Award Ceremony and Exhibition of the 13th International Art Photography Competition in Vietnam

Four authors were awarded Gold Medals at the Award Ceremony.

The 13th International Art Photography Competition 2025 (VN-25) has 4 themes: Freedom for Color Photos, Freedom for Monochrome Photos, Portraits and Travel , sponsored by the International Federation of Art Photography (FIAP).

The Organizing Committee received 13,236 entries; gathering 1,054 authors from 31 countries and territories, continuing to affirm the appeal of the "VN" contest system on the international photography map. The number of entries was very impressive, having increased by nearly 30% compared to the VN-23 contest.

Delegates performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In her opening speech, photographer Tran Thi Thu Dong, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations and President of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists, said that, as a biennial event, the International Art Photography Competition in Vietnam has become a prestigious meeting place for the global photography community. However, the 2025 competition takes place in a very special context, when the world is still facing the aftershocks of the economic crisis and many unpredictable fluctuations.

However, Ms. Thu Dong emphasized: "The VN-25 contest was organized with the highest international standards. In addition to the prestigious awards of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA), the contest continues to be sponsored by the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP). The organizing committee invited 4 independent Jury Boards, including highly-titled and experienced photographers from Vietnam, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Spain and Indonesia.

"The entire appraisal process is carried out on a dedicated internet technology platform (online), ensuring objectivity and absolute independence among the judges. This is an important step in the digital transformation and professionalization roadmap," Ms. Tran Thi Thu Dong added.

The event is a festival of Vietnamese and international photographers.

As a result, the Council selected 664 best works from 383 authors from 22 countries for the exhibition round, and awarded 47 prizes according to the VAPA and FIAP award system to authors from 9 countries: Croatia, Taiwan (China), Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Vietnam.

Standing out at this year's competition is author Marcel Van Balken (Netherlands) who won the FIAP Blue Ribbon - the winner of the most awards in the competition with 10 award-winning works on display.

The entries at VN-25 were highly appreciated for their artistic and technical quality, demonstrating the diversity in creative thinking of authors from many different cultures.

Author Le Khai Nhan ( Ho Chi Minh City) with his work that won the Gold Medal in the Portrait category.

In all four themes, photographers have deeply exploited the aesthetics of light, composition and moments, while reflecting humanistic stories and new perspectives on life, people and landscapes. Many works have made a strong impression with their modern, experimental approach, showing the integration of Vietnamese photography into the international creative flow as well as the clear maturity of the domestic author team.

The opening exhibition in Hanoi showcased 250 of the best works representing the competition, including 47 award-winning works. It is a vivid picture of nature, country and people; where the subtle beauty of ethnic cultures is honored, while also expressing many creative styles and unique perspectives of artists from 31 countries and territories around the world.