Programming contest for kids invites entries nationwide

Young tech talents aged between eight and 15 years old across the country are invited to take part in the Minecraft Hackathon, themed “Smart City”.

The competition is held by Microsoft Vietnam, Teky Steam Academy, and the Central Council of the Ho Chi Minh Vanguard Children’s Union to look for talented kids in creative programming.

It is a new and exciting playground for students that will inspire their love for science and thirst for creativity, said Nguyen Pham Duy Trang, Vice President of the Central Council of the HCM Vanguard Children’s Union. It is also an opportunity for them to show their ways to address today’s issues, such as traffic jams, pollution, and other environmental problems, she added.

It is the first programming contest ever held for kids nationwide which is based on Minecraft programming languages like Makecode-Minecraft, Tynker-Minecraft, and Python-Minecraft.

Both Vietnamese students and foreign children living in Vietnam are eligible to compete in the event. It is expected to attract more than 5,000 students from 300 elementary and secondary schools all over the country.

Contestants are required to develop a smart city with houses, buildings, and streets in which information technology and artificial intelligence are applied to improve urban living standards and quality of public services and enhance the efficiency in use of power and natural resources.

From September 2018 to March 2019, the organizer will hold a series of events at schools to introduce Minecraft programming and answer inquiries about it.

All entries must be submitted to the competition’s official website at https://minecraft-hackathon.com/ from January 1 to March 31, 2019. Online voting will open from April 1-14, 2019.

The five teams with the highest number of votes will go through to the final round in Hanoi in late April 2019.

VNA

Other News

Vietnam attends SAHA 2026 defence, aerospace exhibition in Türkiye

Vietnam attends SAHA 2026 defence, aerospace exhibition in Türkiye

Vietnam’s participation in SAHA 2026 International Defence & Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul reflects the country’s consistent policy of enhancing international defence integration and promoting defence industry cooperation towards self-reliance, self-strengthening, modernisation and dual-use development.

SK Group partners to build AI ecosystem in Vietnam

SK Group partners to build AI ecosystem in Vietnam

SK Innovation and SK Telecom signed MoUs with Nghe An province and the National Innovation Centre of Vietnam to advance AI ecosystem development and support the country’s long-term growth strategy.

Vietnam Research Excellence Fellowship for 2026-2030 approved

Vietnam Research Excellence Fellowship for 2026-2030 approved

Under the Vietnam Research Excellence Fellowship (VREF) for the 2026–2030 period, PhD students are identified as a core research force directly contributing to breakthroughs in sci-tech and innovation. Investing in top-tier doctoral OK9 Cabidates is more than workforce development, but a high-stakes strategic bet to forge a cohort of world-class scientists and technologists who can power Vietnam’s long-term economic ambitions.

Strategic tech must address practical challenges: PM

Strategic tech must address practical challenges: PM

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 28 said strategic technologies must tackle Vietnam’s practical challenges, while chairing a meeting of the Government’s Steering Committee for science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and Project 06.

Ho Chi Minh City sets sights on becoming semiconductor hub

Ho Chi Minh City sets sights on becoming semiconductor hub

Ho Chi Minh City is stepping up efforts to attract investment from global leading groups and companies in the fields of electronic components, semiconductors and chip manufacturing as it seeks to position itself as a leading semiconductor industry hub in both the region and the world. 

Ho Chi Minh City launches upgraded technology exchange platform

Ho Chi Minh City launches upgraded technology exchange platform

The upgraded platform represents a comprehensive shift from a simple information-sharing model to a managed online technology trading system, enabling monitoring and measurement of real transaction outcomes. It is built on three pillars, namely new tradable technology products, a modern digital platform, and an improved operational model.

AI – unmissable opportunity for Vietnam: Experts

AI – unmissable opportunity for Vietnam: Experts

AI also emerges as a key enabler for Vietnam's ambition to build financial and technology hubs. Applications can boost efficiency, automate workflows, cut costs, and sharpen data analytics, which are essential pillars of a modern financial system.

PM calls for accelerated space technology development in Vietnam

PM calls for accelerated space technology development in Vietnam

Vietnam aims by 2030 to achieve a mid-level position in space science and technology development within Southeast Asia, and after 2030 to build national capabilities to independently develop satellite technologies and apply space data to address global challenges and national security needs.

High-level forum advances Vietnam–US technological cooperation

High-level forum advances Vietnam–US technological cooperation

A high-level executive leadership forum focusing on strengthening Vietnam - US relations through technology cooperation was jointly held in Washington D.C. on March 11 by the Embassy of Vietnam in the US, the Weatherhead East Asian Institute of Columbia University, and the US -ASEAN Business Council (USABC).