Announcement of Winners for the Illustration Competition “Local Essence” (Chất Địa Phương): Spreading the Value of Vietnamese Indigenous Culture
On June 24, 2025, after more than a month since its launch, the illustration competition “Local Essence” (Chất Địa Phương) announced over 30 winning artworks. Jointly organized by UNESCO, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, and the Vietnam Local Artist Group (VLAG) with support from SOVICO Group, the competition received contributions from more than 400 artists and 550 submissions, transforming “Local Essence” into a vast realm of memories where cultural stories from regions across Vietnam were vividly portrayed through illustration.
Following the judging process and deliberation by the professional jury, 34 outstanding artworks were selected. Three pieces—“The Soul of Chu Dau Ceramics” (Hồn Gốm Chu Đậu), “Teasing Dogs in Alleys” (Chọc Chó Ngõ Hẻm), and “Hanoi Wakes Up” (Hà Nội Thức Giấc)—were honored with the Excellence Awards. Each prize includes 5,000,000 VND in cash, a gift bag printed with the winning artwork, and a certificate of achievement from “Local Essence.”
Excellent Award Winning Artwork: “The Soul of Chu Dau Ceramics” (Hồn Gốm Chu Đậu) – Trieu Tuong Vy. Source: UNESCO
The artist behind The Soul of Chu Dau Ceramics, Trieu Tuong Vy, brought the beauty of the traditional Chu Dau pottery village in Hai Duong Province to viewers nationwide through her graceful strokes. Describing her inspiration, she shared:
“During a festival, when I had the chance to visit the pottery village, I learned about the art of painting on ceramic pieces from the artisans in the workshop. Through this artwork, I wanted to recreate the beauty of Chu Dau’s ceramic spirit and tell the story of a countryside that is both rustic and rich in identity, where long-standing traditions of diligence in study and labor are passed down.”
The Excellent Award-winning Painting “Teasing Dogs in Alleys” (Chọc Chó Ngõ Hẻm) was inspired by the game Pac-Man by the author Nguyen Hoang Tuan Anh. Source: UNESCO
In addition, the competition announced 23 “Outstanding” Awards, 5 “Promising” Awards, and 3 “Outstanding Collaborative Artwork” recognitions. Meanwhile, among the 30 artworks that received the highest engagement within the Vietnam Local Artist Group community, the piece “Is There Another Fruit?” (Còn Trái Khác Không?) by artist Le Khai won the Audience Choice Award with 6,244 points—calculated from valid likes, reactions, and shares on the community post and the UNESCO fan page since the competition’s launch.
Outstanding and Audience Choice Award-winning Painting “Is There Another Fruit?” (Còn Trái Khác Không?) – Le Khai. Source: UNESCO
The “Local Essence” competition not only created a dynamic playground for young artists but also sparked local pride and helped spread the value of indigenous culture through illustration. From identity-rich details to experiential visual storytelling, the artists and their works collectively created a lively, diverse, and surprising cultural map of Vietnam through the eyes of the youth.
Promising Award-winning Artwork “The Whole Family Loves Each Other” (Cả Nhà Thương Nhau) – Hoc Mai Phuong. Source: UNESCO
For artworks with market potential, UNESCO may assist artists in securing opportunities to sign contracts directly with partners under separate agreements, without requiring transactions to go through UNESCO. This aligns with the mission of the “EMPLEMENT!” project—where UNESCO aims to empower the young creative generation so that they not only create art but also contribute to the country’s sustainable development through cultural advancement.
See more winning artworks from the “Local Essence” (Chất Địa Phương) competition here.
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