The award ceremony of the Vietnam Heritage Photo Contest 2025 was held at Ton Duc Thang Museum, Ho Chi Minh City on November 23, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day. The contest attracted 1,034 works by 203 authors nationwide, reflecting a variety of tangible and intangible heritages, customs, festivals, community life and natural landscapes across the three regions.
More than 30 works were awarded in two categories: Gen Z and Photographer of All Ages. Each category includes one gold prize, two silver prizes, three bronze prizes and 10 consolation prizes.
The Then initiation ceremony is the most important traditional ceremony of the Nung Phan Slinh people, officially conferring a title on a man to become a Then master. The ceremony lasts three days and nights, with the opening of the eyes, the initiation ceremony, walking over red coals and dancing with pearls. The person who has been initiated is considered to have the right to practice Then in the community, leading rituals to pray for peace, heal diseases, give thanks and hold traditional festivals.
The Then ritual of the Tay - Nung people was included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2015. On December 12, 2019, the Then practice of the Tay, Nung, and Thai people in Vietnam was recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The work "Planting Season" by author Hoang Bich Nhung received the silver prize in the category of Photographer of No Age Limit. The author captured the scene of farmers planting rice on terraced fields during the flooding season in Lao Cai , June 2024.
The work "Hoi Giong Phu Dong" by author Pham Quoc Dung received an encouragement prize in the category of Photographer with no age limit. The festival recreates the legend of Saint Giong fighting the An invaders, taking place from the 6th to the 8th of the 4th lunar month every year, demonstrating the spirit of patriotism, martial arts and community solidarity. In 2010, the festival was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The work "Pounding sticky rice cake" by author Dang Phuong Lan, received an encouragement prize in the category of Photographer of any age. The author captured the scene of Mong girls in Lao Cai participating in the sticky rice cake pounding competition on Tet holiday. The traditional cultural activity is held every spring, attracting a large number of tourists.
Author Nguyen Xuan Thao took a photo of the pole-raising ceremony or Thuong Tieu (pole-raising ceremony) in Hue, which takes place on the 23rd of December every year. This is a royal ritual signaling the arrival of Tet, one of the most unique royal rituals still preserved intact in the ancient capital.
The 15-meter-high bamboo tree is decorated with dong leaves, peach charms, flags, votive paper baskets, seals and swords. It is carried by the honor guard from Ngo Mon Gate, where incense is offered to the ancestors and then erected amidst the sounds of grand and small royal court music.
In the Gen Z category, the work "Tiet Doi" by author Nguyen Quoc An received the gold prize. The work recorded the scene of the youth of Trieu Khuc village, Hanoi reenacting the "con dy danh bong" dance, one of the 10 ancient dances of ancient Thang Long land, associated with the Trieu Khuc village festival.
According to legend, the dance originated in the 8th century, when King Phung Hung gathered soldiers in the village to fight the Tang invaders. To boost morale, he had handsome soldiers dress up as women, wearing drums and dancing to celebrate the victory.
Trieu Khuc Village Festival takes place from the 9th to the 12th day of the first lunar month. In 2019, the festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, attracting tourists by its historical, cultural values and folk martial spirit.
The Dong Ky Fireworks Festival (photo) is one of the most unique traditional festivals in the Kinh Bac region, taking place in Dong Ky ward, Bac Ninh, from the 4th to the 6th day of the first lunar month every year. The work "Spiritual Connection" by author Nguyen Quoc An captures the bustling atmosphere of the Dong Ky Fireworks Festival, receiving the silver prize in the Gen Z category.
Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2016, the festival not only arouses martial arts spirit and solidarity but also contributes to promoting tourism in Bac Ninh.
The work "Bustling Festival" by author Nguyen Van Bui, received bronze medal in the Gen Z category. The photo captures the atmosphere of the famous Dau Pagoda Festival in Bac Ninh.
Dau Pagoda is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam, built in the 2nd century (around 187-226) under the reign of Si Nhiep. The pagoda is the ancient Buddhist center of Luy Lau, preserving the relics of Tu Phap (Phap Van, Phap Vu, Phap Loi, Phap Dien) and the statue of Buddha Thach Quang.
Dau Pagoda Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017.
The photo series "The Craft of Making Bronze Incense Burners in An Hoi" by author Trinh Thi Hong Trang received an encouragement prize in the Gen Z photo category. The work consists of 7 photos capturing the traditional bronze incense burner making scene of An Hoi craft village, Nguyen Duy Cung street, An Hoi Tay ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
The An Hoi bronze casting village was formed in the late 19th century, associated with the Chinese immigrant community, and is now one of the oldest craft villages in Ho Chi Minh City. The village once had more than 60 households with hundreds of artisans, but now there are only 4-5 establishments that maintain the sophisticated craft, facing ups and downs from war, urbanization, and industrial competition.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nhung-khoanh-khac-van-hoa-viet-doat-giai-anh-di-san-2025-post300153.html
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