Photographers face remarkable year of national milestones

The year 2010 will bring Vietnamese photographers many opportunities and challenges, as many remarkable events will take place, says Vu Quoc Khanh, president of the Viet Nam Artistic Photographers Association.
This year, Hanoi will be the host of the 30th International Federation of Photographic Arts Congress in August, drawing 250 international representatives.
The aim of the congress is to develop and promote photographic knowledge across the world on an artistic, educational and scientific level, to foster in the name of photography fraternal links and friendly relations among all member federations and to promote tourism in Vietnam, Khanh says.
This year is also a significant year, as Hanoi will hold a great ceremony to celebrate its 1,000th anniversary – an unmissable event, he added.
Through fact-finding tours and other activities in the congress's framework, the international photographers will help introduce images of Vietnam to the world, Khanh adds.
As Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary approaches, the association is preparing for an exhibition of 300 photos on the capital. It will be the largest and most significant exhibition on Hanoi to celebrate this momentous anniversary. The organisers are in discussions on what will be displayed to show the unique and specific characteristics of Hanoi.
The national centre for archives and photo exhibitions in Hanoi's Cau Giay district will be officially opened in October, after two years of construction.
Opening the centre is a turning-point in Vietnamese photography, Khanh says.
"This is the first time Vietnamese photographers have a house to exhibit their works and learn about the field," he says. "Many generations of photographers have waited for this event."
The 1,000m² centre, with nine floors, will have an exhibition hall, archives of documentary photographs, an area for organising conferences, workshops and training courses.