My Hanoi

Hanoi is where everything feels most familiar and dear; the sound of guava vendors, the clatter of knives chopping meat, the casual conversations of neighbors are enough to make me smile every day. If we just slow down a little, listen a little more carefully, each of those simple sounds is the very breath of life. Hidden beneath each sound are the diverse colors of Hanoi's rhythmic life.

For author Bui Quang Thuy, Hanoi is just that small. It is the hustle and bustle, the occasional laughter, the occasional sigh, that truly defines his beloved Hanoi, so much so that, even in a dream, he might exclaim: "I love Hanoi!" From this emotion, the author created the photo series "My Hanoi," as a way of expressing his deep love for this dear and simple city. Vietnam.vn is pleased to present to you these beautiful images of Hanoi from every angle through the lens of author Bui Quang Thuy. The photo series was submitted by the author to the "Happy Vietnam" Photo and Video Contest, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications .

In his preface to his photo series, author Bui Quang Thuy confessed: "I wasn't born in Hanoi, but I've fallen in love with this place. I love the simple things here, I love even the dark sides and the ugliest moments. I don't know if it's because I love Hanoi so much or because I've become accustomed to the rhythm of life here, but just thinking about leaving makes my heart ache with nostalgia and regret; I don't want to leave at all. For me, Hanoi is about carrying my camera along with my friend to practice photography. I remember the kind foreign tourists on our 'Western hunting' trips on the pedestrian streets. Or the days wandering the streets alone. There were days when I took the bus to the last stop and then took another bus back. I like the feeling of being alone, observing the streets and people, and taking pictures that, when I look back on them later, will remind me of a Hanoi that I will always love."

In 2024, the "Happy Vietnam" photo and video contest continued to be organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists on the website.   https://happy.vietnam.vn is open to all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and above. The competition aims to honor individuals and groups with positive informational products that make practical contributions to promoting a beautiful image of Vietnam to the world. Through this, it helps people at home, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends access authentic images of Vietnam, its people, its achievements in ensuring human rights, and working towards a happy Vietnam. Each competition category (photos and videos) has the following prizes and prize values: – 1 Gold Medal: 70,000,000 VND – 2 Silver Medals: 20,000,000 VND – 3 Bronze Medals: 10,000,000 VND – 10 Consolation Prizes: 5,000,000 VND – 1 Most Voted entry: 5,000,000 VND. Winning authors will be invited by the Organizing Committee to attend the Award Ceremony and Certificate Presentation, broadcast live on Vietnam Television.

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