President of Vietnam and President of Hungary attend the opening of the photo exhibition of photographer Dezso Bozoky

During the official visit to Vietnam, on the afternoon of May 28 at the Metropole Hotel, Hanoi, President Luong Cuong and his wife, along with Hungarian President Sulyok Tamás and his wife, attended the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition organized by the Hungarian Embassy in Vietnam, displaying works by Hungarian doctor and photographer Bozoky Dezso.

President Luong Cuong and Hungarian President Sulyok Tamas cut the ribbon to open the photo exhibition. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

This exhibition is a special event, not only within the framework of the official visit to Vietnam by the President of Hungary but also a typical cultural activity within the framework of activities to celebrate the traditional friendship and sustainable cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary, which has been built and nurtured over more than 75 years of establishing diplomatic relations.

Mr. Bozoky Dezso (1871 - 1957) served in the Austro-Hungarian Navy as a naval doctor. During the period of 1907 - 1909, he traveled to the East Asian seas on the Hungarian-Austrian warship Franz Joseph I. His trip lasted 16 months, starting from the port of Pula in Croatia, passing through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and from there to the most important ports of China, Korea and Japan. On the way back to his homeland after his time as a naval doctor, Mr. Bozoky Dezso visited Vietnam. The ship he served on stopped on the Saigon River and that was the occasion for this photographer to explore the most important city of Indochina at that time, Saigon.

The precious photos displayed in this exhibition by photographer Bozoky Dezso are digital copies from the collection of the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts - Ferenc Hopp Museum of Asian Art, showing many prominent buildings or some areas of the city that still exist today such as Catinat Street (now Dong Khoi Street), Botanical Garden, Saigon Opera House (now the Municipal Theater, opened in 1900) and the magnificent Saigon City Hall (now the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Headquarters), Ben Nghe Canal in the heart of Saigon or the Buddhist Temple in Cho Lon. The images of old Saigon are recorded from a historical perspective - becoming a rare slice of life, architecture and customs of Vietnam more than 100 years ago. What is special and extremely meaningful is that these photos are being introduced to the public for the first time.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hungarian President Sulyok Tamás emphasized that this special photo exhibition is proof that the Hungarian and Vietnamese people have known each other long before the two countries established diplomatic relations, especially that the Hungarian people have known the country and people of Vietnam through photos from the early 20th century.

The Hungarian leader said that Dr. Bozoky Dezso had a deep impression of the Vietnam he witnessed at that time, experienced and took photos to preserve for future generations.

President Sulyok Tamás shared that it was a blessing for the current generation of people from both countries to be able to admire together the imprint of a moment in the past of this beautiful country at a time when very few images were preserved. That is the priceless spiritual value that these photos bring. Doctor Bozoky Dezso not only took these photos but also recorded in his diary the context of each work so that the Hungarian people could understand something about what they saw about the people and country of Vietnam. For that reason, before the two countries established diplomatic relations, the Hungarian public had an opportunity to learn about Vietnamese culture.

President Luong Cuong and Hungarian President Sulyok Tamás view the photo exhibition. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Having the opportunity to see with his own eyes part of the beauty of Vietnam during this visit, President Sulyok Tamás affirmed that it was no coincidence that Vietnam fascinated Hungarians who visited it in the early 20th century.

The Hungarian leader believes that the friendly relations between the two countries' States and peoples will continue to develop strongly, through which the two sides will have more understanding of each other's cultures and cultural values ​​to continue to strengthen and expand cooperation between the two countries.

In the emotional atmosphere of the exhibition, after listening to the sincere speech of the President and cutting the ribbon to open the exhibition, President Luong Cuong affirmed that the photos at the exhibition are priceless assets.

On behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, the President thanked the Government, people of Hungary and the family of Dr. Bozoky Dezso for preserving the photos, which also showed Hungary's affection for the people of Vietnam.

The President emphasized that the exhibition opens at a meaningful time, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the official visit of the President and his wife to Vietnam. The exhibition helps today's generations of Vietnamese people better understand the context in the early 20th century in which their fathers and grandfathers lived and worked.

With sincere feelings, the President presented the President's wife with a monochord and affirmed that although its material value is not great, it is the result of the hard work of Vietnamese people. The unique instrument has only one string but has all the tones, pitches, and highs and lows of music theory. The President's wife expressed her emotion, respect, and gratitude for the President's gift./.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/chu-tich-nuoc-va-tong-thong-hungary-du-khai-mac-trien-lam-anh-cua-nhiep-anh-gia-dezso-bozoky-703818.html