The Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCM City has announced the Hoa Mai (Apricot Blossom) furniture design competition for 2019-20.

The 17th annual contest is open to all.

HAWA will organise road shows to take the contest to colleges and universities to encourage students to take part.

The deadline for submitting entries is November 15.

The 20 best design ideas will be selected for the second round where contestants will get professional training and make samples, with the organiser providing VND3 million (US$129.3) for making each.

The jury will choose eight designers whose samples meet the contest criteria in terms of aestheticism, applicability, creativity, commercial viability and environment-friendliness, and award them prizes worth more than VND100 million ($4,306).

The awards ceremony will be held at the 2020 VIFA-EXPO to be held in HCM City next March.

Design plays a vital role in enhancing the competitiveness of the furniture industry, which seeks to become a global production hub, according to the organiser.

HAWA understands the importance of design to the furniture industry and so has been organising the design contest for many years, they said.

The annual event has so far attracted over 2,990 contestants who submitted 3,344 works.

More information about the competition is available at http://hoamaicompetition.hawa.vn. — VNS