Through unique imagery, Đặng Thái Tuấn’s "Hà Nội Rong" won first prize in the contest. Photo courtesy of the contest.

HÀ NỘI — The painting Hà Nội Rong (Hà Nội on a Vendor’s Yoke) has won first prize at the “Hà Nội là…” (Hà Nội is…) art contest on Wednesday. Artist Đặng Thái Tuấn's winning piece shows some of Hà Nội’s most iconic symbols, balancing on a vendor’s yoke. 

Highlighting architectural symbols such as Hồ Chí Minh’s mausoleum, traditional cuisines like vermicelli with fried tofu and shrimp paste, and even one of Hà Nội most recognisable sights (tangled electrical wires!), the capital through Tuấn eyes is both simple and full of colour.

Trần Phát’s “Hanoi by Night” won the second prize and the most voted prize. Photo courtesy of the contest.

Beside Hà Nội Rong, there were four second prizes awarded; to Trần Phát's Hanoi by Night (most voted prize), Head in the Clouds by Hà Mạnh Hiếu, Goose Vermicelli by Tôn Nữ Thị Bích Trâm and Hanoi Collage by Nguyễn Hữu Huyền Trân.

The contest, organised by UNESCO, UN-Habitat and the Vietnam Local Artist Group, was to encourage young artists to showcase the "Ha Noi Creative City" title awarded by UNESCO in 2019, with their illustrations and drawings.

From August 6 to September 9, 2021, the contest received artwork from nearly 250 young artists, both in Việt Nam and abroad.

With the theme: ''Hanoi is…'', the artists were expected to deliver the unique ideas, stories and emotions provoked by the capital through their works. During the contest, many creative ideas were expressed, with diverse materials from digital painting, silk, oil painting and lacquer. VNS