Ho Chi Minh Debate Open

An annual Asian Parliamentary debate tournament based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh Debate Open follows the Asian Parliamentary Debate Format:

Asian Parliamentary Debate Format (AP) is widely used in Asia, among University and High school students.
Teams and Speaking order :
There are 2 teams: the Government Team (or the Affirmative Team) which supports and the Opposition Team (or the Negative Team) which opposes the motion.
Each team has 3 speakers who will speak in alternating order, starting from the Government Team. Each speech lasts for 7 minutes :
-Prime minister (Gov)
-The leader of the opposition (Opp)
-Deputy prime minister (Gov)
-Deputy leader of the opposition (Opp)
-Government whip (Gov)
-Opposition whip (Opp)

At the end of those speeches, each team gets to make a reply speech, starting from the Opposition Team. Each reply speech lasts for 4 minutes only.
Roles of Speakers :
-Prime Minister :
+Define and set up the debate.
+Present the team’s position and case.
+Make 1 or 2 arguments.
-The leader of the opposition :
+Respond to the definition and set-up.
+Present the opposition’s case and position.
+Rebut the PM’s case.
+Make 1 or 2 arguments.
-Deputies :
+Defend their teams’ case.
+Attack the case of their opponents.
+Make 1 or 2 new arguments.
-Whips :
+Briefly summarize their teams’ case.
+Summarize and prioritize the most important conflicts in the debate.
+Rebut and analyze those conflicts.
-Reply speakers :
+Summarize and compare the position of both teams.
+Explain why their team wins.
-Topic (Motion) :
+The teams are usually given 3 topics to choose from. Each team ranks the topics in its favor. The rankings will be compared. The topic ranked third will be eliminated. The remaining one will be debated.
+If both teams rank the same topic as third but reverse the other two rankings, they will have to toss a coin to decide who can debate their first choice.
+If both teams rank the same topic as first, that topic will be chosen.
-Points of Information (POIs) :
+Between the first and the sixth minute of every speech except for the reply speech, speakers from the other side can either ask a question or make their statement in about 15 seconds. The speaker may choose whether or not to accept that interruption. Once accepted, the question must be answered. Preferably, a speaker should take one or two POIs in a speech.

For more information visit the official website here.

4/5

Some selectivity in application

1/5

3/5