Journey of happiness through the lens at Happy Vietnam 2024

On December 11, at the Hanoi Opera House, the Ministry of Information and Communications held the opening ceremony of the exhibition and announced the awards of the "Happy Vietnam 2024" photo and video contest.

Hành trình hạnh phúc qua ống kính tại Happy Vietnam 2024

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and delegates cut the ribbon to open the exhibition and announce the competition prizes. (Photo: Viet Hoang)

Attending the ceremony were leaders of the Party and State, leaders of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Central Propaganda Department, the Central External Relations Department, the Steering Committee for External Information Work; representatives of leaders of central and local ministries and branches.

In his opening speech, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications, affirmed that this is an important event to honor people across the country, overseas Vietnamese and international friends who apply digital technology to create photos and videos about the country and people of Vietnam. If last year's contest attracted more than 7,000 entries, this year's number has increased to more than 10,300 entries from nearly 6,900 authors, including 600 foreign authors and nearly 270 overseas Vietnamese authors. More than 10,000 stories about the peaceful, beautiful and happy country of Vietnam have been recorded by the authors in photos and videos. From mountainous areas to urban areas, from the mainland to the islands, from familiar things to heroic moments of the nation.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications, delivered the opening speech. (Photo: Viet Hoang)

According to the World Happiness Report 2024 released on March 20, 2024, Vietnam is in the top 10 happiest countries or territories in Asia. Vietnam ranks 54th globally, up 11 places compared to 2023. In the journey of happiness, there are contributions from the people and the Happy Vietnam 2024 Awards Ceremony reflects part of those contributions. This is a testament to the spreading power of the Happy Vietnam spirit, beyond the framework of a competition, a country, a region. In an interview with The World and Vietnam Newspaper, Mr. Dinh Tien Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of External Information, Ministry of Information and Communications, said that the organization of the award clearly demonstrates Vietnam's viewpoint on ensuring human rights, converging Vietnamese values, smiles and happiness to show the world that Vietnam is always people-oriented, taking people as the center. The Party and the State always strive to serve the people's interests. When the people's interests are guaranteed, the national interests will also be promoted and the values of freedom and happiness of Vietnam will shine.

Mr. Dinh Tien Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of External Information, Ministry of Information and Communications, answered the press interview. (Photo: Viet Hoang)

In addition, the contest shows a new trend in social media work, based on the application of digital technology, digital platforms and mobilizing the strength of the entire population to develop digital data to serve information and propaganda work effectively. Many works are presented with a new, objective perspective on life, society and the development of the country and people of Vietnam, conveying the message of a happy, civilized and powerful Vietnam.

Many works have recreated the creative journey of the authors associated with the flow of life in the past year, connecting them with the characters they met and came into contact with. The contest also helped the authors have special journeys, meet and honor, spread the images and values of special people.

The authors come from different professions, different ages, different ethnicities, different languages, using different devices, but all represent a peaceful, beautiful, dynamically developing and happy Vietnam.

In the photo category, the Organizing Committee awarded the gold medal to the work “Sweet Happiness” by author Vu Dieu Hoa. (Photo: Viet Hoang)

In the photo category, the Organizing Committee awarded the gold medal to the work “Sweet Happiness” by Vu Dieu Hoa. The silver medal was awarded to the work “Racing” on the construction site of the 500kV line 3 by Tran Huy Hung from Nam Dinh. The bronze medals were awarded to 4 works: “Baby” by Dinh Bao Chau; “Vietnamese table tennis team wins historic SEA Games gold medal” by Nguyen Manh Quan; “Behind happiness” by Tran Thi Mui; “Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte cycling around Hanoi” by Duong Van Giang.

In the video category, the Organizing Committee awarded the gold prize to the work “Gia Lai Epic Region” by author Nguyen Van Hoan; the silver prize to the work “Leng keng di han – For a happy Vietnam!” by authors Tue Giang, Khanh An, Dieu Huong, Nhat Anh and A Tale of Phu Quoc by author Dau Van Duy; the bronze prize to the work “Yen Bai Golden Season” by author Le Tuan Thanh, “Tay Ninh – Sacred Land of the South” by author Nguyen Dinh Dong Giao, “Ho Chi Minh city from above” by author Nguyen Dang Viet Cuong.