The third "Vietnam Today" photo contest themed "Dynamic and friendly Vietnam " was kicked off in Hanoi on June 15.

Editor-in-chief of The gioi Anh (World Photo) magazine Pham Van Hien, who is also head of the contest’s organising board, said that entries would depict the beauties of Vietnamese land and people, business activities and the national economic development in global integration.

Addressing the launching ceremony, President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc said that the contest - a playground for local photographers to show their skills - will help illustrate the capital city’s historic traditions on the occasion of the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The contest is a biennial event held by the World Photo under the sponsorship of the VCCI and the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists with the two previous contests attracting more than 10,000 entries.

Colour and black-and-white photos should be submitted prior to November 30, 2010. An award ceremony and photo exhibition will be held in Hanoi in December 2010.