HCM CITY — A photo exhibition about the Mậu Thân Offensive in Spring 1968 has opened at the HCM City Photography Association as part of the city’s cultural activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event.

The event, Ký Ức Không Thể Nào Quên (Memories Forever), features more than 80 photos related to the Vietnamese people and soldiers, and historic events during the offensive. 

Highlighted works are captured by the late artist Lâm Tấn Tài, first general chairman of the association.

His collection of 21 black-and-white photos feature Vietnamese soldiers in battles during the offensive and people celebrating the great victory in Spring 1975.

His lively photos impressed viewers attending the event’s opening ceremony on Thursday.

“The Mậu Thân Offensive played a very important role in our country’s victory in 1975,” said Nguyễn Thành Tâm, chairman of the association, at the event.

“Our exhibition aims to give respect and memorialise Vietnamese soldiers and people who died for the country’s independence,” he said. “Photographer and reporter Tài was seriously injured while shooting photos during the war. An injury caused him to lose sight in one eye. His photos are invaluable.”

Tài, a native of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province, joined the revolution in 1947 when he was 12 years old. He moved to the north and was later sent to study the arts and photography at Lomonosov Moscow State University.  

He worked for the Liberation News Agency and Vietnam News Agency and captured thousands of photos of the Mậu Thân Offensive in Spring 1968 and other battles in 1974. 

Colour photos of Việt Nam Heroic Mothers and women after the war by Huỳnh Phạm Dũng, Kiều Anh Dũng,Võ Quốc Thanh and Kim Chi bring messages about peace.

The exhibition is free from 9am to 6pm at 122 Sương Nguyệt Ánh Street in District 1. It closes on January 17. — VNS