Most of the artists are current and former students from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts and the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts under Vietnam National University – Hanoi (VNU-SIS), working in photography, fine arts, and design. The selected works come from photography courses and practical projects taught over the years by curator and event organiser Nguyen The Son, reflecting the spirit of exploration, experimentation, and creativity.

The organisers said the exhibition is not merely a display event but also an art practice project, offering young artists the opportunity to experiment, engage in dialogue, and express their personal identities through photography. It also serves as an invitation to innovation, creativity, and free experimentation, reflecting Vietnam’s growing integration into the international contemporary art scene.

A distinctive feature of the exhibition is its venue – the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, a historic architectural site of over 200 years old in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. This heritage space creates a harmonious blend of traditional elements and the modern creative spirit of young artists.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Franck Bolgiani, Cultural Attaché of the French Embassy in Vietnam and Director of the French Institute in the country, the founding and co-organising unit of Photo Hanoi ’25, stressed that the exhibition demonstrates the vitality and creativity of contemporary Vietnamese photography. He said young artists have transformed photography into a personal and expressive language, blending visual art, design, performance, and installation, opening up fresh and diverse approaches.

Bolgiani added that the exhibition serves as a “creative laboratory,” where photography becomes a living medium, constantly evolving and developing, and that the project aligns perfectly with the mission of Photo Hanoi ’25.

As a highlight of Photo Hanoi ’25, the event provides not only a space for young artists to practice and experiment but also bridges tradition and modernity, connecting previous generations with emerging talents, and develops photography in a diverse and integrated direction.

Through the exhibition, which runs through November, art enthusiasts have the opportunity to explore fresh, humanistic, and profound perspectives in photography, which is an art form that continuously evolves alongside modern life.

Photo exhibition captures over three decades of Vietnam’s transformation

A photo exhibition by British photojournalist Andy Soloman opened in Hanoi on November 4, offering a unique perspective on Vietnam’s remarkable transformation over more than three decades through a series of moving encounters and reunions.