Children join a painting contest.

HCM CITY (VNS) — A children's painting exhibition that opened yesterday in HCM City celebrates 20 years of normalisation of Viet Nam-US relations as well as the 20 years that HCM City and San Francisco have been sister cities.

The paintings were selected as part of a contest held by the HCM City General Science Library, in co-operation with its partner Thai Duong Investment & Consulting Joint-stock Company.

The contest attracted more than 100 children aged seven and 15 who live in the city.

The first prize for primary school students was presented to Pham Nhu Quynh of Binh Chanh District and Vo Tan Hung of District 6.

Le Thi Van Truc of District 11 and Hong Bao Tran of District 12 shared the first prize for junior secondary students.

The paintings represent the children's dreams and hopes for love, peace and friendship.

The exhibition is open from 9am to 5pm every day at the library's reading room, 69 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1. It ends on August 23. .— VNS