Photographer Tran Viet Dung won first prize in the politics – diplomacy category with a photo depicting US President Bill Clinton shaking hands with a Vietnamese youth on a balcony. Nguyen Khang from the Vietnam News Agency came second with a photo of US President George W. Bush playing “dan bau” (Vietnamese traditional monochord). The third prize went to a picture of Vietnamese State President Le Duc Anh talking to US war veteran Boby Muller taken by Pham Cao Phong.
Nguyen Vinh Hien led the category of US culture and society, followed by Nguyen Le and Nguyen Duy Anh.
The first place in the US nature and landscape category belonged to Nguyen Ngoc Bao and a photo of Californian beach. The second and third prizes were claimed by Nguyen Dang Dinh and Thai Thanh Son.
All award winning photos are on display at the Temple of Literature through July 7th.
Delivering his speech at the ceremony Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai considered the winning photos as messages of peace and friendship between Vietnam and the US.
Vietnam - US Society Chairman Nguyen Tam Chien said the competition aims to boost mutual understanding between the two peoples in celebration of the two countries’ 20th anniversaries of the normalisation of diplomatic ties.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius noted that the entries tell a broad story about the Vietnamese and American peoples and lands./.
