Toxic online behaviors were the source of inspiration for five out of the nine best entries of the fifth Vietnam Press Caricature Contest awarded at a ceremony in Hanoi on Friday.

The contest was organized by the The thao & Van hoa (Sports and Culture) newspaper, a publication of the Vietnam News Agency to find best press caricatures that fit the theme of ‘Cultured Behaviors, Civilized Society’. The first prize went to the painting ‘Chuc cho’ (Waiting) by Le Dieu Bang, who goes by the pen name of Meo.

Two second prizes, two third prizes and four consolation prizes were also granted at the ceremony.

The contest began calling for submissions in 2018 after a multiple-year hiatus and attracted about 400 entries that criticize despicable behaviors and support civilized ones, according to The Thao & Van hoa editor-in-chief Le Xuan Thanh, head of the organizing board.

Notably, more than 30 percent of the submissions focused on conduct on social networks, Thanh said.

‘Nhao Dzo’ (Come On) by Nguyen Huu Loc, winner of a consolation prize. The caricature depicts two Facebook users being controlled by a crowd of ‘puppet masters’ who add fuel to the flame with their cheers.

Congratulating the winners, vice chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association Ho Quang Loi said the contest’s success shows that caricature is still a “sharp weapon” of artist-journalists and press agencies.

Caricatures draw public attention to important issues as they are able to directly affect the awareness of people from all social strata, regardless of their education background, age or language, Loi said.

A 60-page booklet was also published on this occasion to showcase the outstanding entries of this year’s contest.

Sixty best caricatures from the contest will also go on exhibition at number 2 Le Thai To Street near Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi this weekend, January 12-13.

Other winners of the Vietnam Press Caricature Contest:

‘Chung suc’ (United) by Do Anh Dung, winner of a second prize. The caricature depicts a teacher and her two students trying to ‘erase’ school violence.

‘Khi doi tu cung thanh… mon an nhanh’ (When Privacy Becomes Fast Food) by Nguyen Manh Tien, winner of a second prize. The caricature depicts a corn being peeled by two smartphones that are hungry for some popcorn.

‘De den va de trang’ (A Story of Two Goats) by Tran Hai Nam, winner of a third prize. The caricature depicts two motorcyclists, one trying to speed through yellow light while the other trying to run the red light, but the ultimate winner is Grim Reaper who will claim both of their lives.

‘Trat tu do thi’ (Social Order) by Nguyen Minh Dong, winner of a third prize. The caricature depicts a social order official chasing street vendors in circles as the hawkers keep running to another neighborhood over which the official has no jurisdiction.

‘Lich cham me om’ (Get Well Soon) by Nguyen Duc Tri, winner of a consolation prize. The caricature depicts a family with a sick mother and her four children, who all neglect their duty of taking care of her. The first child posts a Facebook status wishing his mother would get well soon to attract 'likes,' while he in fact does nothing to cater to his mom. The second child tries to push her mother away as the third child seems annoyed that it was her turn to take care of her mother. The fourth child is a drunken man.

‘Khong loi’ (Speechless) by Nguyen Duy Son, winner of a consolation prize. The caricature depicts a man willing to help an elder man, apparently his boss, get over a gap, but only because he has something to gain from the gesture.

‘Du luan’ (Public Opinion) by Le Duc Hung, winner of a consolation prize. The caricature compares the pen to a fuse wire that can be used to detonate dynamites with destructive powers.

Other entries to the Vietnam Press Caricature Contest:

'Cau like' by Soi. The man on the left side attracts way more 'Facebook' likes by sharing misinformation and fake news than the other man, who tries to share good things on social media.

'Tu suong 3' by NOP

'Tu suong' by Nguyen Tin Nhuong

'Facebook' by Nguyen Huu Duc

'Tin don' (Rumors) by Le Duc Hung

'Tan hon' (Wedding night) by Dang Thien Chan

'LIKE' by Do Huu Lien. 'We must attract a ton of likes posting these scenes on Facebook."

'Tin don' (Rumors) by Nguyen Huu Loc

'Boi xau lan nhau' (Facebook culture) by CAN

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