Photo exhibition depicts the lives of young Vietnamese people born in the Czech Republic

Taking place from November 2 to 21 at the Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA), Hanoi , the photo exhibition “Little Hanoi: The Next Generation” will provide a close-up look at the young generation of Vietnamese origin in the Czech Republic.

This is a continuation of the photographic project by Štěpánka Stein and Salim Issa in 2008 – a pioneering project that for the first time brought the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic to the center of visual art practice. At the time of its launch, this was a topic that had been almost unexplored and unknown in the field of art.

After 17 years, a new generation has grown up, confident, and culturally integrated. Throughout the journey of growing up, the feeling of belonging, being recognized and finding one’s place in this world has always been a natural need. At the same time, this generation is opening its own paths for the next generations to inherit and go further on that journey.

Some works in the exhibition.

According to Mr. Hynek Kmoníček, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Vietnam, the exhibition introduces 60 portraits of young people of Vietnamese origin living in the Czech Republic, interspersed with landscape images of iconic landmarks in Vietnam - the homeland of many Vietnamese families.

“The second generation always faces more challenges than the first generation. They did not choose this life, they were born into it, and now they have to find their own way to face it. Their journey to overcome these differences and challenges will be vividly portrayed through this exhibition,” said Ambassador Hynek Kmoníček.

The portraits at the Exhibition reflect the lives of young people growing up between two cultures, who are deeply attached to their Vietnamese roots while also taking root and integrating into the Czech cultural and social life. The project is the result of a collaboration between two photographers, Štěpánka Stein and Vendy Mlejnská, with content editing by Nguyen Trinh Thuy Duong.

Photographer Štěpánka Stein shares at a press conference in Hanoi. (Photo: Minh Thu/Vietnam+)

Photographer Štěpánka Stein expressed: “For me, photography is a way to capture things that words cannot express. It is a bridge between generations, cultures and memories. The project 'Little Hanoi: The Next Generation' was born from a deep need and desire: to understand and preserve things that seem invisible. I believe that over time, this project will take on an increasingly greater meaning, becoming a memory that speaks, gentle but coherent. And maybe further, it will be a bridge of understanding.”

The exhibition “Little Hanoi: The Next Generation” will be launched in Hanoi on November 2, within the framework of the international photography festival Photo Hanoi'25, an international art activity initiated by the French Institute in Vietnam, in coordination with the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports , UNESCO and domestic and international partners.

After being introduced in Hanoi, the exhibition will continue to be displayed in Ho Chi Minh City in 2026, before moving to Prague for display in June 2026./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/trien-lam-anh-khac-hoa-cuoc-song-cua-nguoi-viet-tre-sinh-ra-tai-cong-hoa-sec-post1074307.vnp