In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon

As the lockdown continues, Saigon's artists and photographers unleash their creativity.
July 29, 2021 | 15:36
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In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
'I love Saigon, love Vietnam like I love my parents' drawing. Photo: Sincere Saigon

"I love Saigon, I love Vietnam like I love my parents" says a cute frontline worker cartoon, created by two talented young people, Bui Nguyen Van Nguyen and Pham Van Nghia for the Sincere Saigon project.

Paintings of the front line against the Covid-19 pandemic

Another cartoon takes place in Tan Binh district, Ho Chi Minh City. Anti-pandemic medical workers in tight costumes. They have the task of quickly testing people for Covid-19 means having to avoid large numbers, which is why they little Covid cuties are commuting together. Through the creativity and witty look of Bui Nguyen Van Nguyen and Pham Van Nghia, the cute picture entitled "Who tests Covid quickly" was born overnight.

In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Photo: P.N.A.R.T
In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Photo: P.N.A.R.T

Until July 28, Sincere Saigon project has launched 5 drawings to the community, recreating from real moments, emotional images in the city during the days of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. In it, there is a drawing of a male doctor standing with his back, behind the protective jacket is the words "If everyone is afraid, who will go to fight the pandemic."

Another drawing of a girl volunteering to fight the pandemic, her legs are a bit short and it takes a lot of effort to climb into the trunk of a car. In the rainy afternoon of Saigon, the volunteer stood huddled in a raincoat but was still optimistic: "With us, Saigon gets well soon"

In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
With us, Saigon gets well soon." Photo: P.N.A.R.T
In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
"If everyone is afraid, who will go to fight the pandemic." Photo: P.N.A.R.T

Bui Nguyen Van Nguyen said that he has been creating a page "O dau cung chup" (Take photos anywhere) on social networks for 3 years now, and Pham Van Nghia is an art enthusiast, he is the owner of the p.n.a.r.t account.

Nguyen likes Nghia's drawings, while Nghia loves Nguyen's pictures. The two promise to work on a project together.

In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Photo: O dau cung chup
In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Saigon in the sick days, then one day, the smiles will return, under the mask. Photo: O dau cung chup
In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Be strong Sai Gon. Photo: P.N.A.R.T

"If we don't have the opportunity to go anywhere or take pictures and retell the story of Saigon like before, now we will draw beautiful moments, transcribe these kind lines between Saigon of volunteers in blue and white shirts. We hope these drawings will spread a lot of positive energy to everyone as well as contribute words of encouragement from the rear to the frontline wokers," Nguyen said.

In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Nguyen (left) - a guy who loves Saigon unconditionally. Photo: Bui Nguyen Van Nguyen
In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Nghia, the person set up Sincer Saigon with Nguyen

The two guys shook hands on the project. Nguyen is in Saigon, Nghia is in Dong Thap, they connect via social networks, discussing from concept to final drawing.

Pham Van Nghia, the guy who paints super cute pictures in this project said: “We respect each other's opinions, the two discuss everything before agreeing on the final post. Because I have worked for a relatively long time in Saigon, I have "fallen in love with Saigon". I love the way people treat each other, love the street corners and now love the dedication of the volunteers.”

"The love for Saigon keeps growing every day"

Both Nghia and Nguyen love Saigon unconditionally.

In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
The weather is clear in Saigon. Photo: Sincere Saigon
In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Photo: Sincere Saigon

Nghia said: "Watching Saigon now is heartbreaking, because Saigon has never been so quiet, lonely old people struggle to overcome each day of social distancing. We hope that the Sincere Saigon project helps Saigon have more positive thoughts and confidence to win the pandemic."

As for Nguyen, he is from Dak Lak, but everyone thinks he is a real Saigonese. He is working in the creative industry, his hobby is taking the camera around to capture the idyllic moments of this city. Since then, his facebook fanpage with cute pictures and cute stories was born, attracting more and more followers.

In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Photo: O dau cung chup
In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Photo: O dau cung chup
In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Photo: O dau cung chup
In Photos: Covid Cuties Cheer Up Lockdown Saigon
Photo: O dau cung chup

Nguyen's personal work is also temporarily suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but he still considers himself luckier than many underprivileged people out there. More than ever, he, Nghia and the young people who love the city always hope that Saigon will get well soon and return to be a tolerant father who protects all.

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