve their knowledge of Vietnamese history.

Nguyen Van Nhi, a second-year literature major at the HCM City Teachers’ University, won the first prize for her knowledge of the life and work of President Ho Chi Minh.

She read many books and magazines and watched documentaries to improve her knowledge of the country’s history. She said, “Studying Vietnamese history is the duty of and an honour for our youngsters.”/.