The works, selected from over 100 submissions, were by nearly 50 art students and lecturers at HCMC Fine Arts College, and other universities in HCMC, Dong Nai and Soc Trang.

The exhibition was organised by Vietnam Fine Arts Association, HCMC Fine Arts Association and HCMC Fine Arts College.

Huynh Van Muoi, head of the city's association said creating artwork about President Ho Chi Minh was challenging because so much has already been done, but the selected pieces showed the artists' love of their president. The association started organising campaigns and artist camps in early 2009 for artists to create work about the national hero Ho Chi Minh for the exhibition. Organisers chose the 15 best works to send to HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to be made into posters to promote the birthday.

The exhibition will be open through May 25 at the Fine Arts College, 5 Phan Dang Luu Street, HCMC.

A similar exhibition featuring works including photos, calligraphy and sand paintings about the example of Ho Chi Minh was opened on May 16 at HCMC Youth Cultural House to mark the president's birthday, May 19.

There are 300 documentary photos about President Ho and revolutionary career, a stamp collection about the president, and 40 calligraphy pieces in Vietnamese, depicting poems from his poem book Prison Diary.

Duong Minh Hoang, member of HCMC Youth Cultural House's calligraphy club, said 12 members of the club worked for 15 days for the show.

Minh Hoang, who created Khong De (No Title) from the Prison Diary said, "Through calligraphy, we expressed our love to Uncle Ho and became more interested in the Prison Diary. Calligraphy may make the public more familiar with the Prison Diary."

The works can be seen at HCMC Youth Cultural House at 4 Pham Ngoc Thach Street through May 23.