French photographer Rehahn Croquevielle showcases different facialfeatures and mood of Vietnamese children and elders through photosdisplayed at an exhibition in downtown Hanoi.

Entitled Visage, the exhibit displays 25 photos selected from thousands taken during trips to remote areas of Vietnam.

Born in France in 1979, Croquevielle came to Vietnam as a volunteer for a French charity in central Hoi An.

Thebeauty of his new home inspired him to take up photography. In the timesince he has travelled to distant corners of the country to capture thelives of the nation's ethnic communities.

"I decided to takephotos of children and old people because I love the children's innocentgaiety and the old people's open countenance," he said.

"The oldpeople in my country look stately and grave while Vietnamese elders areopen-minded and light-hearted. They are radiant with smiles."

"Childrenare natural, candid and generous. Their portraits are always pure andfull of grace, even when they are sad. The elderly are wise and theirfaces are marked by time. The lines run deep across their faces, andthey are the proof that the beauty has no age!" he said.

"Some people are poor, hungry and dirty, but their smiles are still beautiful and bright."

Early this year, Croquevielle released a book containing 150 pictures from his collection of 30,000 photos.

"Asa photographer, I think Vietnam is a paradise. With so many colours andcontrasts, Vietnam is an inexhaustible source of inspiration."

The exhibition will run until May 29 at L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien street.-VNA