Bui Xuan Phai - For love of Hanoi Award 2016

(VNF) - On September 8^th, winners of the ninth Bui Xuan Phai – For the Love of Hanoi Awards were announced at a ceremony held in Hanoi.

The awards were initiated by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s Sports & Culture newspaper and the family of the late famous painter Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988) in 2008 to honour his career and spread his love for the capital city. The awards were classified into the four categories: Grand Prize, Idea Prize, Job Prize and Work Prize.

Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung attended as representative of Hanoi leader awarded “Ideas for the Love of Hanoi”.

The Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman also awarded the “Grand Prize” for 98-year-old photographer Le Vuong who has spent 80 years taking photos, many of which featured Hanoi.

Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (R) on behalf of Hanoi leaders received the Idea Prize. (Photo: kinhtedothi.vn)

Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung (L) awarded Grand Prize to photographer Le Vuong (R). (Photo: kinhtedothi.vn)

French singer and musician La Grande Sophie, who wrote the “Hanoi” song, and fine arts researcher Phan Ngoc Khue, who wrote a book on Hang Trong paintings, together grabbed the Work Prize.

Two awards for “Work – For the Love of Hanoi” were awarded to: The song “Hanoi” by the French author, singer cum songwriter La Grande Sophie and book “Hang Trong folk paintings – Hanoi” by painter Phan Ngoc Khue.

The Job Prize went to James Joseph Kendall, a US national, and the Keep Hanoi Clean team to honour their voluntary efforts to help clean up the capital.

American James Joseph Kendall and his Keep Hanoi Clean group were awarded the Job Prize. (Photo: thethaovanhoa.vn)

“I felt and still feel amazing! It’s such an honor to have been nominated and won the award,” James said after receiving the award. He added that he wanted to share it with the other volunteers who have spent their time and money participating in the project.

“This award validates our project and hopefully we will be able to grow it a lot faster because of additional support,” he said.

The expat and his group went viral on the internet in May this year for cleaning up a dirty canal in Cau Giay District without a permit.

After upsetting local authorities by failing to obtain a permit to clean the channel, the group received the backing of Hanoi’s mayor (chairman) Nguyen Duc Chung and a Hanoi badge for their contributions to the capital./.

Minh Phuong