The exhibition is jointly organised by the French Institute in Viet Nam and the University of Education, Hue University.
The exhibition, running from June 13 to July 15, brings together 27 works by the three French photographers, all of whom have developed a deep and enduring connection with Viet Nam through their photographic work.
Daniel Roussel’s photographs offer a rare glimpse into life in Viet Nam between 1980 and 1986. As the resident correspondent of the daily newspaper L’Humanité, Roussel captured everyday moments across the country with great affection and admiration, reflecting his understanding of Viet Nam’s struggle against colonialism and imperialism. Combined with his writing and documentary filmmaking, his photographs form a valuable archive that celebrates the resilience and vitality of Viet Nam in the post-war period.
The exhibition also features Gilbert Bertrand’s black-and-white photographs, taken between 1970 and 1975 while he was working at the French Cultural Centre in Da Lat and Sai Gon.
Although Bertrand was not a professional photographer, his keen eye and passion for photography inspired him to document significant historical turning points. His works were never published at the time, but they have since gained recognition for both their photographic merit and enduring historical value, shedding light on a remarkable chapter of Viet Nam’s history.
The exhibition concludes with Lily Franey’s evocative photographs, taken from 1987 onwards during her visits to Viet Nam with the French humanitarian organisation Secours populaire français. Her images portray a country emerging from the devastation of war, capturing simple yet hopeful scenes of everyday life.
Through a deeply humanistic lens, Franey imbues her work with warmth and sensitivity, offering an authentic and vivid portrayal of the determination and daily lives of the Vietnamese people during the period of reconstruction and renewal.
