Nearly 80 photos record new movements of Hanoi

On the morning of October 7, at the special national relic site Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam, the Hanoi Newspaper and Radio and Television Agency in collaboration with the Hanoi Elderly Photography Club and the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam opened the 21st “Hanoi in me” photo exhibition – 2026 with the theme “Two-level local government: Streamlined, effective and close to the people”. Nearly 80 works introduced at the event are photographic records of Hanoi after more than a year of operating the two-level local government model, reflecting from public administrative service points, schools, medical stations to the transportation system, lakes and changes in urban space.

The exhibition is arranged into three parts including “Creating government close to the people”, “Movement from the grassroots” and “Hanoi rising in a new era”, thereby leading viewers from close changes in daily life to the vast picture of development of the Capital. According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Loi, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Newspaper and Radio and Television Agency, Head of the Exhibition Organizing Committee, nearly 80 photos recorded many milestones and achievements in various fields during more than a year of operating two-level local government, and also demonstrated the involvement of the political system from the city to the grassroots to ensure a smooth operating model and better serve people and businesses. From grassroots stories, the exhibition continues to expand the perspective of the urban development process with images of Ring Road 1 section Hoang Cau – Voi Phuc, Ring Road 2.5 section Cau Giay – Duong Dinh Nghe, Thuy Phuong 2 lake, Phu Do lake and many other projects. Through wide camera angles, the image of Hanoi opening up more space for development appears clearly, parallel to the layers of culture and memories that have built up the city’s unique identity. The intertwining of new construction, modern life with traditional lines also became one of the notable points of the exhibition, showing that the Capital is moving forward but still maintaining its connection with history, culture and human life. Impressed by the images at the exhibition, tourist Angela Dickson from Australia said she clearly felt the strong developments of Hanoi and Vietnam, and expressed her hope that the development process would not lose the city’s inherent appearance. According to her, the ancient features, tree-lined streets, simple sidewalk shops and the blend of new life with traditional culture are what create Hanoi’s special appeal to international tourists. For members of the Hanoi Elderly Photography Club, this year’s exhibition theme also poses many challenges when associated with a new management model, while the working time is short and the weather conditions are volatile. Artist Nguyen Van Phuc, Head of the Hanoi Elderly Photography Club, said that members always have a special love for the Capital, so the works over the years not only reflect daily changes but also try to highlight the quintessence of the land and people of Hanoi, long-standing cultural values ​​and contemporary pace of life. Although this year’s theme is difficult to express visually and the working conditions are not as favorable as in previous seasons, artists and photojournalists still strive to find moments capable of vividly conveying an issue that can easily become dry if only approached from an administrative perspective. The year 2026 marks the 21st time the exhibition “Hanoi in me” is held. From the initial small-scale exhibitions of the Hanoi Elderly Photography Club, the program gradually became a familiar meeting place every October at the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam. Through each year, each topic opens up a different perspective on the Capital, from culture, people, changes in urban space to changes in modern life; At the same time, each photo also becomes a slice of Hanoi’s memories at a specific time. The 21st photo exhibition “Hanoi in me” – 2026 takes place from October 7 to October 12 at the special national relic site Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam, then continues to be displayed at the Hanoi Museum from October 12 to October 21. Through images of people, buildings, landscapes and lifestyle, the exhibition continues to tell the story of a Hanoi that is innovating, developing and expanding its urban space, while still preserving the cultural values ​​that have created the capital’s identity.