Winners of the national press photo contest themed “ Vietnam ’s Integration and Development” were awarded at a ceremony in Hanoi on January 20.

The first prize went to Tran Dam with six photos on the construction of Cua Dat hydroelectric power plant in the central province of Thanh Hoa , while the two second prizes belonged to Dinh Huu Tuyen and Cao Manh Tien from provinces of Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa. There were also three third prizes and ten consolation ones.

The photos are seen as valuable documents depicting Vietnam ’s integration and development, industrialization and modernization process and poverty reduction.

The contest, which was launched on June 21, 2009 by the Press Photo Club under the Vietnam Journalists’ Association, is aimed at celebrating the country’s major anniversaries, especially the 1000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi

On the same day, an exhibition showcasing 81 photos by 55 photographers selected from 3,000 entries of the contest opened until January 23. (VNA)