Coach Do Thuy Duong instructs a child on table tennis techniques at the Hanoi-based Children's Culture Palace.

Quite a few Vietnamese athletes who have sweated it out in national and international sporting events, started their childhood training at the Children's Culture Palace – dubbed the Palace of Dreams.

This year, the academy will celebrate its 55th anniversary on the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of the capital.

Established in 1955, the centre has a history of training thousands of children in both sports and education such as table tennis, martial arts, dance, art, music and foreign languages with the participation of 3,500 trainees annually.

The secret to the centre's success is in part, due to the scouting work of coaches who scour the country in search of child prodigies who can be moulded into winners.

"We have over half a century's worth of experience in educating kids in sporting and cultural activities. The palace, which is situated on a 1 ha plot near Hoan Kiem Lake, is very well-known to most children in Hanoi," said the centre's vice director, Tran Duc Hoa.

"Many parents enroll their kids during the summer time when schools are closed for the two-month vacation. The teachers and coaches look after the children when their parents are at work," Hoa says.

He added that the centre will be upgraded by the capital's people's committee with an investment of VND30 billion (US$1.5 million).

Pham Minh Hieu,12, has been coached table tennis at the centre for seven years, said the sport was the inspiration for his achievements at junior secondary school.

"I chose table tennis because it keeps me fit. I practice it for two hours, twice a week with my coach and I really enjoy the sport," Hieu said.

"All my efforts over the past decade were paid off when I was picked to play in the National Junior Table Tennis Championships last year, but I only reached the second round. However, the sport helps me succeed in my studies at Nam Thanh Cong school," the boy said.

Hieu's younger brother, Pham Quang Hai, 11, also follows a table tennis course along with painting.

"We're proud that our kids are getting more confident in life. Our kids do everything themselves. Their fitness has improved and their coaches also teach them discipline," said Nguyen Thi Vinh, Hieu's grandmother.

"Their parents are busy with work, so the palace is a good place for kids to stay away from troubles," Vinh said.

"I wish there were more centres like this. They provide children with a safe play-ground after school. It's an ideal environment to educate the children and nurture budding young talent," she said.

Nguyen Huy Vinh, 50, said he has witnessed his son's progress over the past six years.

"I sent him to the palace when he was eight. I wanted him grow in character and learn patience by playing table tennis. I am satisfied that he has done both," the 50-year-old technician said.

"The centre is only able to provide them with a basic level of training," explained table tennis coach, Do Thuy Duong.

"We also give advice to kid's parents when we discover exceptional talent. Parents can choose a long-term programme for potential future stars," Duong said, adding that table tennis and martial arts are the most popular sports during summer time.

Table tennis draws around 300 children annually, which is the most crowded section along with taekwondo, karate, chess and aerobics.

"The centre has been seeking partnerships with other countries. Last year, the centre inked a memorandum of understanding with a counterpart from the Republic of Korea in taekwondo training, in which kids will make exchange trips to train in Vietnam and Korea every summer," said centre head of sports Tran Minh Tuan. Among the centre's successes are table tennis players, Ngo Thu Thuy and Chu Thi Hong Hanh, and karate kid Dinh Thi Thu Thuy.

The centre's staff are doing their best to add more sports and events to the curriculum including swimming and football.(VNS)