Vietnam’s most senior photographer Vo An Ninh passed away at his home in HCM City on June 4 at the age of 103.

Vo An Ninh and his photos of the famine in 1945.

Vo An Ninh was born on June 18, 1907 in Hanoi. His first photo was published in 1932. With over 70 years as a photographer, the death of Vo An Ninh is a great loss for Vietnam’s photography.

The senior photographer won many prizes at home and abroad: the grand prize of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association for “Morning on Red River Dike”; the grand prize of the Paris photo exhibition for “Head to the Sea”; a Portuguese certificate of merit for “Earthen Pot Market”; a bronze medal in an international photo contest in the former USSR for “Tra Co Ebb-tide”; and a certificate of merit of BIFOTA international photo contest for “Sapa Water-colour Painting”.

Vo An Ninh’s collection of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi and the famine in 1945 have become valuable documentary photos of Vietnam.

Photographer Vo An Ninh.

The senior photographer travelled around the country to nab wonderful landscape photos like “Ban Gioc Waterfall”, “Fansipan Peak”, “Spring on Hoang Lien Son Mounts”, “Drying Nets on Cam River”, “Silver Sea”, “Pine Forest” and “Great Church”.

Vo An Ninh worked at the Hanoi Forest Ranger Department during French rule, the Central Exhibition Centre and the Vietnam Film Studio from 1954-1970. He was a member of the Vietnam Literature and Art Union Central Committee and the Vietnam Photographer Association’s Art Council.

Vietnamese President Le Duc Anh presented the Ho Chi Minh Award to Vo An Ninh.

The senior photographer won the most prestigious award in Vietnam for fine arts — the Ho Chi Minh Award for Literature and Arts — and many medals.

In 1991, Vo An Ninh collected his outstanding photos in “Vo An Ninh’s Photos” book. This is a valuable book for fans of photography.

Vo An Ninh’s family planned to build a photo museum named Vo An Ninh in District 2, HCM City.

Some photos by Vo An Ninh:

Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi.

A photo about the famine in 1945.

“Sapa Water-colour Painting”.

Sunset in fishing village in Hon Gai - 1965.

The Huc Bridge, Hanoi in a summer afternoon - 1945.

“Tra Co Ebb-tide”

Tay Ho (West Lake) Lotus

Ba Be Lake - 1956.

Stone steps at Voi Phuc Temple.

Dong Xuan Market - 1956.

Tram Gian Pagoda.

Dong Da Hill - 1942.

Hanoi Flagpole 1946.

Old houses in Hang Bac Street, Hanoi - 1956.

Sawing wood on Red River bank - 1940.

O Quan Chuong Gate - 1940.

Hang Buom Street - 1940.

Hanoi Opera House.

Photos of the famine in 1945.

PV