HÀ NỘI — All of the smiles, tears, sweat and pain of Vietnamese footballers are captured in a book released yesterday by photographer Nguyễn Á.

Titled “2018 – A Hallmark in the History of Vietnamese Football”, the 400-page book includes more than 500 photos showing the many remarkable matches of the Vietnamese football team over last year.

The year marked big successes for Việt Nam, with the team winning the AFF Suzuki Cup. The players are being hailed by fervent fans as the golden generation of Vietnamese football. The team, along with South Korean coach Park Hang-seo, received praise from local audiences and international media for their efforts.

“Like many other Vietnamese people, I have waited for the moment our team would lift the AFF Cup and raise the national flag,” said the photographer.

“The warriors and their coach brought us pride and joy that can’t be described in words. So I decide to express that feeling in photos.”

Historian Dương Trung Quốc said the book gives a panoramic view on Vietnamese football during the year.

“Á was known widely for photo collections with different inspirations, all focused on humans,” he said. “These photos are fruits of labour after a serious working process of the photographer. The book helps inspire people and preserve beautiful memories of Vietnamese football.”

Photographs from the book are on display at Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature) at 58 Quốc Tử Giám Street in Hà Nội until February 2.

A ball and a shirt with autographs of the football team will be auctioned, with proceeds going to the Vừ A Dính Fund. Founded and chaired by Trương Mỹ Hoa, former Vice President of Việt Nam, the fund nurtures and develops young, talented ethnic minority people from mountainous regions.

Á, 51, is based in HCM City. He has worked on collections of photos of ethnic people, disabled people, Mother Goddesses worship and Vietnamese intangible heritage. He has received many awards at home and abroad. — VNS