Cultural meeting place for domestic and international photographers

(PLVN) - Since its inception, photography has not only been a tool to record moments, but also contributed to preserving the history and culture of each country. Over time, the frames have opened up many new perspectives, helping people in different lands to understand and connect more. Inheriting that spirit, the event "Photo Hanoi'25 - International Photography Biennale" has become a cultural meeting place for domestic and international photographers, where photography once again affirms its role as a bridge connecting cultures.

Bridge connecting cultures through photography

Over the past week, the public who love the art of photography has paid special attention to “Photo Hanoi'25 - International Photography Biennale”, an event organized by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports , the French Institute in Hanoi, with the support of the UNESCO Office in Hanoi and partners.

Following the success of the 2021 and 2023 seasons with more than 170,000 visitors and 5 million social media reach, 2025 marks the third season that Hanoi cooperates with the French Embassy in Vietnam to organize the Photo Hanoi event.

Taking place from November 1-31, 2025, “Photo Hanoi'25 - International Photography Biennale” includes 22 solo and group photography exhibitions, along with 29 sideline activities ranging from talks, book launches, film screenings, art tours to photography practice experiences.

Coming to the event, the public who love the art of photography, especially the young, not only get to enjoy a colorful "visual feast", but also experience and practice photography, approaching new and attractive perspectives on contemporary photography in Vietnam and internationally.

A large audience came to see the exhibition "Time and Cities".

The special feature of “Photo Hanoi'25 - International Photography Biennale” is that the activities are held in 20 cultural spaces across the capital, not only at cultural institutions such as the Exhibition House at 45 Trang Tien, 93 Dinh Tien Hoang, the Cultural and Art Center at 22 Hang Buom, 2 Le Thai To, 49 Tran Hung Dao, but also appear in many public spaces such as Dien Hong flower garden, Hoan Kiem lake, the wall of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam or the facade of the French Embassy.

With diverse spaces, the event offers the opportunity to approach the art of photography in a visual and vivid way, right in the space of everyday life.

In addition, “Photo Hanoi'25 - International Photography Biennale” also made a strong impression when it gathered more than 170 artists, photographers, curators and experts from 21 countries, along with 25 accompanying professional organizations.

The event has become a rare professional meeting place, where the Vietnamese photography community has the opportunity to exchange, learn and stand shoulder to shoulder with international friends right in Hanoi. Thereby, contributing to the construction of Hanoi to become a creative destination in the field of photography in Asia, as well as an attractive destination for domestic and international photography enthusiasts.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event “Photo Hanoi'25 - International Photography Biennale” held on November 1, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports Bach Lien Huong said: “This year's event is organized on a larger scale and magnitude than previous years, with many rich and attractive activities.

All activities create a large, lively international photography art and cultural festival space, making a deep impression in the capital Hanoi. This demonstrates the strong commitment and determination of the French Embassy in constantly promoting and connecting cultural cooperation between the French Republic and the participation of embassies, international organizations, and foreign cultural centers in Vietnam.

The Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports affirmed that Hanoi always attaches importance to promoting cultural exchange activities between Hanoi and the French Republic in particular and other countries and international organizations that are partners in this project.

“We are committed to continuing to strengthen close cooperation with you in researching, building and implementing new cooperation projects and linkage programs between Hanoi and creative cities, thereby actively contributing to promoting exchange relationships as well as strengthening solidarity and friendship between the Government and people of Vietnam with countries in the region and the world ,” said Ms. Bach Lien Huong.

Exhibition “Continued: Vietnam” at Hoan Kiem Lake Cultural Information Center. (Photo in article: Organizing Committee)

Appreciating the cultural values ​​brought by the Photo Hanoi event, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Jonathan Wallace Baker shared: “Over the years, Photo Hanoi has developed from a visionary idea into a cultural movement, illuminating the city with photos, stories and emotions that everyone shares. This is where artists and the public meet, where streets and heritage become open galleries, and Hanoi itself is both the stage and the subject of art”.

Regarding “Photo Hanoi'25 - International Photography Biennale”, Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker commented that this year's event reflects Hanoi's vision as a UNESCO Creative City, where creativity is not limited to institutions, but is lived, experienced and spread throughout urban life. At the same time, it demonstrates the values ​​that can be created when artists, communities, governments and international partners join hands to build a vibrant, open and inclusive cultural space.

Exhibitions that touch the public's emotions

As the opening exhibition for the colorful “visual feast” at “Photo Hanoi’25 - International Photography Biennale”, “Reminiscences of Cities” curated by photographer and visual artist Nguyen The Son has opened up a new perspective on seemingly familiar spaces. Inspired by the thought that each city is like a living body, constantly changing and developing over time, the exhibition brings together the participation of 30 talented photographers and visual artists from Vietnam and internationally.

While Jean-Charles Sarrazin - a French photographer and cartoonist - brought nostalgic film footage of Hanoi during the post-war reconstruction years, local photographers brought closer slices of contemporary Hanoi life: Dong Hieu with "Whispering" of nightlife, Pham Duy with the moment "The city stood still" during the days the city fought the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, “Nostalgia for Cities” also features photo stories from a range of other cities, from metropolises like Paris and Tokyo, to unique destinations like Yangon and Bilbao.

Another highlight of the event “Photo Hanoi’25 - International Photography Biennale” is the exhibition “Continued: Vietnam” by British photojournalist Andy Soloman. Through more than 50 works taken in two phases 1992 - 1993 and 2022 - 2024, the exhibition opens up an emotional perspective on Vietnam’s journey of more than three decades of strong transformation through emotional meetings and reunions.

Exhibition “Archive and Post-Archive” at VCCA Vincom Center for Contemporary Art.

Among the works on display, “Continued: Vietnam” presents 21 black and white portraits recently re-created by Mr. Andy Soloman, recreating the images of the characters, or their descendants, that he had photographed in 1992 - 1993. The remaining 30 precious documentary photos from the early 1990s, capturing the moments of the people whose traces he is still tirelessly searching for.

Each photo tells a story about the vitality, faith and aspirations of the Vietnamese people during the renovation period. At the same time, it shows profound changes in society, environment and cultural life, where traditional values ​​gradually blend with modern life in an increasingly dynamic and connected community.

Meanwhile, the two exhibitions “Time and Cities” and “Archive and Post-Archive” brought new emotions to the public when exploiting unique perspectives through photography.

The group exhibition “Time and Cities” through the lenses of six photographers from Vietnam and Switzerland invites the public to reflect on how we exist in time and space - where, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, fleeting moments become endless stories.

As for “Archive and Post-Archive,” the exhibition explores the concept of archive and post-archive through the lens of the Vietnamese diaspora, while connecting Vietnamese and Caribbean artists. Not only stopping at photography, both exhibitions also combine still and moving, photography and video, installation and other media.

In addition to the above exhibitions, “Photo Hanoi'25 - International Photography Biennale” also introduces many other outstanding exhibitions such as: “The Shutter Zone”, “The Awakening Season”, “The Face of All Things”, “The Provincial Examinations of the Late 19th Century”, “Frames of Climate Change”… Although they exploit separate contents, the common point of the exhibitions is to touch the public’s emotions, suggesting new perspectives on life, people and culture.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/diem-hen-van-hoa-cua-gioi-nhiep-anh-trong-nuoc-va-quoc-te.html