Awakening the value of heritage from an artistic perspective.

BAC NINH - The photo contest "Moments of Heritage Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiet Bac" opens up a space for profound creativity, contributing to honoring world heritage and spreading images of the land and people of Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong.

Depicting heritage spaces

On July 12, 2025, at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO recognized the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac complex of historical sites and scenic spots as a World Cultural Heritage site. This event not only affirms the outstanding global value of the heritage complex but also highlights the urgent need to preserve, promote, and disseminate the unique cultural values ​​of the nation.

The Hai Phong Press Photography Club organized a photography trip. Photo: Ha Tuan Tu.

Closely associated with the formation and development of the Truc Lam Zen sect – a Zen tradition deeply rooted in Vietnamese identity – the heritage complex spans three provinces and cities: Bac Ninh , Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong. The heritage space comprises 12 representative relic clusters belonging to 6 areas, creating a unique cultural and historical whole. The photo contest “Moments of Heritage Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiet Bac” is organized as a new approach: using visual language to tell the story of heritage. The contest is chaired by the Bac Ninh Newspaper and Radio & Television, in collaboration with the Quang Ninh Newspaper and Radio & Television, and the Hai Phong Newspaper and Radio & Television, and runs from December 18, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

Previously, several photo contests promoting the Yen Tu region were organized in localities such as Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, and Hai Duong, including: "7 Days Exploring Tay Yen Tu," "The Beauty of Bac Giang," etc. However, the number of participating authors was not large, and the quality of the works was inconsistent.

The prize structure for this competition includes 1 First Prize (Gold Medal and 30 million VND), 2 Second Prizes (Silver Medals, 20 million VND each), 3 Third Prizes (Bronze Medals, 10 million VND each), and 20 Consolation Prizes (5 million VND each). The total prize value amounts to 200 million VND – a very high figure compared to other local-level photography competitions. Media coverage of the competition was strongly promoted by press agencies in the three localities and many central newspapers. The judging panel comprises many reputable experts, photographers, and artists from both the central and local levels.

Journalist Tran Van Duc, Deputy Director of Bac Ninh Newspaper and Radio & Television, and Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Competition Organizing Board, said: "The new aspect of this competition is that it is the first time it has been organized on a regional scale, chaired by Bac Ninh Newspaper and Radio & Television under the patronage of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists. In particular, the creative space has been expanded; the creative resources are substantial; it attracts a large number of authors living in Vietnam and abroad, including photographers who have won many awards in prestigious competitions; and it boasts a high level of professionalism. In addition to the high prize money from the Organizing Committee, the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists actively provides professional advice, sends members to participate in the judging panel, and will also award certificates and scores to the winning authors. After judging, the Organizing Committee will select 100 outstanding works for exhibition in three provinces/cities (Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong)."

Spreading unique cultural values

By March 23rd, the organizing committee had received nearly 340 entries from almost 80 authors across various provinces and cities. Notable participants included well-known authors who had previously competed in major competitions such as Khac Huong, Nguyen Huu Thong, Giang Dong, Nguyen Duc Nghia, Nguyen Thanh Ha, and Vuong Lam. The entries vividly and diversely reflected the unique characteristics of the heritage, from natural landscapes, architecture, ancient artifacts, and precious objects to festivals, beliefs, and community life; portraits of those who preserve and transmit these values; and efforts to preserve heritage in conjunction with local economic development. Each photograph was a realistic snapshot, contributing to the vibrant portrayal of the heritage space in contemporary life.

Photographer Nguyen Huu Thong, a former award winner in an international photography competition, shared: “I found this competition to have greater depth in its themes. The connection of three heritage sites: Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, and Con Son/Kiep Bac, created a very special cultural and spiritual axis. This required participants not only to take beautiful photos but also to understand and feel the ‘soul’ of the heritage. This gave me a lot of inspiration during the creative process. I didn’t just go to take pictures; I also spent time observing the life, the light, the atmosphere, and the stories behind each location. Every time I pressed the shutter, I tried to put myself in the position of a storyteller, so that the photograph would not only be an image but also convey emotion and cultural value.”

Mr. Nguyen Duc Nghia, Chairman of the Hai Phong Photography Association, said: "Currently, the Association has nearly 80 members, including 30 members of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists. After the Organizing Committee launched the competition, all members enthusiastically participated, especially the young members. We believe this is not just a competition about professional artistic photography, but also a responsibility of the artist, an honor, and a desire to contribute to promoting the value of heritage to a wide audience of people and tourists, both domestic and international," Mr. Nghia said.

According to Mr. Vuong Que Lam, Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial Association of Photographic Artists, art photography requires careful selection and high-level image building. The artist not only "shoots" but also "creates," knowing how to moderate details to avoid spreading the image too thin and diluting the message. Therefore, when participating in this competition, members invested considerable effort, from the initial idea and content research to script development and selecting the right time for shooting. "To get quality photos, we had to travel many times, choose the right time, and even 'stay undercover' living with ethnic minority people in the Tay Yen Tu region for many days to 'hunt for images.' Although we took hundreds of photos, selecting just a few high-quality ones was not easy," Mr. Lam shared.

It is expected that the number of submitted works will increase rapidly in the last days of March 2026 as authors complete their best works. The organizing committee plans to judge the entries in April 2026, award prizes on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19th), and hold an exhibition on the occasion of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21st). According to the organizing committee, this activity is not just a competition but is intended to be maintained for at least three years, aiming for a long-term goal: to transform photography into a sustainable promotional channel, contributing to the widespread dissemination of images of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac heritage sites, and making a practical contribution to the socio-economic development of the localities and regions.

Public Enterprise

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bg2/dulichbg/cuoc-thi-anh-khoanh-khac-di-san-yen-tu-vinh-nghiem-con-son-kiep-bac-danh-thuc-gia-tri-di-san-tu-goc-nhin-nghe-thuat-postid442066.bbg