Hundreds of stunning photos featuring ASEAN countries and their people will be on public exhibit on Hanoi’s downtown walking street starting this weekend.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Hanoi’s municipal administration to honor 50 years of ASEAN.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is a socio-economic bloc of ten countries in Southeast Asia that was founded on August 8, 1967. Its member states include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The exhibition will explore the vividness of life in ASEAN countries under the scope of cultural, social, and economic activities, the Authority of Photography and Exhibition under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said at a press conference announcing the event on Thursday.

The exhibition’s theme ASEAN Countries and People was chosen to help promote a mutual understanding and cohesiveness among the bloc’s members with a vision of continuing ASEAN’s development as a united, dynamic, prosperous, and peaceful community.

The exhibition will also host exchanges among ASEAN amateur and professional photographers.

Two-hundred and thirty of over 10,000 photo submissions from 1,248 Southeast Asian were selected for the event.

“The exhibition features works by 136 photographers from ten ASEAN member states,” said Vi Kien Thanh, director of the Authority of Photography and Exhibition. “It is not purely a cultural or artistic event, but also a political celebration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. This is a major artistic event Vietnam is holding to honor the occasion.”

The ten best works of ten photographers representing each country will be awarded the ASEAN 2017 Cup during the exhibition.

The event will kick off Saturday afternoon at the Ly Thai To Statue Square and on Dinh Tien Hoang Walking Street near Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi and will remain open to the public until next Friday (August 11).

Lantern release festival in Thailand. Photo: Wannapong

Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Photo: Ho Hon Yew

Dinagyang Festival in the Philippines. Photo: Raniel Jose Madrazo Castañeda

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, or Golden Rock, in Myanmar. Photo: Than Htay

Hundreds of Malaysian flags are waved by the country’s citizens during a celebration. Photo: Tan Ee Long

Pha That Luang in Laos. Photo: Ikham Khamlasee

Cow racing in Indonesia. Photo: Hantoro Pudjoko

Angkor Watt in Cambodia. Photo: Phat Dara

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei. Photo: Haji Jumat Bin Haji Taha

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