Officially launched on July 5, the exhibition is a result of a contest organised by the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists.

The contest was held with the aim to gather photos to promote national tourism and encourage photographic artists to discover the country’s beauty.

It started last December. After six months, the organising board received nearly 5,500 entries including coloured and monochrome photos.

Of those submissions, the 11 best photos were selected and awarded prizes, and nearly 100 entries went on display at the exhibition. Back to Origin, a photo by Nguyen Trang Kim Cuong, received the top prize.

The photos cover several topics, including destinations, historical relics, cultural activities, traditional handicrafts and the exchange between locals and tourists.

The photos all demonstrate high quality, effort and creativity, said Ha Van Sieu, deputy director general of the VNAT.

“The photos depict the beauty of our people, culture and landscape seen through various angles of the photographers,” said Sieu.

The photographers put Vietnamese tourism in the spotlight and depict the unforgettable moments tourists experience when they travel to Viet Nam. In these photos, foreigners not only enjoy the pulchritude of nature, but also participate in locals’ daily lives and cultural activities.

The exhibition of photos selected from the contest will run until July 9.