The event is organized to practically celebrate the 50th anniversary of the City of Saigon - Gia Dinh honored to be named after President Ho Chi Minh (July 2, 1976 – July 2, 2026). In particular, the event takes place in the context that Ho Chi Minh City has just turned one year of operating the 2-level local government model.
The program has the following notable points:
1. Launching a large-scale, modern data journalism project
At the ceremony, Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper officially announced the Multimedia Data Journalism Project named "50 years of the City named after Uncle Ho - Radiant Golden Name: Imprints". This is a modern, visual digital journalism product, recreating the journey of 51 years since the country's reunification and 50 years since the City was honored to be named after President Ho Chi Minh.
The highlight of the project is 5 E-Magazine articles linked together in a continuous storyline:
From Spring of Victory to the city named after Uncle Ho - a work that brings readers back to the days of taking over and building the revolutionary government and the milestone of Saigon - Gia Dinh City officially named Ho Chi Minh City.
Next is the journey of the City promoting its pioneering spirit, paving the way for innovation, with creative ways of doing things, "breaking the fence", "bursting out" from practice, contributing to the formation of many policies and models with spreading power throughout the country.
It is also a City of Compassion, made up of humane movements such as donating land to open alleys; the movement to build houses of gratitude, care for the poor, towards borders and islands; and medical miracles such as the separation surgery of Vietnamese-German twins.
The modern urban appearance is depicted through breakthrough projects such as Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, Quang Trung Software Park, Thu Thiem tunnel, Metro Line No. 1, and the revival of the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal.
All of this creates a foundation for Ho Chi Minh City today to reach the level of a smart, creative and integrated city.
Along with 5 E-Magazines, 50 typical events and activities are digitized, grouped and organized into many layers of data, helping readers conveniently look up. With just a smartphone, young people can "touch" history, understand more and be more proud of the City.
Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper is ready to package and transfer this source of materials to agencies, units and schools, serving the work of historical and cultural education in Ho Chi Minh City. Through the project, Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper continues to affirm its role as a loyal companion, marking and truthfully reflecting every step of the City.
2. Announcement and award ceremony of the "RADIANT GOLDEN NAME" photo contest
Within the framework of the program, SGGP Newspaper also announced and awarded prizes for the "RADIANT GOLDEN NAME" photo contest. The contest created a very special attraction when it received nearly 900 entries from nearly 400 non-professional authors, photo reporters, and Vietnamese citizens at home and abroad, sent to participate in the contest, in just 3 weeks of launching.
Many works have been expressed through subtle observation, professional responsibility and love for the city, thereby contributing a more realistic slice of Ho Chi Minh City in a particularly transforming time - more open, more dynamic, closer to the people and richer in aspirations. The most authentic and emotional frames of Ho Chi Minh City are precious documents about the city named after Uncle Ho in the new development journey, contributing to brightening the golden name of today's city and in the new development stage.
As a result, the Organizing Committee selected 30 best works to display at the exhibition, and at the same time honored and awarded prizes to 16 most typical works, including: 01 First Prize (worth 30 million VND), 02 Second Prizes, 03 Third Prizes and 10 Consolation Prizes (according to the attached list).
Representing the Judging Panel, photographer Gian Thanh Son highly appreciated the quality of the contest: "This can be considered the "fastest" photo contest but it creates a very special attraction. Although the launch time is short, the quality of the submitted works is very good, closely following the rules and reflecting extremely diverse aspects of the city's development over the past 50 years".
Photographer Gian Thanh Son shared that the judging process brought a lot of emotions. The works not only evoke the bustling atmosphere of the day Saigon - Gia Dinh city was officially named after Uncle Ho amidst the country's many difficulties; but also clearly depict the strong rise of the City through the lens of science and technology, century-old works and the harmonious connection with neighboring economic regions. Above all, the works highlighted the beauty of a "City of Affection" after merging with Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong, a gathering place of the country's quintessence and rising to become a super-urban area of international stature.
On this occasion, the Exhibition of Top 30 works including award-winning and finalist works will be displayed in the ground hall of the SGGP Newspaper Office, lasting until July 7, 2026, bringing authentic slices of a Ho Chi Minh City that is constantly transforming strongly, openly, closer to the people and more ambitious.
Results of the "RADIANT GOLDEN NAME" contest
One first prize (Certification and prize of 30 million VND) for the work: 50 radiant springs of the city named after Uncle Ho by author Tran Le Huy
Two second prizes (Certification and prize of 20 million VND/prize) for the works: Flycam control practice by author: Pham Nhut Thuong and the work: Loving Embrace by author Duong Cong Son;
Three third prizes (Certificate and prize of 10 million VND/prize) for the works: Mo Show by author Vo Quoc Thanh; work: For the peace of rivers by author Do Tuan Hung; work: Happy bus by author: Doan Thi Tho.
Ten consolation prizes (Certification and prize of 5 million VND/prize) were awarded to the work: Friendly public administration by author Vo Hoang Trieu; the work: Modern city industry by author Le Dinh Nhon; the work: Modern and developing Ho Chi Minh City by author Tran Le Huy; the work: Fireworks celebrating the city's radiant golden name by author Nguyen Trang Kim Cuong; the work: New graduate's smile by author Nguyen Van Lieu; the work: Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone - A milestone marking the beginning of innovation by author Nguyen Minh Tan; the work: Bustling oil and gas port by author Nguyen Bao Thao; the work: Con Dao Special Zone in the new day by author Do Tuan Hung; the work: Doctors of Thong Nhat Hospital performing new procedures by author Le Van Khoa; the work: Tam Thang Tower - New symbol of Vung Tau by author Nguyen Minh Tan.
The organizing committee also awarded Certificates of Top 14 entries in the final round: City shines forever with the name of Him (author Nguyen Trang Kim Cuong); Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space in schools (Vo Quoc Thanh); Healthy to build and protect the Fatherland (Tran Chi Cuong); City green space (Nguyen Hieu Dat); Mastering 4.0 technology (Tran Duy Tinh); Sparkling Long Son oil refinery (Le Dinh Nhon); Ensuring energy security (Do Tuan Hung); Epic song of peace (Huynh Thu); Source consultation (Le Dinh Nhon); Drilling rig going out to sea (Trinh Phi Long); Vung Tau sea rising to a new height (Nguyen Van Tai); Nuoc Ngot Pass - Tourist route (Le Dinh Nhon); Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster on the journey to reach out to the big sea (Do Tuan Hung); Lantern night to light up the wishes of Binh Duong ward (Nguyen Trang Kim Cuong).
