BackTravel » Introducing the '2 Years of Memories' Travel Writing Competition

Introducing the '2 Years of Memories' Travel Writing Competition

To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Urbanist Travel, we are excited to invite you to participate in Saigoneer’s first-ever writing competition, “2 Years of Memories,” to look back at the most historic years of Vietnam’s tourism industry during the pandemic and the following recovery period.

Urbanist Travel is an international travel agency that came into existence to further realize Saigoneer’s long-enduring aspiration to “explore Vietnam and beyond.” Read our interview with Urbanist Travel Co-Founder Châu Cecilia Nguyễn here for the company's origin story.

1. WRITING PROMPT

  • With each voyage, every moment spent on the road has the potential to form unforgettable memories in our minds. It could be a distinctive dish, a fascinating encounter with warm local people, or even a hapless trip riddled with hiccups. Still, a crucial element contributing to the soul of any trip is the ambiance of the destination — from the architecture, music, and culture to breathtaking landscapes. We would love to hear your stories about such memorable places.
  • Writing Prompt: Write about a travel destination you've visited in the last 2 years in Vietnam or Southeast Asia that left a great impression on you.
  • Word limit: 500–1,000
  • Language: Vietnamese or English
  • Please attach 1–3 photos from the trip (if available) to illustrate the essay.

2. HOW TO PARTICIPATE

  • Participants write essays based on the above prompt and publish the text and photos on their Facebook or Instagram account under the public privacy setting with the hashtags #UrbanistTravel #2YearsOfMemories. Participants without social media accounts can submit their essays via the Google Form below or via the email info@saigoneer.com.
  • Participants provide personal particulars and the link to their essay in a Google Form: LINK
  • Submission timeline: From October 27, 2022 to December 4, 2022*. [Update: Due to several requests, we have decided to extend our submission deadline by 1 week! Now you have until the end of Sunday, December 4, 2022 to work on your essays.]

3. JUDGING CRITERIA

There are two categories: Editor’s Choice and People’s Choice.

  • Editor’s Choice: A panel of Saigoneer editors and Châu Cecilia Nguyễn, co-founder of Urbanist Travel, will pick the 2 best essays for first and second places.
  • People’s Choice: Based on the posts’ social media impressions (On Facebook: 1 point for each like and 2 points for each account that shares the post; On Instagram: 1.5 points for each like), 2 essays with the highest and second-highest amounts of points will be awarded the first and second places, respectively.

4. PRIZES

Our very attractive prizes! Photo by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.

  • First Prize in each category: 1 VND2,000,000 voucher from Urbanist Travel. This voucher could be used for a range of Urbanist Travel services, including tours, accommodations, visa applications, etc.
  • Second Prize in each category: 1 copy of the essay collection Beneath Saigon's Chò Nâu, including the signature of book author Paul Christiansen.
  • Participation Prize: Each participant is entitled to 1 set of 5 postcards designed by Saigoneer.
  • The top prize-winning essay from the Editor’s Choice category will be published on Saigoneer.

5. TERMS & CONDITIONS

  • Competition entries must be original and have not been published on any online platform or submitted to any similar competition.
  • Participants can submit more than one essay, but only the best-performing essay will be considered for judging.
  • Prizes will only be sent to an address located within Vietnam.
  • By making a submission, participants grant Urbanist Travel and Saigoneer permission to use part or all of the submitted materials to promote the competition.
  • Participants must ensure all provided information in the form is correct.
  • Prize winners will be notified via the personal particulars provided in the Google Form submission. Should the winner be uncontactable for over 48 hours after our notification, Saigoneer and Urbanist Travel reserve the right to award the prize to a replacement winner.

Please email info@saigoneer.com for questions about the “2 Years of Memories” writing competition.

Related Articles

in Travel

Brise-Soleil, Đá Rửa, and Other Modernist Curios to Befriend on a Walk Across Saigon

My non-existent architectural background leaves me unable to do anything beyond expressing a distaste for tacky constructions and a vague idea of what constitutes a well-designed building. I can speak...

in Travel

What to See in a Landlocked Country? How a Detour to Laos Made My Heart Feel Full.

Editor's note: This essay by Alex Tran won 1st place in the Editor's Choice category of Saigoneer's first-ever essay writing competition, "2 Years of Memories," in collaboration with Urbanist Travel. ...

in Travel

All by Myself in Sapa: How I Learnt That Traveling Alone Doesn't Have to Be Lonely

One item on my “bucket list” is a journey to discover an exciting new land on a solo trip. It’s not a simple aspiration so I didn’t think that I would get a chance to accomplish it any time soon, but ...

in Vietnam

After Online Mockery, Sa Pa Park With Ugly Statue of Liberty Replica Gets Shut Down

The ill-proportioned replica statue led authorities to shutter the unlicensed An Sa Pa park that was built to provide tourists with photo-ops. 

Paul Christiansen

in Travel

An Awe-Inspiring Bird's-Eye View of Bình Định's Chăm Towers

What if memories were not collections of chemicals and electrical impulses stored in the fleshy recesses of a mind, but physical objects made of brick and stone?

in Travel

Could Phong Nha Be One of Vietnam's Top Sustainable Travel Destinations?

A recent trip to Phong Nha — before this most recent COVID-19 wave — left me wondering whether I had just visited one of Vietnam’s more sustainable travel destinations. Of all the places I have been s...

Partner Content