Enrolled in Ha Noi's University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ngoc, 21, won the final among nine others o­n Sunday with a moving speech about her mother.

Ngoc was born with a malformed spine. She gave the address from a wheelchair.

Ngoc told how her mother's love helped to overcome many difficulties in raising her. She included the analogy of two burning candles, o­ne of which was crooked.

"Like two those candles, it doesn't matter if a person is disabled or has a perfect shape," Ngoc said. "What is most important is that they have the energy to live their lives."

The competition attracted 70 contestants from across the country.

Hanoitimes