VietNamNet Bridge – Veteran photographer Quang Phung has been nominated for the Grand Award in this year's Bui Xuan Phai – Love for Ha Noi Awards which will honor a host of individuals and projects making significant contributions to arts and culture in Ha Noi.

An eye for Ha Noi: Veteran photographer Quang Phung has been nominated for the Grand Award of the 2013 Bui Xuan Phai– Love for Ha Noi Awards.

The 81-year-old's nomination follows a life-long interest in documenting the people and landscapes of Ha Noi through photography; a career which spanned from 1954 until recently, when his career was cut short due to a stroke.

Phung was popular with street vendors, homeless people; even drug addicts and street gangs, and whilst his work documented important historical milestones, it was also famous for its powerful honesty in portraying the life and problems of those he encountered

In the Work Awards category, nominees also include a collection of some 2,000 photos of Ha Noi by British veteran diplomat John Ramsden, taken during his term between 1980 and 1983 and documenting his growing fascination with the country.

An exhibition displaying part of this photo collection is expected to open in Ha Noi by the middle of October.

Two other nominees include a Pho (Street) installation exhibition by Nguyen Ngoc Dan and the Made in Ha Noi art exhibition at the Mai Gallery.

While artist Dan uses his art installations to replicate a Ha Noi street from the past, Made in Ha Noi displays paintings by 13 young Hanoian painters who depict impressive views of the city. The exhibition is set to become an annual exhibition to nurture and celebrate the talents of artists from different generations.

The Job Awards category also attracted an interesting pool of nominees, among them historic documents pertaining to the sacrifice of nearly 400 Hanoian martyrs at Chu Tan Kra battlefield, in the highland province of Kon Tum during the American War.

Japanese archaeologist Nishimura Masanari and five elderly men living in the ancient clay-making Kim Lan Village in Ha Noi's suburban Gia Lam District are also among the nominees in the Job Awards category.

Nishimura, who died in an accident on the way to the archaeological site, spent 12 years building a museum of ancient earthware in the village. Inaugurated in March 2012, the museum is the first example in the country of "community archaeology", in which local people play a central role in collecting items and building dossiers.

Management of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel site has also been nominated in this category; with the site currently undergoing conservation efforts sponsored by UNESCO and the Japanese Credit Fund.

Nominees in the Idea Awards category include the draft on the Code of Behaviours; a digital project creating six-dimensional images of Ha Noi; and an art project by Nguyen Thu Thuy creating murals of Ha Noi during the French War.

This year's judging panel will include Professor Phan Huy Le, chairman of the Viet Nam History Association; Ngo Ha Thai, deputy General Director of the Vietnam News Agency; Ho Quang Loi, head of the Popularisation Unit of the Ha Noi Party Committee; Bang Viet, chairman of the Ha Noi Literature and Arts Association; Tran Khanh Chuong, chairman of the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association; and architect Doan Duc Thanh.

An award ceremony will take place at 2pm on August 29 at the Vietnam News Agency headquarters, 5 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ha Noi.

Source: VNS