Founded in 2021, after four years of operation, the Skyline group has continuously strived to restore historical photographs. For them, each restored photograph is not only a combination of technology and art, but also contains their dedication, meticulousness, and heartfelt concerns.
And behind each photograph lie untold stories, unceasing memories, and tears of those who have spent their lives searching for the image of their loved ones. During Youth Month 2025, group leader Phung Quang Trung was honored to receive the "Outstanding Young Vietnamese Face 2024" award.
The young people in the Skyline group are always striving to complete projects that restore historical photographs.
Speaking with reporters, Phung Quang Trung, head of the Skyline photo restoration team, shared that in the early years of their establishment, restoring a single photograph took 8 to 12 hours, requiring patience and meticulousness. Especially when recreating images of heroes of the resistance against the French, the Skyline team faced many difficulties because the witnesses were all elderly, and many photos had to rely on the memories of relatives and fragmented descriptions from family members... Travel costs were also a major obstacle. When resources were limited, the members used their own money, but their hearts were filled with happiness because they understood that they were doing work that benefited the community…
Mr. Phung Quang Trung posed a question at the forum "Voice of Youth - Actions of the Youth Union" on March 13, 2025.
Speaking about memorable journeys, Mr. Phung Quang Trung recounted that one night in late October 2024, while driving a group back from Lao Cai after a trip to support flood victims in Nu village, he received a special call, a "plea" from a family of a fallen soldier in Bac Giang , asking him to help restore a photograph as quickly as possible.
On her sickbed, the heroic Vietnamese mother continuously called out the name of her fallen son. The family earnestly hoped for a composite photograph of mother and son reunited to comfort her in her final days. Despite being exhausted after the long journey, Trung continued to stay up all night, pouring all his heart and soul into completing the photograph.
This photo was sent by the family of Mrs. Trieu Thi Sung in Bac Giang province to share the good news with Mr. Phung Quang Trung.
“The photo was like a miracle. Seeing her son's picture, my mother gradually recovered, started eating, talking, and even walking again. Hearing the news, all my fatigue vanished. I suddenly realized that what I did wasn't just a photograph, but a source of life, a continuation of the sacred bond of motherhood. During the Lunar New Year of 2025, the family celebrated my mother's 100th birthday. A moment that perhaps even I didn't expect I had helped create,” Phung Quang Trung happily shared.
Having joined the Skyline group in July 2024, Luu Hoang Vu (23 years old, from Thai Binh province) quickly adapted to historical photo restoration projects, despite initial difficulties… “Some projects were urgent, requiring us to work day and night, while others took half a month to complete to our satisfaction… As a freelance worker, I often faced financial difficulties, but with the encouragement of the members and the group leader, all obstacles were gradually overcome, and we continued our journey of restoring many precious photographs,” Luu Hoang Vu shared.
Mr. Luu Hoang Vu (left) and his group present a photograph to the family of General Vo Nguyen Giap.
The project in Ha Tinh in December 2024 was a memorable milestone, the first major project that Luu Hoang Vu participated in with his team. After enduring the long journey from Hai Duong to Ha Tinh in the biting cold, all fatigue seemed to vanish when witnessing the deeply moving scene at the ceremony. Despite the cold and rainy weather, the hall was packed with people. The moment of receiving the photograph of his son, "still intact," waving goodbye, and the heroic Vietnamese mother, with trembling hands, caressing his face... left a deep impression on the young man: "Not only me, but everyone in the hall at that time was deeply moved, overwhelmed, and tears streamed down their faces... At that moment, I realized that the work I was doing was not just recreating images, but also a bridge between the past and the present, between those who sacrificed and those who always remember them," Luu Hoang Vu recounted emotionally.
As one of the founding members of the Skyline group, Khuất Văn Hoàng (22 years old, Thạch Thất district, Hanoi) is proud that his group has increasingly carried out meaningful projects, paying tribute to historical witnesses and families of martyrs who bravely defended the nation's independence.
Mr. Khuat Van Hoang (in the black shirt) presents the restored photograph to the family of the fallen soldier.
During his photo restoration project, what young Khuất Văn Hoàng remembers most vividly and deeply is the image of a Vietnamese Heroic Mother in the photo restoration project in Hải Dương. The mother had only one simple wish: to see the image of her son who fell for the country and keep it with her. A very small wish, but something she had waited her whole life for.
“We rushed to finish the photo and delivered it to her house. But as soon as we stepped through the door, the silence was unusual. Looking around and not seeing my mother anywhere, I quietly asked, then fell silent when I heard her answer:
'Mom passed away… three days ago.'
The whole group stood in silence… We had finished the photo, but we didn't have time to give it to my mother… For the first time, we felt so deeply that sometimes, not everyone can wait for us to finish our work. We reminded each other to move faster, to do more because time waits for no one, and also because there are things that, if missed, can never be recovered,” Khuất Văn Hoàng said emotionally.
Sharing with reporters about the completely free projects, Mr. Phung Quang Trung frankly stated: "The Skyline group does not solicit donations because we do not consider this a charitable activity, but rather a journey of gratitude, a responsibility, a gesture to honor the heroes who sacrificed for the country."
In addition to restoration projects, the Skyline group also commercializes some historically significant works. Typical examples include the 1988 military rank promotion photo and the photo of President Ho Chi Minh with other leaders, which were created by young people and donated to various museums. They also publish books for those who wish to preserve historically significant photographs within their families.
The emotional moments during the ceremonies of presenting photos of fallen soldiers will be etched in the memories of these young people.
“It all boils down to a single goal: to ensure that memories never fade, and that gratitude is always remembered through generations. After the release of our reconstructed photo publications, many people have proactively sent additional funds to support the group in continuing our upcoming projects. For example, on our upcoming trip to Quang Tri, the Skyline group will donate all proceeds from the sale of our publications to give gifts to experts and the families of fallen soldiers. This is also a way for the Skyline group to create sustainable resources, helping our work of showing gratitude spread more widely,” shared Mr. Phung Quang Trung.
People often say, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." To help the group grow stronger and accomplish more meaningful projects, Phung Quang Trung hopes to find like-minded individuals to spread positive values together. These are companions, people who are not only talented but also compassionate.
"We always hope that through the articles and stories shared, we can inspire and ignite the enthusiasm of young people, so that they are ready to join hands with us in spreading love. With more people working together, this work will become even more meaningful and help even more people," Phung Quang Trung shared.
In addition, the Skyline team leader hopes to receive attention and support from local authorities so that the work of restoring photographs can spread further, so that these efforts are not just individual endeavors, but become a large, sustainable movement with a profound and far-reaching impact.
The Skyline group worked together to reconstruct photos for the families of the victims in Nu village (Lao Cai).
In the near future, the Skyline group is "nurturing" many meaningful projects aimed at honoring and preserving the precious historical values of the nation. One of these plans is to reconstruct the complete images of the heroes of the armed forces in Hai Duong province, to be donated to museums and national historical sites. This is not only a way to remember those who sacrificed for the country, but also contributes to preserving the heroic memories for future generations.
In particular, on July 27th, the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs, Skyline plans to organize a large-scale program in Quang Tri, a former fierce battlefield during the resistance war. The group has coordinated with the Quang Tri Provincial Youth Union to collect a list of heroic martyrs, thoroughly researching each case to ensure the program is carried out meticulously and meaningfully.
“Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces are two places that witnessed some of the fiercest battles in history. Through this project, the stories of the heroic sacrifices of the soldiers will be deeply etched in everyone's hearts, so that the past will never be forgotten and the values of peace today will be even more precious,” shared Mr. Phung Quang Trung.
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