Coracles at rest: A photo by Amanda Perez at the exhibition entitled Forever Viet Nam in Montevideo.

HA NOI — Photos of Viet Nam by photographer Amanda Perez are on display at the office of Uruguay Art Photography Club in the capital Montevideo.

The collection, Forever Viet Nam, features historic sites of the American war and the present daily lives of people. The photographs were taken during Perez's three-week trip to Viet Nam last year.

Perez said she used both back and white and colour to create contrasts. Black and white helped express the loss and destruction in the war while colour described Viet Nam today, with beautiful landscapes, a warm family atmosphere and the rapid speed of labour.

Born in Argentina but settled in Uruguay, Perez said she shared the loss of the Vietnamese in war and their happiness in independence.

She said her visit to Viet Nam surpassed her hopes as a tourist, a photographer and a person with a great love for the country.

She said she relished the kind-hearted, hospitable, workaholic people, who had a strong will to overcome difficulties. She wanted to bring images of Viet Nam's achievements.

The exhibition will run for one month. — VNS