The event was organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications in coordination with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists in Hanoi. Attending the ceremony were leaders of the Party and State, leaders of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Central Propaganda Department, the Central Commission for External Relations, the Steering Committee for External Information Work, and representatives of leaders of central and local ministries and branches.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung - Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Information and Communications said: "The Opening Ceremony of the Exhibition and Announcement of the Awards of the Photo and Video Contest "Happy Vietnam - Happy Vietnam" in 2024 is an important event to honor people across the country, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends who apply digital technology to create photos and videos about the image of the country and people of Vietnam".
This is also the second year the contest has been held online on the Vietnam Image Promotion Platform. Compared to 2023, the contest has been widely spread as all 63 provinces and cities have authors participating.
“Last year the contest attracted more than 7,000 entries, this year the number has increased to more than 10,300 entries from nearly 6,900 authors, including 600 foreign authors and nearly 270 overseas Vietnamese authors. On the Vietnam.vn platform, there have been more than 90 million visits, of which over 35% are from abroad,” said Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung.
More than 10,000 stories about the peaceful, beautiful and happy Vietnam have been recorded by the authors in pictures and videos. From the mountains to the cities, from the mainland to the islands, from familiar things to heroic moments of the nation.
After many days of serious and impartial work, the Jury and Organizing Committee selected 60 videos and 150 photos to display at the exhibition, of which 34 best works were awarded prizes.
According to the Organizing Committee, the contest is a testament to the patriotism and passion of people across the country in promoting the image of the country, its people, and its beautiful cultural traditions to the international community.
At the same time, the contest also shows a new trend in social media work, based on the application of digital technology, digital platforms and mobilizing the strength of the entire population to develop digital data to effectively serve information and propaganda work.
In the Photo category, the work “Sweet Happiness” by Vu Dieu Hoa won the Gold Medal. The photo shines with the smiles of a disabled couple participating in the race with their young son.
The Silver Medal went to two photojournalists from Vietnam News Agency: Tran Huy Hung with the photo series “Racing on the construction site of the 500kV line circuit 3” and Duong Giang with the work “Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte cycling around Hanoi”.
In the Video category, the work "Gia Lai - Epic Land" by author Nguyen Van Hoan won the Gold Medal.
Many works are presented with a new, objective perspective on life, society and the development of the country and people of Vietnam, conveying the message of a happy, civilized and powerful Vietnam.
The works have recreated the creative journey of the authors associated with the flow of life in the past year, connecting them with the characters they met and came into contact with. The contest has also helped the authors have special journeys, meeting and honoring, spreading the images and values of special people.
