'Hanoi - A Time to Remember' through the lens of two photographers Le Bich - Andy Soloman

Each person chose black and white photos of Hanoi from 1992-2012 to introduce in the exhibition 'Hanoi - A Time to Remember', thereby evoking memories of the Capital during the Doi Moi period.

Visitors have the opportunity to look back at images of Hanoi since 1992. (Photo: Minh Thu/Vietnam+)

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2024), the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District, the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter organized the photography exhibition "Hanoi - A Time to Remember" by two photographers Andy Soloman and Le Bich. The exhibition introduces unique perspectives of the Capital through a collection of 86 black and white photos taken between 1992 and 2012. These special photos capture the lives of Hanoians during the Doi Moi period, when the city began to undergo major economic changes. The photos by these two photographers who have a deep love for Hanoi give viewers a nostalgic and emotional look at life in the city and the changes of Hanoi through the ages.

Photographers Andy Soloman and Le Bich (first and second from left) at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. (Photo: An Thanh Dat)

British photographer Andy Soloman shares his feelings about Hanoi after 32 years of living there: "I have loved Hanoi and its people since I arrived in 1992. Everywhere I have gone, I have been greeted with incredible hospitality and kindness. Looking back at the photos I took at that time, I realize they are important records of life in the city. I hope that Hanoians who visit the exhibition will love them as much as I did and that they will evoke strong memories and emotions." Mr. Andy Soloman expressed his desire to find the characters in the photos again, listen to their stories and photograph them again.

Photographer Andy Soloman shares at the opening ceremony. (Photo: Minh Thu/Vietnam+)

Le Bich, a long-time photographer who has observed the changes in Hanoi, shared: “Hanoi has changed a lot, but I do not allow myself to forget the old beauty and quintessence of Hanoi. Over time, I have taken photo collections to capture the beauty, quintessence and identity of Hanoi. I hope that these photos will be a low note in the song about Hanoi, like a ray of afternoon sunlight brightening up the ancient temple gates that have faded with time, like a yellow daisy in the flower garden by the lake when autumn comes... so that we can love and cherish more what Hanoi has and is having today." The exhibition is open from 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm from Tuesday to Sunday (from October 10-31, 2024) at the Old French Villa, 49 Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi. Within the framework of the exhibition, the two photographers will have a meeting with the public at 9:30am on October 12 to share the stories behind the photos./.

Photographer Andy Soloman (born 1962, British) first came to Hanoi in October 1992. He lived in the city for 7 years and returned frequently in the following years. Andy Soloman's shots captured a city and its people at the moment when Hanoi entered a period of profound change when the Doi Moi policy was implemented. As for photographer Le Bich, he was born in 1972, originally from Hanoi, has won many awards and has a special passion for Vietnamese art, culture and traditions. He has had many exhibitions in Hanoi, the most recent being "Mother loves her child" at the Vietnam Women's Museum, in 2024.

Some works in the exhibition:

Mr. Nguyen Bao Nguyen, a portrait artist at house number 47 Hang Ngang street, Hanoi. (Photo: Le Bich)

Vietnamese Heroic Mothers at Ba Dinh Square. (Photo: Andy Soloman)

Red River in dry season in April 2005. (Photo: Le Bich)

Bicycle repair, Tam Trinh Street. (Photo: Andy Soloman)

Two students at a primary school on Nguyen Quang Bich Street during recess. (Photo: Le Bich)

Boy with bicycle, Dong Xuan market. (Photo: Andy Soloman)

Boy studying on the street. (Photo: Andy Soloman)

Bicycle parts seller. (Photo: Andy Soloman) Vietnamplus.vn