The team outperformed four other university teams at the final, held in Da Nang on October 30, securing an overall score of 96.16.
Organized by the National Competition Commission under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the ministry's Youth Union, the competition focused on raising awareness of MLM activities and the risks of fraudulent business practices.
The preliminary round, held from September 10 to 30, attracted more than 22,000 students from 30 universities and colleges across the Central region. Participants answered multiple-choice questions, with the five highest-scoring institutions advancing to the final.
The finalists were Duy Tan University in Da Nang, University of Law - Hue University, Pham Van Dong University in Quang Ngai, Quy Nhon University in Gia Lai, and Vinh University in Nghe An.
The final featured three segments: team introduction, a legal-themed skit and a debate, worth 20, 40 and 40 points respectively.
Quy Nhon University's team introduced itself with the message “Proud Identity – Creating Knowledge – Steadfast Future,” reflecting the competition's guiding principle: “Understand to know, know to protect yourself.”
In the legal skit, titled “Chicken or Rice?”, students portrayed Nhi, a young woman seeking additional income to support her family.
Although she checked the legal credentials of a company called “Vuon Tam 2030” before joining, she discovered that its seemingly legitimate operations concealed illegal MLM activities involving medicine sales.
The performance highlighted how fraudulent schemes can exploit attractive job offers and promises of quick wealth.
Students emphasized that MLM is not inherently illegal but requires careful scrutiny, particularly when business opportunities involve unclear commitments or unrealistic earnings.
During the debate, the team addressed the question of how to protect students from disguised MLM schemes, proposing measures centered on legal knowledge, institutional support and individual responsibility.
Students should develop the ability to identify risks and remain cautious about opportunities requiring upfront payments or promising unsubstantiated income.
Universities should help students verify information and connect them with reliable part-time employment opportunities.
Individuals, meanwhile, should independently investigate companies, products and contractual terms rather than blindly trusting recommendations from friends or acquaintances.
The team's performance combined thorough preparation, creative presentation and a consistent message, earning it the competition's top award.
Team captain Nguyen Quoc Thinh, a student in Class 46C of the English Language program at Quy Nhon University, said the 13-member team began preparing on October 20.
He said many university students sought financial independence and wanted to ease the burden on their families, making them vulnerable to offers of flexible, high-paying part-time jobs that could conceal illegal MLM operations.
Participating in the competition helped students deepen their understanding of legal regulations, recognize potential risks and strengthen their ability to protect themselves against unlawful business activities, Thinh said.
Nguyen Duc Ton, secretary of Quy Nhon University's Youth Union, said the achievement demonstrated students' talent, confidence, creative thinking and ability to apply legal knowledge in practice.
