"Hanoi in My Heart" - The Mark of a 70-Year Journey of Progress and Development

Recalling his memories of Hanoi in the 1970s, photographer Trinh Hai, a former photojournalist for the Nhan Dan newspaper, always feels fortunate to have captured invaluable moments during the resistance war against the US by the people of the capital. At the age of 92, the artist still clearly remembers the circumstances surrounding the creation of the black-and-white photographs featured in the "Hanoi in My Eyes" photo exhibition.

“This is the former Nhan Dan newspaper printing house, which used to be a French printing house. After we liberated the capital, it became the Nhan Dan newspaper printing house, with five floors. This battlefield is on the fifth floor. When I climbed up to take the photo, the Hanoi Opera House was in the background, and this was the self-defense force of the Nhan Dan newspaper printing house, the combat unit ready to participate in firing low-altitude missiles to shoot down American planes. They were all workers,” said Mr. Trinh Hai.

Photographer Trinh Hai and his work "Anti-aircraft Battlefield"

According to Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Lan, Deputy Head of the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board, the "Hanoi in My Heart" exhibition, held in the pedestrian area around Hoan Kiem Lake, aims to introduce to residents and tourists visiting Hanoi the development process of the capital city, and to promote and educate younger generations to be proud of being born and raised in a land rich in cultural values.

“With the theme ‘Hanoi in My Heart,’ this is a photo collection that aims to give the public and viewers a better understanding of Hanoi's 70-year history. Through these photos, people will learn about historical values, the subsidy period, and the period of economic integration and development, so that in the future, Hanoi will be a city for peace . Among the 70 photos by various authors, I find that the black and white photos evoke strong emotions and bring back images of the subsidy period, a bygone era – a difficult period for the capital. The peace we have today is the result of the hard work and efforts of the people and the public of Hanoi in particular, as well as the whole country working together for Hanoi,” Ms. Lan said.

The works on display at the "Hanoi in My Heart" exhibition.

The photographs are carefully composed, capturing typical moments when President Ho Chi Minh and other Party and State leaders are interacting with the people of the capital city. Following the course of history, the authors have documented events in Hanoi's history during the process of national construction and defense, from the subsidy period to the reform era and international integration. The aim is to create a prosperous, civilized, and modern capital city, worthy of its status as a major political, economic, and cultural center of the country. Photographer and journalist Tran Hong and Nguyen Quy Hoai said: “I was amazed by how beautiful it was. Firstly, the location was stunning, and the weather was beautiful. Most of the photos are of Hanoi. For example, I have one photo here titled 'Grandma Returns,' a black and white photo from the subsidy period. I had just graduated in 1973 and was living on the third floor of house number 8 Ly Nam De. In the afternoons, I would go out to admire the view and see beautiful images of a grandmother returning from the market, her grandchild running out to greet her. The black and white, backlit photos were truly beautiful. Even now, I'm still fascinated by those photos.”

Journalist Nguyen Quy Hoai.

“I am deeply moved! This photo, titled 'The Quintessence of a Thousand Years of Thang Long-Hanoi,' was taken one evening during the 1,000th anniversary celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi. I joined the people of Hanoi in a vibrant festival of flags, flowers, and lanterns. I took a series of photos, and selected some like this one. That moment was sacred; the festival of lights was dazzling and magical, the crowds were immense, and the lighting was fantastic. Everyone hopes that if they can do something to contribute to building a beautiful capital city, they will do so.”

Highly appreciating the image quality and content conveyed by the photographers in each work, Ms. Tran Thi Quynh Nhu, a photography art critic and member of the Hanoi Press Photography Branch (Hanoi Art Photography Association), said: “This is a very high-quality exhibition. The photographers have selected heartfelt works that speak about the 70-year history of Hanoi, through all the struggles and the economic, cultural, and social aspects of the people of Hanoi, using the language of photography to convey their thoughts and feelings. The collection of photos is very valuable, especially those that show the changes in Hanoi. We are very proud that the capital is becoming more and more prosperous and beautiful, and the material and spiritual lives of the people of Hanoi are improving. We are still proud that this is a political, economic, and cultural center of the whole country.”

“Hanoi in My Heart” is a collection of photographs taken by artists and journalists living in Hanoi, capturing the city's history over the past 70 years. The photo collection is a tribute to Hanoi, expressing their love for the city on the 70th anniversary of its liberation. The “Hanoi in My Heart” exhibition runs from now until October 29, 2024, in the pedestrian area around Hoan Kiem Lake (opposite the statue of King Le Thai To).

Source: https://vov.vn/van-hoa/ha-noi-trong-toi-dau-an-hanh-trinh-70-nam-vuon-len-va-phat-trien-post1124750.vov