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THE HANOI CHRONICLE — An exhibition titled “Echoes of Endurance: Portraits of Matriarchs” commemorates the 50th anniversary of Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 – 2025). It honors the resilience and sacrifice of Vietnamese mothers, whose stories are often untold. Colonel Tran Hong, a journalist-turned-photographer, captures the strength of Vietnamese mothers. Image credits: Jenna Duong The powerful images in this exhibition were captured by Colonel Tran Hong, a journalist, photographer, and former soldier with Battalion 2, Group 559, Truong Son Troop. Through his lens, Colonel Hong pays homage to the resilience and sacrifice of mothers, offering a profound understanding of their experiences. “Standing before these mothers, I feel a sense of protection. I see my own mother in them, and my longing for her fades away,” Colonel Hong shared. Visitors engaging with the exhibition, reading the stories behind each portrait. Van Duc Linh, Deputy Head of the Hoan Kiem Lake and Old...

Artist Dang Ai Viet (b. 1948) embarks on a remarkable journey across Vietnam, aiming to honor and remember the thousands of women who lost loved ones during the war. Viet has dedicated her life to painting portraits of these heroic Vietnamese mothers, with a goal to capture their strength and resilience. Her travels are a continuation of her fight for these women, as she rushes to meet them and hear their stories. A Life of Service and Art Dang Thi Bong, known artistically as Dang Ai Viet (“I Love Vietnam”), has led an extraordinary life. At just 15 years old, she joined the resistance war against American troops, and later became a singer with the Liberation Art Troupe. However, it was her attendance at a painting class held in the war zone in 1964 that changed her life forever. From that moment on, she dedicated her artistic talents to bearing witness to the brutality of war and honoring those affected by it.  Painter Dang Ai Viet shares her journey and her passion...