A Melody of Life, a photo taken by photographer Việt Thanh.

HÀ NỘI — The old roofs, street corners, vendors and remarkable architecture are the soul of Hà Nội, according to photographer Nguyễn Việt Thanh, who is showcasing 30 photos of the capital in an exhibition.

With the title Hà Nội in One’s Eyes, the exhibition began yesterday, showcasing photos taken from 2003 to 2019 in the changing capital.

A photo captured a street vendor on Lương Văn Can Street.

Thanh was born in 1970 in Hà Nội. After graduating from Hà Nội University of Culture, Thanh became a photojournalist for Việt Nam News newspaper of Vietnam News Agency. Since 1994, with a burning passion for photography, he has been devoted to photojournalism.

He took part in a media photography course organised by the Associated Press in 2001 and a course called Language of Pictures by the Berlin International Institute of Journalism in 2005.

A fan dance of middle-aged woman by Sword Lake.

He has won many domestic photography prizes, and was the first Vietnamese photographer to win the Golden Prize at the Asia Press Photo Contest in 2006.

He has participated in joint exhibitions in the US, Mexico, Austria, Greece, China and Australia.

"Like many others who were born and grew up in Hà Nội, I nurtured a deep love for the city, I have a special emotion in front of the changes," said Thanh.

An old man on Hàng Đào Street.

"Each corner, each tree imprints my childhood, youth, difficulty, sorrow and happiness. Every sentiment urges me to preserve the beautiful moments of Hà Nội. Now I want to share this with other people, who also love the city."

"For me, Hà Nội is romantic and classical. I always feel nostalgic when I go far from this homeland."

Photographer Nguyễn Việt Thanh.

The exhibition's opening ceremony attracted many photographers and visitors. Each one found a different emotion in front of the photos capturing familiar silhouette of the city such as Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Long Biên Bridge and the Old Quarter.

"The landscapes and people seen through Thanh's lens are colourful and lively," said photographer Lê Bích.

Sword Lake in Fog.

"He describes Hà Nội as a peaceful city with happy people, but sometimes, we can see a sigh of the photographer in front of the relics or nostalgia of the past."

The exhibition will run until January 13 at Grand Vista Hotel, 146 Giảng Võ Street, Hà Nội. — VNS