Käch Marius André, a student of English Linguistics at VNU International School, has been awarded the Consolation Prize at the Second Political Essay Contest on Protecting the Party’s Ideological Foundation, 2026. The award ceremony, organised by the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and central mass organisations, was held on 19 October.
Käch Marius André and his co-authors from the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship Association received a C Prize in the Journal category for their essay entitled “People-to-People Diplomacy for Consolidating the Ideological Leadership of Internationalism: A Case Study of Vietnam-Cuba Solidarity.”
Käch Marius André, a student of English Linguistics at VNU International School, received the award at the ceremony.
Drawing on the Vietnam-Cuba relationship as a vivid case study, the entry applied Gramsci’s concept of hegemony to analyse the tradition of people-to-people diplomacy initiated by President Ho Chi Minh. The authors’ central argument was that political consciousness — in this case, the commitment to internationalism and international solidarity — cannot be forged through declarations alone but must be cultivated through practice. As people organise mutual support, share in the process and its tangible outcomes, they come to recognise common interests that transcend national borders. The enduring bonds of friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and Cuba, the essay argued, stand as compelling proof of this process.
The Second Political Essay Contest on Protecting the Party’s Ideological Foundation, 2026, was set in motion on 12 March 2026 and officially launched on 19 March 2026. The contest drew entries from numerous scholars, intellectuals and representatives of international friendship organisations.
Congratulations to Käch Marius André. May this meaningful achievement continue to spread the spirit of friendship and deepen the bond between international students and the people and country of Vietnam.
