An exhibition of photos about Vietnam , its land and people went on display in the French city of Choisy-Le-Roy, 20 km from Paris , on September 9, leaving French friends and international visitors with a selection of vivid images.

The exhibition is part of a range of activities to celebrate the 40 th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accord 1973, which helped end the conflict in Vietnam .

Chosen from over 6,000 photos taken by French photographer Gerard Memmi during his visits to Vietnam , the photos depict the daily lives of Vietnamese people, with a particular emphasis on ethnic minority groups.

According to Memmi, every time he visits Vietnam , a nation full of vitality, he discovers different things about the country, which opens ‘new windows’ for him. Even normal scenarios like crowded streets bursting with traffic inspire him.

The reason that made Memmi passionate about visiting Vietnam is his love for the country and the smiles on its people’s faces, he said, adding that he hopes to open another exhibition in Vietnam in 2013.

The Mayor of Choisy-Le-Roy, Daniel Davisse, said that the city, twinned with Dong Da district in Hanoi , has always had a special feeling for Vietnam .

The city also welcomed the Vietnamese delegation in 1973 when it arrived in France to sign the Paris Peace Accord.-VNA