ASEAN Cultural Connection

The Festival of Photos, Reportage and Documentary Films on the Peoples in the ASEAN Community 2015 held by Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications serves as a bridge connecting regional countries towards a common culture of ASEAN with diverse identities in unity.
The festival themed “The Peoples in the ASEAN Community” is an important occasion to showcase the images of regional peoples in the run up to the official establishment of the ASEAN Community with three pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community on December 31, 2015.


Vietnam’s Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son presents first prize
of Reportage and Documentary Films Category for author Shune Lei Thar from Myanmar.
Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP



Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan presents
the first prize of Photos Category for author Trinh Thong Thien. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP



Second prizes of Photos Category are presented to authors Min Min Tun (Myanmar)
and Nguyen Viet Cuong (Vietnam). photo: Thanh Giang/VNP



Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam News Agency’s Vietnam Pictorial Nguyen Thang (left)
presents encouraging prizes to authors. Photo: Tat Son/VNP



Finalists are given memorial gifts. Photo: Tat Son/VNP


Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam News Agency’s Vietnam Pictorial Nguyen Thang
signs on the ASEAN flag. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP



An artistic performance at the awarding ceremony of the Festival of Photos, Reportage
and Documentary Films on the Peoples in ASEAN Community 2015. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP



Participating authors visit ASEAN Corner at the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups
in Thai Nguyen Province. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP



Authors watch a water puppetry show at the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups.
Photo: Cong Dat/VNP



Contestants pose for a memorial photo at Van Phuc Silk Village (Hanoi). Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP


Vietnam’s Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son
“The Festival of Photos, Reportage and Documentary Films on the Peoples in the ASEAN Community 2015 is among Vietnam’s contributions to building solidarity among people of the ASEAN Community for a united culture with diversity.”
It is also a place to praise contributions of individuals and organisations of ASEAN countries to presenting the image of a dynamic, united, cooperative and potential ASEAN.

Prior to the awarding ceremony, authors from eight ASEAN countries went on a tour to visit Thai Nguyen Province. They called at the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups to learn about the cultures of 46 ethnic groups residing in the province, especially those that still retain their identities like the Tay, Mong, Dao people, and to explore the “ASEAN Corner” exhibiting space.

The great success of the festival hosted by Vietnam reflects the solidarity and cooperation for development, not only in economics and diplomacy but also in culture and communication, among ASEAN countries.

Vietnam Pictorial is honoured to introduce some excellent photos submitted to participate in the festival.


First prize:


The Cap sac ceremony of the Dao Tien people. Author: Trinh Thong Thien (Vietnam)

Second prize:


Mong people making ploughs. Author: Nguyen Viet Cuong (Vietnam)

Second prize:


Novitiation ceremony. Author: Min Min Tun (Myanmar)

Third prize:


Joyful stories. Author: Tran Van Tuy (Vietnam)


Childhood’s dance. Author: Ngo Quang Phuc (Vietnam)

Third prize: 


Protecting the temple. Author: Zay Yar Lin (Myanmar)



The organising board of the festival received 1,489 photos and 113 reportages and documentary films from eight ASEAN countries.
Two first prizes, 4 second prizes, 6 third prizes and 9 encouraging prizes were awarded.  Vietnam Pictorial’s photo journalists Trinh Thong Thien (author of “The Cap sac Ceremony of the Dao Tien people”) and Nguyen Viet Cuong (author of “Mong people making ploughs”) won the first and second prizes for photos, respectively. 


From street kid to famous photographer

From street kid to famous photographer

Photographer Tran The Phong is well-known for his photos, featuring the daily lives around him and in places where he travels.

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