Wednesday 24 April 2013

Internet exhibition displays north-south divide

A collection of images that attempts to illustrate the difference between Hanoi and Saigon has gained popularity on the internet and attracted attention.

The series of illustrations and designs was appropriately named "The Difference Between Hanoi and Saigon" and composed by 27-year-old Le Duy Nhat. He posted it on a website on April 15.

The seemingly simple images illustrate the slight but important differences in culture between the north and the south of Vietnam, such as the way fruits are arranged, the way people eat breakfast or offerings to house guests.

Nhat is from Thanh Hoa Province, but has lived in HCM City for more than ten years. He has also spent several years in Hanoi. The time spent in the two cities has lent him his perspective on small but significant differences in the country from the capital to the largest city.

He said, "My inspiration for this came after attending a graphic design competition on culture of Vietnam" He added that it was difficult for him to find and recreate the nicest things from each city.

"There has been a lot of press focusing on, and even exaggerating the differences between Hanoi and HCM City, focusing on the small differences in culture. This is not what I want to do. I just want to show the differences as they are."

Some people who have viewed his images have criticized him for using English. But Nhat said that the reason is that he wanted to use an international language to explain Vietnamese culture to both Vietnamese and foreigners.

A selection from Nhat's work:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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