Amateur
and professional photographers will display their best images in a
competition entitled Vietnamese World Heritage Sites to be held in July.
Launched
by the Department of Fine Arts under Ministry of Culture, Sports and
Tourism, Photography and Exhibitions in co-operation with the Vietnam
Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA), the Natural Cultural
Heritage Department and National Administration of Tourism, the
competition aims to draw attention to the value of the nation’s
UNESCO-recognised world heritage sites.
UNESCO has recognised the Imperial City of Hue, Halong Bay, My Son
Sanctuary, Ancient City of Hoi An, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, the
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long-Ha Noi as world heritage sites, and nha
nhac (Vietnam court music), the space of gong culture in Tay Nguyen
(Central Highlands), quan ho (love duet singing) in the northern
province of Bac Ninh, ca tru (ceremonial singing), and the Saint Giong
Festival as intangible cultural heritage.
The photo competition will award a first prize worth VND10 million
and a gold medal from VAPA. Two second prizes worth VND7 million, three
third prizes worth VND5 million, and ten encouragement prizes worth
VND2 million would also be awarded, along with certificates from VAPA.
About
250 entries will be selected for display at an exhibition to be held
in the central city of Danang on National Day, September 2, and in
Hanoi on Liberation Day, October 10.
Vietnamese and foreign photographers are being invited to submit
entries, in colour or black-and-white. Images should be sized 30 by
45cm and not previously awarded prizes in other competitions held by
the ministry or the association.
Contestants could submit up to 11 entries, which is the number of
UNESCO heritage recognitions the nation has received, said competition
organiser Vi Kien Thanh. All 11 photos can be taken from a single
heritage site, he explained.
However, veteran photographer Van Tho argued, “Eleven photos cannot
show the beauty of Vietnamese world heritage. I have taken many photos
at the Giong Festival, and I propose that photographers be allowed to
send more to the organisation.”