'Drying incense' wins reFocus Awards Colour Photography Contest

By Trang Nguyen
Wed, May 31, 2023 | 7:04 pm GMT+7

The photo 'Drying incense' by Azim Khan Ronnie has been named among the top 23 at the 2023 Color Photography Contest at the reFocus Awards.

"Vietnamese workers sit surrounded by thousands of incense sticks in Quang Phu Cau in Hanoi, Vietnam, where the sticks have been traditionally made for hundreds of years," Ronnie wrote to describe his photo.

"Incense plays an important role in the spiritual lives of Vietnamese people," he added, noting that the pink sticks are usually used in worshipping activities.

'Drying incense', taken by photographer Azim Khan Ronnie.

"Drying incense", taken by photographer Azim Khan Ronnie.

In January, the incense village of Quang Phu Cau on the outskirts of Hanoi was named among Pantone's 2023 "color destinations" by New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

"Ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations - called Tet in Vietnam - you'll find hundreds of bright-pink incense sticks fanned out like bouquets along the streets and courtyards," the magazine wrote.

Patone, a multinational corporation headquartered in New Jersey, U.S., is best known for its Pantone Color Matching System, a copyrighted color space commonly used in a variety of industries, mostly printing and the paint, plastic and textile manufacturing industries.

The two photos that claimed first place in the 2023 Color Photography Contest were "Scavengers" by João Coelho and "Kushti" by Alain Schroeder.

The reFocus Awards are a new photo contest platform, and its first competition was held last September with the “One Shot” contest.

Comments (0)
  • Read More
Vietnam ministry asks AES to revise LNG power project feasibility study per new Electricity Law

Vietnam ministry asks AES to revise LNG power project feasibility study per new Electricity Law

AES should revise its feasibility study report for the Son My 2 LNG-to-power plant per the new Electricity Law 2024, says Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long.

Energy - Fri, January 10, 2025 | 5:31 pm GMT+7

Vietnam 'sometimes' lacks electricity supply for semiconductor sector: gov’t

Vietnam 'sometimes' lacks electricity supply for semiconductor sector: gov’t

Vietnam’s electricity supply for the semiconductor sector is insufficient “in some locations sometimes,” the government admitted in a dispatch issued on Monday.

Economy - Fri, January 10, 2025 | 4:58 pm GMT+7

$2 bln LNG power plant in northern Vietnam to start construction in late 2025

$2 bln LNG power plant in northern Vietnam to start construction in late 2025

The $2 billion LNG Thai Binh power plant project in Thai Binh province aims to complete its feasibility study in the second quarter of this year and begin construction in Q4/2025.

Energy - Fri, January 10, 2025 | 2:11 pm GMT+7

Vietnam most attractive alternative to China for manufacturing: consultant

Vietnam most attractive alternative to China for manufacturing: consultant

China used to have many policies to attract foreign investors to build factories, but now there are many changes and Vietnam is the ideal alternative, says Kyle Freeman, a partner at Dezan Shira & Associates.

Economy - Fri, January 10, 2025 | 11:51 am GMT+7

Vietnam financial centers aim to attract Forbes 500 firms with tax incentives

Vietnam financial centers aim to attract Forbes 500 firms with tax incentives

Vietnam aims to attract Forbes 500 firms into its to-be-built financial centers with tax incentives, according to a draft resolution on building financial centers.

Economy - Fri, January 10, 2025 | 11:29 am GMT+7

Japan's Aeon Financial completes acquiring 100% stake in Vietnam financial firm PTF

Japan's Aeon Financial completes acquiring 100% stake in Vietnam financial firm PTF

The State Bank of Vietnam has given the nod to Aeon Financial, a member of Japanese retailer Aeon, to entirely acquire Post and Telecommunication Finance Company Limited (PTF), owned by private lender SeABank.

Finance - Fri, January 10, 2025 | 10:32 am GMT+7

$2.58 bln FDI power project fuels central Vietnam province industry

$2.58 bln FDI power project fuels central Vietnam province industry

The $2.58 billion BOT Van Phong 1 thermal power plant, invested by Japan’s Sumitomo Group, was a major driving force of the 18.5% year-on-year hike in industrial value of Vietnam’s central province of Khanh Hoa in 2024.

Industries - Fri, January 10, 2025 | 8:43 am GMT+7

Primary apartment prices in Hanoi may rise 6-8% in 2025: report

Primary apartment prices in Hanoi may rise 6-8% in 2025: report

The prices of primary apartments in Hanoi are expected to increase by 6-8% in 2025 on an expected uptick in supply, according to a report by property service provider CBRE Vietnam.

Real Estate - Fri, January 10, 2025 | 8:10 am GMT+7

ASEAN should unite regarding GMT implementation: Malaysian official

ASEAN should unite regarding GMT implementation: Malaysian official

There is an urgent need for ASEAN member states to work towards an agreement not to circumvent the global minimum tax (GMT) as countries begin to adopt the tax, says Malaysian Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong.

Southeast Asia - Thu, January 9, 2025 | 9:10 pm GMT+7

Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2025 kicks off

Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2025 kicks off

The Da Nang People’s Committee and Sun Group on Wednesday held a press meeting to kick off the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2025 and its accompanying events.

Travel - Thu, January 9, 2025 | 9:07 pm GMT+7

About 400 foreigners in Philippines arrested for online scams

About 400 foreigners in Philippines arrested for online scams

About 400 foreigners in the Philippines were arrested on Wednesday in a large-scale raid on a suspected online scam farm in Manila.

Southeast Asia - Thu, January 9, 2025 | 9:06 pm GMT+7

Malaysia aims to advance digitalization in Southeast Asia

Malaysia aims to advance digitalization in Southeast Asia

Malaysia aims to establish and sign the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) this year to promote digitalization across Southeast Asia, according to Sugumari S Shanmugam, director of the ASEAN economic integration division at Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI).

Southeast Asia - Thu, January 9, 2025 | 9:01 pm GMT+7

Indonesia raises retirement age to 59

Indonesia raises retirement age to 59

Indonesia has increased the retirement age for workers to 59, starting this year.

Southeast Asia - Thu, January 9, 2025 | 8:55 pm GMT+7

Central Vietnam province cancels $2.4 bln LNG power plant bid, to open again  

Central Vietnam province cancels $2.4 bln LNG power plant bid, to open again  

Vietnam’s central province of Thanh Hoa has canceled the bidding for the $2.4 billion Nghi Son LNG-fired power project due to updated legal frameworks, said Thanh Hoa Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Thi.

Energy - Thu, January 9, 2025 | 5:51 pm GMT+7

Taiwan’s pharma firm Lotus acquires edema medicine rights in Vietnam from Sanofi

Taiwan’s pharma firm Lotus acquires edema medicine rights in Vietnam from Sanofi

Taiwan-based Lotus Pharmaceutical has acquired the trademark, marketing authorization, economic interest, and manufacturing processes of Alphachymotrypsine Choay for Vietnam from French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi.

Companies - Thu, January 9, 2025 | 5:05 pm GMT+7

US to limit imports from China, opening doors for Vietnam: US food association

US to limit imports from China, opening doors for Vietnam: US food association

When Donald Trump takes office, Vietnam will have greater opportunities to export to the U.S., said Bob Bauer, president of the US Association of Food Industries.

Economy - Thu, January 9, 2025 | 4:17 pm GMT+7