“Speak to Inspire, Vietnam” announces Tournament Champions

Aimed at raising awareness and spurring meaningful conversations on sustainability topics such as environmental conservation and climate change, “Speak to Inspire, Vietnam” brought speakers from 60 provinces nationwide and diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and discuss ways to foster greater community engagement to build a more sustainable future. 

“I joined this public speaking competition because I see it as my responsibility, and those of my classmates’ and peers’, to engage in important issues that affect us both locally and globally. Climate change is not just found on television news, Netflix documentaries, and social media. It is real and everywhere. This is a rallying point for youth leaders to engage, collaborate, and inspire others to work towards a greener planet,” shared Nguyen Phuoc Nguyen – Youth Storytelling category participant. 

The competition saw the participation of-over 700 contestants, of which 66 finalists were shortlisted to participate in the Final Showcase. Following a three-month long nationwide contest, “Speak to Inspire, Vietnam”, the first English public speaking and debate competition organized in Vietnam, unveils its Top 15 tournament champions. 

Prior to the Final Showcase, the tournament’s 66 finalists underwent a three-day intensive training at Yen Tu, where they got a chance to learn and interact with over a dozen public speaking and sustainability experts from the U.S., South Korea, and Vietnam, to sharpen their public speaking skills and enhance their understanding of sustainability efforts globally. The finalists drafted a “sustainability manifesto”, promising to contribute the knowledge and skills gained to sustainability efforts in their communities.

The competition consists of three stages, across three competing categories, including speech, storytelling and debate, aims to raise greater awareness of sustainability and spur meaningful conversations on topics such as environmental protection and climate change.  

Ambassador Marc E. Knapper - U.S. Embassy Hanoi, remarked, “I applaud our colleagues at Netflix and Point Avenue for their vision in creating this wonderful opportunity for Vietnamese youth to deepen their knowledge of sustainability. This competition took many months of planning, and it is great to see it come to fruition just prior to Earth Day. Congratulations to the students who made it to the final round of this competition. It hasn’t been easy, but your hard work has paid off.”

Ms. Moon Nguyet Phillips, Director of Public Policy, Southeast Asia at Netflix, said, “It has been remarkable to follow the journey of over 700 young and inspiring students across Vietnam, who have lent their voices to many thoughtful debates and meaningful conversations on topics of sustainability. As we celebrate the winners of this public speaking competition today, we also celebrate the next generation of changemakers for a more sustainable Vietnam. We appreciate the great partnership of NPX Point Avenue and the US Embassy of Hanoi, and look forward to more opportunities where Netflix, as part of the entertainment industry, can contribute to sustainable solutions in the community”. 

“It’s been truly inspiring for us to witness the high levels of engagement from Vietnamese youths on the topic of climate change and sustainability. Congratulations to all the winners and contestants. We encourage you to continue honing your public speaking knowledge and skills, but more importantly, we urge you to continue working collaboratively towards your shared ideas on sustainability to create meaningful change” said Tommy Nguyen, Co-Founder and COO, NPX Point Avenue.

PV