The contest aims to implement a project on building and promoting the national brand for Vietnamese lacquer art in the 2020-2030 period, with the winning entries to be used in propaganda activities to promote the development of the art, contributing to developing the cultural market, revitalising and affirming the value of Vietnamese lacquer on the domestic and international markets, and advertising the national brand through the introduction of local lacquer products.

It also looks towards encouraging businesses, craft villages, and artisans to produce lacquer works as commodities for both domestic and overseas consumption.

The contest is open to individuals and organisations from both inside and outside the country.

Entries must have their own character and creativity, and be in line with the goal of promoting the fine arts sector’s national brand on the international market. In addition, they must not be a duplicate of any other product, and must feature no more than four colours suitable for both printing and carving.

Applicants can send a maximum of five entries in A4 to the organising committee either directly or by post to the fine arts division at the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition, at No. 38 Cao Ba Quat Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, until September 30, 2021.

The results of the contest will be published on the website http://ape.gov.vn and via various mass media, as well as communicated to the relevant departments of cities and provinces.

A closing and awards ceremony is scheduled for November 2021. The organising committee plans to present a first prize worth VND30 million, a second prize worth VND10 million, a third prize worth VND5 million, and three consolation prizes worth VND2 million each.