A national photo contest with the theme Swedish Innovations through Vietnamese Lenses was officially launched yesterday to mark the 45th anniversary of Sweden-Viet Nam diplomatic relations.

The three-point seatbelt by Nils Bohlin in 1957 is one of the many world-known Swedish innovations. — Photo sweden.se

Jointly organised by the Swedish Embassy in Ha Noi and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the exhibition showcases Sweden and Viet Nam's mutual understanding and highlights how Swedish innovations and discoveries are applied in Vietnamese daily life.

"I hope that a great number of Vietnamese will actively participate in this photo competition and make their own contribution to the growing co-operation between Sweden and Viet Nam," said Ambassador of Sweden to Viet Nam, Camilla Mellander.

According to international rankings, Sweden is one of the most innovative nations in the world. Some well-known Swedish innovations include, dynamite, zippers, TetraPak packaging, the three-point seatbelt, skype, bluetooth, the refrigerator and the computer mouse.

The contest will run from August 20 until October 12. The winner will be announced a month later and will be awarded with a trip to Sweden.

An exhibition featuring the best 30-40 photos is also planned in HCM City and other big cities.