Capturing Vietnam: Heritage and tradition through 2025 award-winning lenses 

THE HANOI TIMES — The Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards 2025 has unveiled its top works, presenting powerful visual stories of the country’s culture, people and heritage.

This year’s entries by both professional and amateur photographers stand out for their focused exploration of traditional cultural beauty, delivering images that feel fresh yet familiar.

The award-winning works blend artistic expression with clear messages about heritage preservation. Each photograph tells a distinct cultural story, inspiring pride and encouraging greater awareness of national identity.

The 2025 Heritage Photo Awards highlight the role of photography in promoting Vietnam’s image globally. The honored works celebrate the grace of Vietnamese heritage and the sincerity, resilience and character of its people.

The contest received 1,034 entries from 203 creators nationwide, reflecting diverse tangible and intangible heritages, customs, festivals, community life and natural landscapes across all regions.

The awarding ceremony honored 30 works in two categories: the Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards and the Junior Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards for Gen Z contestants aged 18 to 28. Each category featured one gold medal, two silver medals, three bronze prizes and ten consolation prizes.

The ceremony highlighted the Nung Phan Slinh pole-erecting ritual, the key rite conferring the title of Then Master. The three-day ceremony includes consecration, conferment, firewalking and Chau dancing. Then Masters lead community rites such as prayers for peace, healing, thanksgiving and traditional festivals.

Then rituals of the Tay and Nung were recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015 and inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List in 2019, along with the Then practices of the Tay, Nung and Thai.

Among the award-winning works, “Planting Season” by Hoang Bich Nhung won a Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards silver medal. The photograph shows farmers tending rice terraces during irrigation season in Lao Cai Province in June 2024.

One of the ten consolation prizes went to “Giong Festival” by Pham Quoc Dung. Held from the 6th to the 8th of the 4th lunar month, the festival reenacts the legend of Saint Giong fighting invaders and symbolizes patriotism, bravery and community solidarity. UNESCO recognized the festival as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

“Pounding Banh Giay” by Dang Phuong Lan also received a consolation prize. The photograph shows Hmong girls in Lao Cai pounding steamed sticky rice to make round cakes during a Lunar New Year competition, a springtime tradition that attracts many tourists.

Nguyen Xuan Thao captured the Tet pole-erecting ceremony in Hue, held on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. One of the last royal court rituals preserved in the former imperial capital, the ceremony features a 15-meter bamboo pole decorated with dong leaves, pink paper charms, a red flag, a votive basket, a seal and a sword.

The ceremonial team carries the pole through Ngo Mon Gate, offers incense to ancestors and erects it to the music of the Grand and Small royal orchestras.

“Succession” by Nguyen Quoc An won the Junior Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards gold medal. The photograph shows young boys in Trieu Khuc Village, Hanoi, performing the “Little Girl Beating the Drum” dance, one of ten ancient Thang Long dances linked to the Trieu Khuc Village Festival.

Legend says the dance began in the 8th century when soldiers dressed as women to boost morale during a rebellion against Tang invaders. The festival, held from the 9th to the 12th of the first lunar month, became a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019 for its historical, cultural and folk martial value.

“Spiritual Connection” by Nguyen Quoc An won a Junior Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards silver medal for capturing the Dong Ky Firecracker Procession Festival in Bac Ninh, held from the 4th to 6th of the first lunar month. Recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, the festival fosters community solidarity and promotes tourism in the Kinh Bac region.

“Lively Festival” by Nguyen Van Bui won a bronze medal, depicting the Dau Pagoda Festival in Bac Ninh. As a National Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2017, Dau Pagoda dated back to the 2nd century. It was the ancient Buddhist center of Luy Lau and houses the Cloud Goddess statue, part of Vietnam’s folk religion alongside the Rain, Thunder and Lightning Goddesses.

The photo series “Craft of Making An Hoi Bronze Incense Burner” by Trinh Thi Hong Trang won a Junior Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards consolation prize. The seven-image set documents the traditional bronze incense burner craft in An Hoi Craft Village, Ho Chi Minh City.