This contest was organized by the Natural Resources and Environment Magazine in collaboration with the Viet Nam Agency of Seas and Islands (VASI) through the project "Reducing Ocean Plastic Waste in Vietnam," sponsored and co-coordinated by the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam).

Dr. Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief of the Natural Resources and Environment Magazine and Head of the Organizing Committee, delivering the opening remarks

Attending the award ceremony were Mr. Trinh Xuan Quang, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Dr. Pham Thi My, Editor-in-Chief of the Health and Environment Magazine; Ms. Hoang Thi Hue, Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Sea Magazine; Mr. Nguyen Van Luong, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands; Ms. Ngo Lan Phuong, Specialist at the Management Board of the Project for Reducing Ocean Plastic Waste in Vietnam; representatives from WWF-Vietnam; the Vietnam Photographers Association; as well as representatives from government agencies under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, a large number of press and media agencies in Hanoi, and the winning authors and groups.

Representing the Natural Resources and Environment Magazine were Dr. Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief and Head of the Organizing Committee of the contest; Ms. Tran Thi Cam Thuy; and Mr. Kieu Dang Tuyet, Deputy Editors-in-Chief of the magazine.

The award-winning authors and guests taking photo

The photography contest with the theme "Action for a blue ocean" aimed to raise awareness of plastic pollution, the overuse of plastic, and the irresponsible disposal of waste into the ocean, which negatively impacts marine ecosystems. At the same time, it sought to recognize and encourage organizations and individuals who have actively participated in protecting the marine environment in recent years.

The contest aimed to portray the current state of plastic waste pollution in Vietnam that is suffocating the ocean, encouraging the community and individuals to reflect on their actions, change their behavior, and reduce the use of single-use plastics and non-biodegradable plastic bags.

After more than two months since its launch, the Organizing Committee received a large number of photography submissions. Through two rounds of preliminary and final evaluations, the committee selected 30 quality works that met the contest's criteria for the final round. In the final round, the committee selected 10 award-winning works, including 1 First Prize, 2 Second Prizes, 3 Third Prizes, and 4 Consolation Prizes.

In remarks at the award ceremony, Dr. Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief of the Natural Resources and Environment Magazine and Head of the Organizing Committee, mentioned: “The contest is an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and the community to convey their photographic works with messages about a blue ocean, spreading beautiful images of positive actions to protect the marine environment, responsibility for future life, and the sustainable blue of the ocean. It also aims to widely promote the issue of ocean plastic pollution, so that the community and each individual can join hands to protect the marine environment with practical actions, changing behavior and habits of using single-use plastics and non-biodegradable plastic bags that affect the ocean. This is a movement-based contest, but many of the photographs submitted have high artistic value and are very inspiring for the protection of the marine environment.”

International photographer Pham Cong Thang, Chairman of the contest’s final judging panel, remarked: “We highly appreciate this meaningful environmental activity, especially in the context of 'hot' environmental issues. I rate this contest highly because, despite the short time frame, it has attracted many participants with significant photographic works that are journalistic, artistic, and motivational. This is a major success for the Organizing Committee. After a very fair and objective evaluation, we have selected truly deserving works for today’s awards.”

International photographer Pham Cong Thang, Chairman of the contest’s final judging panel

At the award ceremony, Ms. Ngo Lan Phuong, Specialist at the Management Board of the Project for Reducing Ocean Plastic Waste in Vietnam, emphasized: “This contest is an opportunity to express love for the marine environment and promote actions to protect it. I hope this contest will spread awareness to every individual and many provinces about environmental protection. Not only the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, but also other ministries, agencies, and the entire society should work together to protect the environment, particularly the marine environment.”

Mr. Trinh Xuan Quang, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, presenting the First Prize to the winning author

Dr. Pham Thi My, Editor-in-Chief of the Health and Environment Magazine, also shared at the ceremony: “This is a very meaningful contest. The ocean is not just an issue for any one country but a global issue. About 20 years ago in Thailand, a 20-ton whale was found dead due to ingesting ocean plastic waste, and they even established a whale altar. This highlights the urgent issue of ocean plastic pollution. If each country does not have measures to protect the marine environment, in the near future, there will be no place for any living creatures in the world’s oceans, especially those that sustain human life. Through this contest, we hope to spread this message more broadly to society, particularly to coastal residents, tourists, and provinces with coastlines.”

The Organizing Committee awarding the Second Prizes to the winning authors

Author Le Anh Thi expressed that, on behalf of the authors, they sincerely thanked the Organizing Committee for hosting such a meaningful contest, noting that it was not only significant to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Natural Resources and Environment Magazine but also to society as a whole in protecting the marine environment.

Sharing about the memories behind his winning work, author Le Anh Thi said: “While working in the Thach Hai sea area, Ha Tinh, a very beautiful beach, I happened to see a mother carrying a basket of scrap along the shore, so I captured that moment. I dedicate this award-winning work today to the mother in my photograph.”

The Organizing Committee awarding the Third Prizes to the winning authors

The Organizing Committee awarded 10 prizes. The First Prize went to Tran Thi Phuong Thao from Quang Nam for the photograph "Catching crown-of-thorns starfish and collecting waste." Second Prizes were awarded to Nguyen Trang Kim Cuong from Ho Chi Minh City for "People hampered by their own waste" and Nguyen Ngoc Son from Dong Nai for "Recycling household waste from islands."

The three Third Prizes were awarded to: “Sunrise on Da Nang beach” by Pham Huy Dang from Quang Nam; “Teamwork pulling large debris ashore” by Nguyen Thanh Phong from Khanh Hoa; and “Mother’s scrap collection” by Le Anh Thi from Ha Tinh.

The Organizing Committee awarding the Consolation Prizes to the authors

Additionally, four Consolation Prizes were awarded to the following authors: Nguyen Trang Kim Cuong from Ho Chi Minh City for the photograph “Transporting recycled waste from the island to the mainland at Hon Ro port”; Nguyen Ngoc Anh from Ho Chi Minh City for “Guiding waste sorting before cleaning Mui Ne beach”; Nguyen Thanh Phong from Khanh Hoa for “Parents joining the group”; and Vu Minh Ly from Hoai Duc, Hanoi, for “Action for a Green Truong Sa.”

Ngoc Huyen (NRE Magazine)