An award ceremony of a photo competition on the Vietnam-US relations and about the US took place in Hanoi on July 3.

Photographer Tran Viet Dung won first prize in the politics –diplomacy category with a photo depicting US President Bill Clintonshaking hands with a Vietnamese youth on a balcony. Nguyen Khang fromthe Vietnam News Agency came second with a photo of US President GeorgeW. Bush playing “dan bau” (Vietnamese traditional monochord). The thirdprize went to a picture of Vietnamese State President Le Duc Anh talkingto US war veteran Boby Muller taken by Pham Cao Phong.

Nguyen Vinh Hien led the category of US culture and society, followed by Nguyen Le and Nguyen Duy Anh.

The first place in the US nature and landscape category belonged toNguyen Ngoc Bao and a photo of Californian beach. The second and thirdprizes were claimed by Nguyen Dang Dinh and Thai Thanh Son.

All award winning photos are on display at the Temple of Literature through July 7.

Delivering his speech at the ceremony Deputy Minister of Culture,Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai considered the winning photos asmessages of peace and friendship between Vietnam and the US.

Vietnam - US Society Chairman Nguyen Tam Chien said the competitionaims to boost mutual understanding between the two peoples incelebration of the two countries’ 20th anniversaries of thenormalisation of diplomatic ties.

US Ambassador toVietnam Ted Osius noted that the entries tell a broad story about theVietnamese and American peoples and lands.-VNA