HCM CITY – The fifth annual Việt Nam Heritage Photo Awards is accepting submissions from amateur and professional photographers living in Việt Nam and abroad.

The contest, themed Những Dòng Sông Việt Nam (Việt Nam’s Rivers), aims to highlight the beauty of rivers across Việt Nam, as well as the life of people living along rivers.

Lê Thanh Hải, editor-in-chief of Vietnam Heritage Magazine, which is organising the contest, said: “The contest aims to find and preserve beautiful images of the country, as well as introduce them to the community, especially young Vietnamese and foreigners.”

Hải said she hoped the photos would raise people’s awareness about preserving Vietnamese cultural heritage.

Participants can submit their works in two categories of single photo and photo essay to cuocthianhdisanvietnam@gmail.com by September 30.

The contest entries will be judged by photographers Hoàng Trung Thủy and Đoàn Thi Thơ, and director Nguyễn Quốc Hưng.

The organisers will give 16 prizes worth VNĐ200 million ($9,000).

The winners will be be announced on November 23 in HCM City to celebrate Việt Nam Heritage Day.

The top 100 photos in the competition will be displayed at tourism agencies, museums and universities in cities and provinces, including HCM City, Phan Thiết, Nha Trang, Đà Nẵng, and Hà Nội, from October to February.

All the photos will be given to Nhà Chống Lũ (Flood Resistance House), a programme that raises funds for people affected by floods and storms.

Thanks to the programme, 274 houses have been built in the provinces of Quảng Ninh, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình and Quảng Nam since 2013.

Began in 2012, Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards has received more than 17,000 photos. The organiser has hosted 54 exhibitions in 17 cities and provinces across Việt Nam to showcase the photos. – VNS