Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy; Deputy Director General of Viet Nam Television Do Duc Hoang; Chairwoman of the Viet Nam Association of Photographic Artists Tran Thi Thu Dong, along with content creators and artists attended the launching ceremony.
The “Happy Viet Nam 2026” Human Rights Communications Awards are organised to implement Decision No. 1079/QD-TTg dated September 14, 2022, of the Prime Minister approving the communications project on human rights in Viet Nam, while also contributing to the implementation of the communications strategy to promote Viet Nam’s image abroad under Decision No. 173/QD-TTg dated January 27, 2026, on the Strategy for Communications and Promotion of Viet Nam’s Image Abroad for the 2026–2030 period, with a vision to 2045.
Entering its fourth year, “Happy Viet Nam” is no longer only a competition for photo and video creation but has become a meaningful communications activity on human rights in Viet Nam. Through the language of images, the awards create an open creative forum for people to tell vivid and authentic stories about life, people, and the country’s transformation.
As Viet Nam continues to promote sustainable development, accelerate international integration, and place people at the centre of all policies, the “Happy Viet Nam 2026” Awards are organised to discover, honour, and spread positive values in social life, while affirming Viet Nam’s outstanding achievements in ensuring and promoting human rights across many fields.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister Trinh Thi Thuy stressed that in today’s digital environment, every positive piece of information, every authentic image, and every humane story about the country and people of Viet Nam contributes to shaping the nation’s official information flow, thereby promoting the country’s image, enhancing soft power, and strengthening Viet Nam’s position in the international arena. From that perspective, the “Happy Viet Nam 2026” awards are not only a communications award or a simple creative arts competition but also an important component in building Viet Nam’s positive information landscape in the global digital environment.
At the launching ceremony, the Organising Committee called on both professional and amateur authors, Vietnamese citizens, and international friends to capture meaningful moments of life in Viet Nam today, from urban life and rural transformation to everyday stories in mountainous, border, and island areas. These may include simple smiles, the spirit of overcoming difficulties in work, study, and creativity, or positive changes in community life, thereby helping portray the image of a peaceful, developing, and happy Viet Nam.
The 2026 awards continue to be organised nationwide with two categories: photography and video. Participants include Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and above. Entries must ensure authenticity and possess artistic and communications value, clearly reflecting the country’s development achievements while conveying positive and humane messages under the theme “Happiness from simple things.”
The submission period begins after the launching ceremony and runs until August 30, 2026. Entries can be submitted online via the website: https://happy.vietnam.vn.
The entries will be judged through preliminary and final rounds by a judging panel consisting of reputable experts, journalists, photographers, and filmmakers, ensuring objectivity, transparency, and professional quality. The awards ceremony is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of 2026 in Ha Noi and will be broadcast live on Viet Nam Television.
In addition to the awards ceremony, “Happy Viet Nam 2026” will also include a series of large-scale communications activities such as Happy Viet Nam Day, exhibitions of outstanding works, response events in many localities, and promotional activities on domestic and international media platforms, thereby helping spread the image of Viet Nam as a nation that respects, protects, and promotes human rights to friends around the world.
