More than just a writing contest, "Father and Daughter" has gradually become a meeting place for genuine and touching stories about family bonds. There, seemingly ordinary memories—like a father taking his daughter to school one afternoon, a father silently waiting for his daughter to come home late, or unspoken sacrifices over the years—are recounted with sincerity, often leaving readers speechless with emotion.
Over the past three seasons, thousands of entries have been received from all over the country, and even from Vietnamese people living abroad. Each entry is not only a personal story but also a tribute, a way for the silent love between father and daughter to be expressed in words.
Following that success, the fourth season of the competition returns with the theme "Father and Daughter – Two Generations, One Love." This year's theme is expected to broaden perspectives on the special relationship between fathers and daughters in the context of modern society – where generational gaps sometimes make understanding more difficult, but also highlight the need for bridges of connection.
Notably, despite only officially accepting entries on April 7, 2026, the organizing committee has already received over 100 submissions. This number partly demonstrates the appeal and popularity of the competition, and reflects the need to share and express the family feelings that have long been silently present in each person.
The organizers stated that the competition aims to spread humanistic values from family, awaken appreciation for kinship, and create a space for everyone to express their emotions and preserve memories. In particular, this year's competition continues to expand the forms of expression, encouraging video, audio, and podcast submissions to help young people tell their stories in more relatable ways.
According to the plan, the competition began accepting entries on April 7, 2026 and will run until June 20, 2026. The closing ceremony and awards gala are scheduled to take place on June 28, 2026.
The launch ceremony on April 22nd was not only the start of a new season, but also an opportunity to spread a meaningful message about the father-son relationship – a feeling that may not be loud or easy to name, but is always enduring and profound in every person.
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we may be accustomed to saying many things to the world, but rarely to our fathers. Therefore, the "Father and Daughter" competition is not just a place to tell stories, but also an opportunity for each person to pause, listen, and name the love that has silently accompanied them throughout their lives. Because sometimes, what causes the most heartache is not never having been loved, but having received so much love… without ever having had the chance to express it.
