The Swedish Embassy in Vietnam on November 19 announced the winners of the “Swedish Innovations through Vietnamese Lenses” contest that was kicked off in August. The event, which is part of activities to celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations between Sweden and Vietnam in 2014, gathers photos depicting Swedish innovations which have been used in Vietnam. The pictures were taken from many localities across the country, from the north to the south. Vu Quang Ngoc won the highest prize of the competition with his photo titled “Adjustable Wrench” featuring the tool innovated from Sweden. Together with a certificate, Ngoc also won a trip to Sweden, including a visit to Fotografiska – the Swedish Museum of Photography – in Stockholm along with other places in the capital. “I am very touched to receive this award,” Ngoc expressed at the award ceremony at Hoa Sen University in Ho Chi Minh City. “Through the competition, we understand more about Sweden as well as its innovations and people.” Hua Tat Dat was the first runner-up with his photo “Ball Bearing.” The third prize, also the prize voted by Facebook users, went to Doctor Vu Quang Hung with his picture titled “The Modern Refrigerator and Celsius Thermometer” featuring a freezer used to store blood at the Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion  in Hanoi. The photo has received more than 9,800 likes from netizens. “The jury has worked together to judge on participating photos by many photographers from cities to rural and remote areas. That is proof of Swedish innovations in our country,” member of the jury Doan Thi Thu Huong, deputy director of the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition under Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, stated at the award ceremony. Huong also said the contest has seen the photos featuring Swedish innovations in many fields, from paper box to adjustable wrench, adding that Vietnam and Sweden has a 45-year-diplomatic relation and Sweden has helped Vietnam in many aspects. “A photo is worth a thousand words and I’m really impressed with Vietnamese innovative spirit,” Camilla Mellander – Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam said in a press release. “We received more than 6,000 wonderful photos from photographers across Vietnam and they have had an important contribution to strengthening the two countries’ understanding and cultural exchange, boosting the friendship between the two countries’ people,” she added. 27 best photos from the contest are being displayed at Hoa Sen University at 8 Nguyen Van Trang Street in District 1.