Changing of the guard: Soldiers on duty on the Spratlys, as captured by photographer Vu Anh Tuan.

HA NOI — Visitors to a new exhibition can see the spectacular Truong Sa (Spratlys) Archipelago up close. The exhibition, which opened yesterday in Ha Noi, showcases photographer Vu Anh Tuan's stunning images of the people and landscape.

The renowned photographer has worked in the field for a long time and received prestigious titles from the Viet Nam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) and the Federation of International Artistic Photography (FIAP). But he never wanted to put on his own exhibition until he visited the Spratlys.

"To organise a solo exhibition, a photographer needs a stable career, a budget and valuable works," Tuan said. "I have many photo collections but I wanted to wait until the day I had a really good inspiration to open a meaningful exhibition – and until I had the finances to organise it."

That day finally came when Tuan visited the Spratlys in April. The people, soldiers and landscape in the remote archipelago inspired him to open his first solo exhibition called Cam Xuc Truong Sa (The Feelings of Spratlys), he said.

 

A woman visits her husband stationed on the island.

Keeping watch: Geese raised by soldiers on the island.

When he returned to the capital, he missed the residents and soldiers in Truong Sa and wanted to show mainland people how they dealt courageously with their difficult lives.

"What impressed me most was the optimism and enthusiasm of the people and young soldiers on the remote islands," Tuan said. "They have an iron will and really overcome their difficulties."

"For people living in big cities like us, suffering a power cut for just a few hours is really uncomfortable," he said. "We can only imagine the life of people on a small island surrounded by the immense ocean."

Tuan took about 300 thousands of photos, but selected only 68 for the exhibition, which he displays in three parts: Landscapes, Soldiers at Work, Studying and Training, and Photographer's Sudden Moments.

The photographer not only shares with visitors his love for the archipelago, but also praises the landscape's beauty and the people's courage to protect the country's sovereignty.

The exhibition will run until August 14 at Exhibition House, 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ha Noi.

After the display, the photos will be donated to the Viet Nam Naval High Command to raise awareness and arouse patriotism among Vietnamese people. — VNS