Happy Vietnam awards honour photo and video artists

Nguyen Manh Hung, member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Information and Communications

One hundred and fifty photos and 60 videos were chosen from a pool of exceptional entries for the exhibition, of which 34 were awarded medals.

The creativity and energy displayed during the inaugural contest in 2023 made an impact both nationally and internationally. Following last year’s awards ceremony, the Ministry of Information and Communications organised 15 exhibitions across Vietnam and overseas and entrusted the works to central ministries, departments, and localities to feature in major diplomatic events. Additionally, the organising committee shared the works with Vietnamese embassies in Venezuela, Australia, Sweden, Italy, and numerous other overseas missions.

The 2024 contest was launched nationwide with close collaboration among local leaders, departments of information and communications, and departments of culture, sports and tourism, as well as literary and artistic associations.

While last year’s contest attracted over 7,000 entries, this year’s submissions surpassed 10,300, contributed by nearly 6,900 authors, including 600 international participants and nearly 270 overseas Vietnamese.

“Over 10,000 stories of a peaceful, beautiful, and happy Vietnam have been vividly portrayed through images and videos, spanning from the mountains to urban centres, from the mainland to the islands, capturing everything from everyday moments to the nation’s proudest achievements,” said Nguyen Manh Hung, member of the Party Central Committee and minister of information and communications.

“Many contributors offered unique perspectives that, while not always professional, were vibrant and deeply grounded in real life, reflecting the diverse and multifaceted nature of happiness. Despite the brevity of the films and the simplicity of mobile phone photography, these creators vividly told stories of the world around them,” Hung said.

“Digital technology has made it possible to capture, preserve, and share moments of happiness we encounter. Happiness is profound yet resides within us - simple and familiar, yet often overlooked or forgotten,” he added.

According to the World Happiness Report 2024, published in March, Vietnam is ranked among the top 10 happiest countries or territories in Asia and 54th globally, marking an impressive 11-place rise from 2023. This notable progress reflects the collective contributions of the people, as exemplified in the Happy Vietnam 2024 awards, which embody this shared achievement.

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