World Press Photo Exhibition 2018 opens in Hanoi

Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (C), Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Nienke Trooste (L), and delegates at the exhibition.

Taking place over three weeks, at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, No. 42 Yet Kieu Street, Hanoi, the event is organised by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam, in collaboration with the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA), aiming to honour the winners from 125 countries who sent over 73,000 photos to the 61st World Press Photo Contest last April.

This year’s exhibition features 130 photos in a number of categories, such as Contemporary Issues, the Environment, General News, Nature, People and Sports. Authors and award-winning works of the World Press Photos that are well known to the public in Vietnam include the famous photo of Phan Thi Kim Phuc by Vietnamese-American photographer Nick Ut (1972), the photo of the largest cave in the world Son Doong (2010) by German photographer Carsten Peter, and photos themed "the Pink Choice" depicting the personal life of gay couples in Vietnam by Vietnamese photographer Maika Elan (2013).

The winners of the 61st World Press Photo Contest were announced on April 12, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where Venezuelan photographer Ronaldo Schemidt was honoured as the overall winner.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam, Nienke Trooster said that the event is one of the most prestigious photo exhibitions in the world with high quality and expressive works, reflecting diverse perspectives on current events around the globe.

It is also a highlight of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands, she said, adding that the event provides a great opportunity for Hanoians to access various issues in the world.

Vice President of the VJA, journalist Ho Quang Loi expressed his gratitude to the cooperation of the World Press Photo Foundation for bringing this prestigious exhibition back to Vietnam after more than a decade.

The photos displayed at the exhibition carry the message of a world with aspirations towards peace as they reflect every angle of hot global issues, said Loi, adding that he highly appreciated the initiative to hold the event in Hanoi on the occasion of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands and the 93rd anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21).

He also expressed his wish that the Dutch Embassy would continue organising more events in the fields of press, photography and culture, as well as regularly organising the World Press Photo Exhibitions in Vietnam.

Founded in 1955 in Amsterdam, the World Press Photo Foundation is a global platform connecting professionals and audiences through trustworthy visual journalism and storytelling. The annual World Press Photo Contest has grown into the world’s most prestigious photo competition.

The World Press Photo Exhibition has visited more than 100 major cities around the world and attracts 4 million visitors every year. Hanoi, along with Singapore, Tokyo and Kyoto (Japan), and Macau (China), is one among the Asian destinations to hold this exhibition in 2018.