A photo featuring a woman in áo dài.

HÀ NỘI — A Vietnamese photo exhibition opened in Moscow featuring the beauty of the country and people, as well as highlighting culture and daily life on the islands and seas of Việt Nam. 

The exhibition displays 21 photos by Russian photographer Vera Mazhirina which she took during nearly a year of working and living in Việt Nam. 

"I was most impressed by Vietnamese culture and seas," said Mazhirina. 

"During my time in Việt Nam, I spent a lot of time travelling to coastal villages in the central region, which have beautiful beaches, and taking photos of the local residents' daily lives."

Daily life of local fisherman was captured by Russian photographer Vera Mazhirina.

The highlight of the exhibition is a photo featuring a Vietnamese woman wearing áo dài in the sea off Phan Thiết City in the southern central province of Bình Thuận. 

"I took this photo at noon when it was very hot," she said.

"The boundless sea with a Vietnamese woman in áo dài immediately caught my attention. I didn't think this photo would make a strong impression and I'm joyful because many people liked it."

Using a camera since she was 16, Mazhirina is now a photojournalist.

Vietnamese beaches in Phú Quốc, Nha Trang and Phan Thiết are familiar among Russian tourists. 

According to the Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism, before COVID-19, the number of Russian tourist arrivals in Việt Nam grew by 30 percent annually on average.

But now they cannot go to Vietnamese beaches due to the pandemic. Many Russians went to the exhibition opening ceremony on July 21 to see Vietnamese beaches through the photos. 

"The exhibition is impressive," said exhibition-goer Gennady Toluzakove.

"I want to come to Viet Nam's sunny beaches and catch fish with Vietnamese. To me, the sea is an inspiration to nurture the soul."

Russian visitors at the exhibition ceremony on July 21. VNA Photos Trần Hiếu

She has been a member of the Russian Association of Photographers since 2008. She has participated in photo projects in Russia and other countries around the world. 

Her first visit to Việt Nam was during the Lunar New Year and she was charmed by Vietnamese traditional customs. — VNS