A photo exhibition featuring pictures depicting the cultures of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups will open at Ho Chi Minh City’s Lam Son Park on November 8.

Titled “My Culture – Conversations in Open Spaces,” the exhibition showcases 143 photographs reflecting cultural practices, livelihoods, beliefs, spirituality and recent changes in daily life.

They were taken by ethnic minority people who have never taken a picture of their own daily life before. These photographers took part in photovoice, a program organized by the Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE), which aims to have the photos involved speak the language of insiders, which professional photographers cannot possess.

The displayed photos were chosen from more than 70,000 shots taken by 64 participants from different ethnic origins like the H’mong, Dao, Muong, Thai, Pa Co, Van Kieu and Khmer

“Visitors to this exhibition, we hope, will acknowledge that people of ethnic minorities are actively exploring their own cultures, working on their expressions and are the ones who have the full right to decide how their traditions should be preserved and developed,” said Le Quang Binh, director of iSEE.

“My Culture – Conversations in Open Spaces” will run until November 20.

Earlier, the event was held in Hanoi at Ly Thai To Park, near Hoan Kiem Lake, attracting many spectators, including foreigners, with 150 outstanding photographs displayed.

Below are some photos which will be displayed at the event:

"These Khmer children are playing 'crossing legs and running around' or Bac Kim Thang (the name of a traditional folk song). This game requires three players. The oldest child lays one leg at the bottom for the two younger children to put their legs on. After crossing their legs, the three of them run around clapping their hands until they fall down. While the players run, the people surrounding them sing the song ‘Bac Kim Thang’ to cheer them up."

Author: Tran Thi Huynh Mai.

Ethnicity: Khmer in Soc Trang

"This is a photo of terraced rice fields soaked under water to soften the soil. Normally we soak the soil from October to April before planting the crops."

Author: Giang A Cua.

Ethnicity: Hmong in Sapa

"The bride, 19 year old Ly Thi Thanh Tam, and the groom, 20 year old Tia Phuong Thai, both in traditional costumes, are praying to the Sun God. This is a required ritual undertaken at the bride's house at about 4:30 AM, before the bride is escorted to the groom's house. Khmer people believe that when two individuals are brought together, they must thank the Sun God, ask for the Sun's witness, and pray for good fortune and wealth. This ceremony is held on the side of the bride’s house that faces east.”

Author: Hoang Tam Buu

Ethnicity: Khmer in Soc Trang

"Mr. Ho Van Hon, 35 years old, in Tan Di 1 Village, A Vao Commune, prepares a flute and some money before going to his girlfriend's house. It takes one hour for him to go from his house to hers. His girlfriend is Ms. Ho Thi Nung, 21 years old, living in my village. When he arrives, he dares not to enter by the front door of the house, since he is afraid that her parents might know, but goes to the back of the house and knocks three or four times to call her out. Upon hearing her boyfriend's signal, the girl comes out and invites him into her house. When he enters the house, Hon blows the flute and gives money to her parents to ask for their permission to take her out."

Author: Ho Thi Bui

Ethnicity: Ta Oi in Quang Tri

"In the past, when flirting ('di sim'), people had to know a game called 'questioning and answering through a bamboo pole.' Since this game requires one man to play with one woman, whoever did not know the game would be left alone. If the woman asks then the man should answer and vice versa. When one person asks, the other should blow into the pole so that the answer can be heard more clearly. Thanks to the game, many people have found their second halves."

Author: Ho Van Di

Ethnicity: Bru-Van Kieu in Quang Tri