'Writing 4 the Planet 2026' accepts entries through October

W4P is the first national-level environmental writing competition in Viet Nam for the 15-18 age group. With the theme "Through the lens of nature," the competition encourages participants to write from a different perspective - as if they are viewing the world through the "eyes" of nature.

Mr. Phil Smith, Director of NatureWize Viet Nam and Co-founder of W4P, shared: "Sometimes we forget that we are just one species among millions on Earth. In this inaugural competition, we hope writers will choose a non-human natural element and write from that perspective".

According to Ms. Hoa Pham, Co-founder of W4P, aligning with the Earth Day 2026 theme - Our Power, Our Planet, the organizers hope young people will use their observation, thinking, and feeling abilities to view the world through the perspective of another element on this planet.

"You can choose to be a waterfall or a chilly morning in the highlands. You can also write from the perspective of an Irrawaddy dolphin swimming in the water waves, or narrate the world through the eyes of a stray dog in a traffic-filled city. We want to hear stories about the world, the environment, and our actions through a non-human perspective", Ms. Hoa shared.

Ms. Doan Nguyen Xuan Mai, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Wildlife Conservation Fund, expressed her belief in youth voices and their profound perspectives on sustainable development. This will provoke reflection, dialogue, and action - especially regarding the environmental challenges that Viet Nam is facing.

The competition features two language categories: Vietnamese and English. Participants submit their entries via the program's online portal. Final results are expected to be announced in December 2026, with a First Prize (4,000,000 VND) and a Second Prize (2,000,000 VND) in each language category. Selected writings will be compiled and published.