Every year, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) organizes an international letter-writing competition for children, aiming to develop their writing skills and enrich their creative thinking.

The contest also helps children approach and perceive social and contemporary issues and express their thoughts on these issues; foster and nurture the feelings and responsibilities of the young generation towards society, the country and the world. At the same time, the contest helps children understand more about the role of the Postal Service in life and social development.

On November 11, the 54th UPU International Letter Writing Competition 2025 was officially launched. Below are some important points that you need to note to have a valid entry.

Contest theme

In 2025, the UPU international letter writing competition has the theme: “Imagine you are the ocean. Write a letter to someone, explaining why and how they should take good care of you and protect you.”

In English: “Imagine you are the ocean. Write a letter to someone explaining why and how they should take good care of you”.

According to the organizers, with this year's theme, students were transformed into the ocean to raise issues they are facing, the most prominent of which is marine pollution.

Children can use their unlimited imagination and creativity to talk, confide, remind people about the role of the ocean as well as share specific solutions and actions to protect the ocean, sea and marine ecosystem; demonstrate the responsibility of people, especially the young generation, in preserving nature for sustainable development.

Rules for the contest letter

When participating, students should be aware of the rules, regulations, and time for receiving entries to have a valid entry.

According to the Organizing Committee, the contestants are Vietnamese students from 9 to 15 years old (at the time of submitting the contest entry letter). They need to ensure that they comply with the following regulations:

Firstly, the letter must be a creative product of the individual student, written in prose form on the theme of the contest (not yet published in a newspaper or book), no longer than 800 words.

Second, entries written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Vietnamese translation. The jury will judge according to the Vietnamese version.

Third, the entry letter must be clearly and neatly written by hand on one side of the paper (do not write on the back, you can write on multiple pages, number the pages, and staple them to avoid confusion). Typed or photocopied entries are not valid.

Fourth, in the upper left corner of the entry letter, the following information must be fully written: Full name, date of birth, ethnicity, school address, class, district (town), province (city), and phone number. Entry letters that do not fully include the above information are invalid.

Instructions on how to submit entries

When submitting entries, students must do the following: Each entry must be placed in an envelope with a postage stamp, clearly stating the sender's address, recipient's address with postal code (11611) and sent via the postal system of Vietnam Post.

The envelope must clearly state: Letter for the 54th UPU International Letter Writing Competition (2025). Submission address: Young Pioneers and Children Newspaper, No. 5, Hoa Ma Street, Pham Dinh Ho Ward, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi City - 11611.

Submission period is from November 11, 2024 to March 5, 2025 (according to postmark).

According to the Organizing Committee, the contest does not require 100% of students from the schools to participate. All entries without postage stamps or not sent via Vietnam Post are invalid.

The copyright of the entries belongs to the Organizing Committee. Students should not post their entries in newspapers, on television or on social networks until the Organizing Committee has announced the results.

The 54th UPU Competition launched with the theme 'Imagine you are the ocean' The 54th UPU Competition, 2025, has been officially launched. With this year's theme, students are transformed into the ocean to raise issues they are facing.