The contest, under the theme For a beautiful life on earth, has attracted more than 5,700 works from 1,042 photographers, including those from Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Britain, Denmark and Finland. Nearly half the works were black and white.

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To highlight the theme, contestants sent works in different categories from portraits, landscape, and daily life activities to sports games and festivals. Through Photoshop processing, many works showed the photographers’ creativity and uniqueness, leaving a good impression on judges.

According to Chu Chi Thanh, president of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) and head of the organising board, the contest demonstrated people’s earnest desire to live in peace, friendship, prosperity and happiness, as well as people’s love for beauty. It provided a good chance for photographers from various countries to share experiences and promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding.

Though Vietnam sent nearly 5,000 entries to the contest, only one-third met technical specifications, said Mr Thanh, adding that there was a repetition in many works. However, judges from France, Germany and China praised Vietnamese photographers for creativity.

The judging panel selected 308 of the best works to be displayed at the Vietnam Art and Culture Exhibition Centre, No 2 Hoa Lu St, Hanoi, from September 1-15 and Ho Chi Minh City from October 1-20.