The events were selected from 31 submitted by 10 agencies operating in the fields. They were judged based on four criteria: the level of quality and professionalism, contributions to the sector’s development, organisation, and positive impacts on the community and cultural life of the country.

The top nine events are:

1. Exhibition on 70 years of socio-economic achievements

The exhibition, held in Hanoi from August 28-September 3, was held in the run-up to the 70th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19), National Day (September 2) and the upcoming 12th National Party Congress.

Works on display honoured the country’s socio-economic achievements in all fields as well as the leading role played by the Party and State in the national construction and defence and socialism building.

2. The inauguration of two President Ho statues in Tuyen Quang and Ho Chi Minh City

The monument features Uncle Ho surrounded by ethnic groups in Tuyen Quang province (Photo: ape.gov.vn)

The first one, unveiled in May at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Tuyen Quang city, was presented under the theme ‘President Ho and Tuyen Quang province’s ethnic groups’. It was a joint construction of Le Lang Luong, Nguyen Hong Phong and Pham Ba Dua.

The monument features Uncle Ho standing in the centre of a group of six local people and a three-section sculpture engraved with the Tan Trao Banyan tree and images of the cultural practices and daily life of local people.

Also in May, a bronze statue of President Ho Chi Minh was inaugurated in Ho Chi Minh City In celebration of the leader’s 125th birthday (May 19, 1890). The statue illustrates local people’s deep sentiment towards the President.

It is positioned in front of the headquarters of the municipal People’s Council and Committee, which is a convenient place for people from nationwide and foreign visitors to visit and pay respect to the beloved leader of the nation.

3. Monument honouring Vietnamese heroic mothers in Quang Nam

Covering 15 hectares in Cam mountain, Tam Phu commune, the Vietnamese Heroic Mother statue was inaugurated on March 24 in Tam Ky city, Quang Nam province to mark the province’s 40th anniversary of liberation (1975-2015).

The statue was adapted from Mother Nguyen Thi Thu (1904-2010) from Dien Thang commune, Dien Ban district in Quang Nam province, whose 11 descendants are war martyrs.
The statue is housed inside a museum honouring the lives and contributions of 50,000 Vietnamese heroic mothers nationwide.

4. The 2015 Vietnam Fine Arts Exhibition

Monument honouring Vietnamese heroic mothers in Quang Nam wins gold medal at the Vietnam Fine Arts Exhibition 2015 (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnam Fine Arts Exhibition, held every five years by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, took place in Hanoi from December 9 to 23. It was an occasion to review outcomes of the creativity of artists and sculptors and honour their achievements over the past five years.

On display were 409 high-quality art works selected from 4,076 entries to the exhibition.

At the opening ceremony, 38 of the most outstanding fine art works were honoured with awards from the Arts Council, including two gold, four silver, twelve bronze medals, and 20 consolation prizes.

5. International sculpture camp in Ho Chi Minh City

The 2015 international sculpture camp, held in early December in Ho Chi Minh City, presented 50 sculptures by 11 Vietnamese sculptors and 11 foreign artists from Russia, Iran, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Belgium, Romania and Japan.

The art works were selected from more than 200 entries of all genres and styles, featuring the building, development and integration of Ho Chi Minh city as well as the livelihoods of local residents over the past 40 years.

The event provided an opportunity for international and domestic artists to exchange experiences while enhancing the outdoor art space in the city and contributing to the development of the city’s fine arts.

6. The eighth International Artistic Photo Contest in Vietnam 2015 (VN-15)

Visitors take in photos from the eighth International Arts Photography Contest (Photo: VNA)

The eighth International Artistic Photo Contest in Vietnam was launched in May by the Vietnam Artistic Photographers’ Association (VAPA) with the sponsorship of the International Federation of Artistic Photography (FIAP) and the France’s Image Sans Frontiere (ISF).

The contest collected nearly 9,700 photos from around 990 artists from 31 countries and territories to compete in four categories - Freestyle, Women at work, Sublime moments, and Still life.

The competition was a chance for Vietnam to learn from global photographers and popularise excellent works of Vietnamese and international artists.

7. Young Photography Festival 2015

The Young Photography Festival 2015, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was dedicated to photography lovers aged from 14 to 35 years old.

The event received 3,054 entries from 527 young photographers from across the country. Over 200 of the top works were selected to be displayed in the exhibition, 21 of which were chosen to receive awards.

The festival was designed to orient young Vietnamese photographers while providing a venue for young photography lovers to meet and exchange their experiences.

8. Exhibition “Vietnam: The Real War” by AP photojournalist in Hanoi

Vietnam Napalm 1972 (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

An exhibition themed “Vietnam: The real war” featuring around 50 photos captured by Associated Press (AP) journalists during the American War was held in Hanoi in June.

The 53 photos on display were a reminder of the war and the value of peace and independence.

The event was part of celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the normalisation of Vietnam-US ties and was intended to foster mutual understanding between the two peoples.

9. Photo exhibition on the homeland of the Hoang Sa Flotilla

A photo exhibition featuring the land and people of Ly Son Island district, dav homeland of the Hoang Sa Flotilla, was held in May as part of the 2015 Quang Ngai Sea and Island Cultural Week.

The exhibition displayed 100 photos by nearly 50 artists from 23 cities and provinces across the country. With various topics and styles, the photos captured the natural beauty of Ly Son island, the daily life of islanders, and their cultural practices.