VietNamNet Bridge – A man seated on a humble cyclo gives directions to a fellow citizen leaning out of an expensive car. In the background, old and new buildings occupy the skyline without fuss.

The co-existence of such contradictions, including the widest smiles on the faces of people engaged in hard work to earn their daily bread, as well as the spontaneous playfulness of children in mountainous areas have been captured over several years by photojournalist Hoang Minh Quoc.

A collection of Quoc's work that reflects the obvious charms of Viet Nam's stunning landscapes and its smiling people has opened in HCM City.

Organised by Viet Nam Pictorial magazine and the Viet Nam News Agency (VNA) in HCM City, Viet Nam Quyen Ru (The Charm of Viet Nam) displays 59 photographs taken in the north-west region, Ha Noi, the central region, HCM City and the Mekong Delta.

Quoc, a photojournalist with the Viet Nam Pictorial said all the works express his feelings for people and ways of life in every region in the country that he'd been to over several decades.

All photos shown at the exhibition are on sale. Profits from the sales will be donated to the Vietnam News Agency Fund for Orange Agent Victims.

The 51-year-old journalist will also introduce a photo book on the occasion.

The 242-page book features 227 photos providing an overview of Viet Nam which provides images of landscapes and people as well as general information about the different regions across the country.

Quoc said he hopes the book will help tourists learn more about Viet Nam and be a valuable souvenir for them to take back to their countries.

The book, priced at VND390,000 (US$19), is available on the shelves of bookstores across the country.

The exhibition will remain open until Friday at the office of the VNA, at 116-118 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street in District 3, HCM City.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News