Van’s photo captured the moment of 90-year-old shoemaker Trinh Ngoc, who has been making shoes for more than 60 years.
Ngoc was born in 1931 in the Mekong delta province of Ba Lieu. In 1947, his family moved to Cambodia and resided in Phnom Penh. In 1970, he returned to the homeland and has lived in Ho Chi Minh City since then.
Throughout his career, Ngoc has made shoes for many Vietnamese singers and even for the Cambodian royal family, including King Norodom Sihanouk.
When Van asked him what the most important thing in his life was, Ngoc told the photo journalist of Lao Dong newspaper: “If you create joy for others, you will receive double happiness.”
Ngoc said he saw his shoes as works of art that reflected each wearer’s personality. He always asked his customers a lot of questions to get a better understanding of their needs and expectations.
Founded in 2007, “Prix de la Photographie, Paris” is a photography award that strives to promote appreciation of photography, discover emerging talent, and introduce photographers from around the world to the artistic community inParis.
Van has won various photo contests in and outside Vietnam and held solo and group exhibitions in many countries./.
