HỘI AN — French photographer Réhahn, based in Hội An Ancient town in the central province of Quảng Nam, won the Trophées des Francais de l’étranger in recognition of his art gallery and museum in Hội An,  in a ceremony in Quai d’Orsay, Paris, on Tuesday.

Organised annually by the prestigious French daily news website lepetitjournal.com since 2013, Trophées des Francais de l’étranger is awarded to French expatriates with successful projects or outstanding achievements abroad. The jury includes leaders of major political, economic and media organisations in France.

Réhahn’s Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum project, at 26 Phan Bội Châu in Hội An city, was selected as the winner among nine nominees for Trophées des Francais de l’étranger this year.

French photographer Réhahn (right), based in Hội An Ancient town in the central province of Quảng Nam, receives the Trophées des Francais de l’étranger, awarded to French expatriates with successful projects or outstanding achievements abroad, in Quai d’Orsay, Paris, on Tuesday. — Photo courtesy of Réhahn

The 250sq.m museum is home to more than 30 authentic traditional costumes and 200 photos, precious artifacts and stories translated into French, English and Vietnamese. It is the culmination of five years of exploration of Việt Nam’s 54 nationalities.

Réhahn, who was born in Normandy, France, has made Hội An his home since 2011.

A smiling girl. — Photo courtesy of Réhahn

“I’m very honoured to win the award for my project after a seven-year course seeking photos of ethnic groups and their fashion collections for exhibition in Hội An,” Réhahn said in a statement.

“The French always love and pay attention to cultural preservation, so I was fascinated by the colouful cultural value of 54 ethnic groups of Việt Nam, even when the precious culture has fallen into oblivion,” he said.

Réhahn has met almost all 54 ethnic groups in Việt Nam in his time living and working in Hội An town, an UNESCO-recognised world heritage site.

Girls photographed by Réhahn in a mountainous province. — Photo courtesy of Réhahn

He said he opened the non-profit museum to showcase the traditional costumes of ethnic minority groups along with images and documentary stories of different Vietnamese cultures, particularly those of the smallest ethnic groups left in the country.

The French photographer and a group of artists and entrepreneurs plan to turn Phan Bội Châu Street in Hội An’s old French Quarter into Rue des Arts – with highlights including such stops as the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum, March Gallery, Hội An Photo Tour and Gallery, Pháp Gallery, Village Craft Planet and Ly Ly Gallery, as well as the elegant Brother’s Café and Mia Coffee, the oldest Western-style coffee shops in the town.

He has also been building a Cơ Tu Museum in Tây Giang district of Quảng Nam Province. — VNS