As soon as they were posted on social media platforms, the images quickly attracted great public attention and positive feedback.
Born and raised in Thanh Hoa, Quang, who was born in 1995, traces his roots to Nghe An, a land rich in affection. From a young age, he often listened to stories of history told by his family, nurturing in him a love for his homeland and country.
While still a schoolboy, instead of watching entertainment shows, Quang immersed himself in historical documentaries about the resistance wars against the French and the US. “At that time, I always wondered why those films were only in black and white. I wished they could be in colour, just like other documentaries of that period,” Quang shared. Later, when studying information technology in Ha Noi, he had more opportunities to access modern technologies, which helped him turn his childhood dream into reality.
Quang happened to watch the trailer of a US-produced documentary at the beginning of 2020 about soldiers fighting in the First World War, entirely colourised. “Seeing images from over 100 years ago come to life with colour motivated me to pursue research into colour restoration for documentaries, as Viet Nam has a vast and invaluable archive,” Quang said.
He began working on restoring old materials in April 2020. Initially, he selected the historical photographs that impressed him most. Some dated back to the resistance against the French, while others were taken in the early decades of the 20th century.
After sharing his colourised works online, Quang received strong positive responses from the public. Moving beyond single photographs, he dared to experiment with film. His first colourised project was footage of General Vo Nguyen Giap’s speech in Algeria in 1976. With the application of modern technology and artificial intelligence, the restored film came to life and resonated with young audiences.
Following this success, Quang went on to colourise interviews with historical figures such as President Ho Chi Minh, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Huu Tho, and diplomat Nguyen Thi Binh. The archival materials he collected from various sources were digitally processed by de-shaking, sharpening, subtitling in Vietnamese, colourising, and converting into modern digital formats.
Depending on the quality and type of material, the completion time varied. A photograph might take only 15–30 minutes, while a video or a film could take months or even years. Some works had to be redone countless times, each version becoming more vivid and authentic.
At the end of 2022, the Department of Information and Communications of Quang Tri Province, together with the People’s Committee of Vinh Linh District, organised a screening of “17th Parallel – People’s War”. The documentary was completed in 1968 by renowned Dutch director Joris Ivens after years of research, life, and work in Quang Tri. With a runtime of nearly 120 minutes, Quang devoted about a year to restoring the film into vibrant colour.
At the screening, Nguyen Thi Xuan Phuong, who had served as interpreter for director Joris Ivens during the making of the film, could not hide her emotion and admiration. She highly praised Quang’s serious and dedicated approach, which made the film clearer and more radiant.
Professor, Doctor, and People’s Teacher Nguyen Quang Ngoc, Vice President of the Viet Nam Association of Historical Sciences, remarked after watching Quang’s restored works: “The colourised footage vividly helps the younger generation not only understand but also properly appreciate the hardships and the indomitable spirit of their forefathers.”
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, Quang collaborated with several organisations to upgrade and colourise 20 photographs associated with these historic events. For him, this was not only an opportunity to prove himself but, more importantly, a chance to engage with Viet Nam’s vast and invaluable historical archives. “These images, recreated as realistically as possible, are my way of paying tribute to the great sacrifices of earlier generations. I also hope that my work will inspire young people to take more interest in history,” Quang shared.
At a time when some young people show little interest in or vague about their nation’s history, Vien Hong Quang has chosen a unique path to express his love for history and his country. He has contributed a method to help the youth connect more deeply with Viet Nam’s past. Through his work, Quang has demonstrated to older generations that they can place their trust in today’s youth, who will always find ways to ensure that the nation’s proud history lives on alongside its development.
