The photo book "HCMC - 50 years of proud heroic epic" is a project by the Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).
Diverse and rich content
"HCMC - 50 years of proud heroic epic" was released on March 18, on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of Vietnam Photography Traditional Day (March 15). From thousands of photos, the editorial board has filtered down to about 300 to include in the book.
Mr. Doan Hoai Trung, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association, said that "Ho Chi Minh City - 50 years of proud heroic epic" brings together works by many generations of photographers, reflecting the stages of development in all areas of the city over the past 50 years. Each photo is a story, a perspective, vividly expressing the spirit of solidarity, resilience and aspiration of the people of Ho Chi Minh City.
"HCMC - 50 years of heroic pride" is divided into 2 parts, corresponding to 2 periods. The period from 1975-1985, the book reflects the first 10 years
Ho Chi Minh City builds, stabilizes the situation, overcomes the consequences of war, and restores the economy after the country's reunification. From 1986 to present, the photo book shows 6 contents: Ho Chi Minh City is dynamic, integrated, and developing; the beauty of Ho Chi Minh City's culture and sports; Ho Chi Minh City cares for health care and education; Ho Chi Minh City's humanity; Ho Chi Minh City's armed forces and Ho Chi Minh City with international friends.
In part 1 of "HCMC - 50 years of heroic pride", the selected works are images of tanks entering the Independence Palace (now the Reunification Hall); images of our army and people rejoicing in victory; images of youth volunteer forces reclaiming and renovating canals... In part 2, each content depicts HCMC according to each theme, showing the elements of innovation and development, typical works of the city in the past 50 years...
According to photographer Doan Hoai Trung, the Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association had come up with the idea and prepared the photo resources more than a year ago. The association launched a contest with the theme "Dynamic, integrated and developing Ho Chi Minh City" to collect all works from 1975 to the present, encouraging even senior photography artists to participate.
The Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association also coordinated with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists to organize a regional photo festival on the cultural beauty of Ho Chi Minh City, and to produce a photo book themed "Ho Chi Minh City of Love". During the process of producing the photo book, realizing that the city's culture is extremely rich, the Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association launched the contest "Cultural Beauty of Ho Chi Minh City"...
"From all those documents, we established an editorial board for the photo book "HCMC - 50 years of proud heroic epic". The book was released on the occasion of HCMC celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification" - Mr. Doan Hoai Trung said.
In "HCMC - 50 years of heroic pride", the period from 1986 to the present has an additional comparison of past and present images. For example, what was the commercial center like before, what is it like today; in the past, we had to travel by ferry or boat across the Saigon River, but now there are bridges, roads, and the Thu Thiem tunnel; the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal, which was once pitch black and severely polluted, has now been renovated, clean, and beautiful...
"HCMC - 50 years of proud heroic epic" has many images of workers enthusiastically working in production, contributing to the development of the city and the country; about the fields of traditional agriculture , high-tech agriculture...
Ho Chi Minh City in the photo book also has cultural beauty. Ho Chi Minh City has more and more cultural quarters and new festivals such as: River Festival, On the Wharf, Under the Boat Festival, Ao Dai Festival... Ho Chi Minh City is also a city full of love; the lives of the people, especially the poor and disadvantaged, are always cared for and supported.
Ho Chi Minh City's kindness during the COVID-19 pandemic; kindness when natural disasters and floods occur in localities across the country...
Cover of the photo book "HCMC - 50 years of proud heroic epic"
Elaborate, impressive
"HCMC - 50 years of proud heroic epic" has contributions from nearly 100 authors inside and outside the association, in addition to photos collected from many newspapers.
Writing the preface for this photo book when he was the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee (now Secretary of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee), Mr. Nguyen Ho Hai emphasized: "This is a special work of art, not only recording memorable moments in the development journey of Ho Chi Minh City but also arousing the pride, sense of responsibility and aspiration to reach out of each citizen; it is the crystallization of the art of photography, creative thinking and love for the city, for the country, deeply reflecting the cultural values, history and people of Ho Chi Minh City.
Each photo in the book is a vivid slice, truly recreating the resilience, endless creativity and strong solidarity of the people of Ho Chi Minh City. This is a testament to a journey full of hardship but also full of glory, affirming Ho Chi Minh City's pioneering position in the process of innovation and international integration."
Photographer Nguyen A commented: "The photo book "HCMC - 50 years of proud heroic epic" is rich and diverse, showing the changes of the city in the past 50 years. Each period has its highlights; the images are well-filtered, creative and invested."
According to photographer Ngo Thi Thu Ba, this project is not only elaborately and impressively designed but also meaningful; it fully reflects the life, culture, education... of Ho Chi Minh City over the past 50 years.
"The editorial board has obtained many images of Ho Chi Minh City during the period 1975-1985. These documentary photos are very meaningful. In part 2, the book is divided into many contents with full elements, providing a multi-dimensional perspective for viewers, so that they can clearly see the development of Ho Chi Minh City through the stages" - Ms. Thu Ba assessed.
Photographer Doan Hoai Trung, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association, introduces a photo book
The City Photography Association has held many photo exhibitions at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, Thu Duc City Book Street, military units... Depending on the scale of each location, the number of works for each exhibition ranges from 30 to 200 photos.
These activities help spread the photo book, so that people can see more clearly the development of Ho Chi Minh City over the past 50 years.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/tp-hcm-50-nam-tu-hao-qua-lang-kinh-nhiep-anh-196250424220018892.htm
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