Mesmeric Vietnam through the seasons

By Huynh Phuong   January 5, 2020 | 06:35 am PT
Lensman Tran Minh Dung travels to different parts of Vietnam and captures mesmerizing aspects of the country at different seasons.
Catching the wind by the sea in January photo was taken at Hon Do, My Hiep town, Ninh Hai District, Ninh Thuan Province.The photo is part of the Beauty of Vietnam landscape collection which was taken by photographer Tran Minh Dung.The HCMC-based photographer said the transitional period between the previous and new year is a good time to visit the sea and its moss-covered rocks.In My Hiep, moss lingers on the high rocks until March. Its green color fades to yellow as time goes, blending well with the sun beam.

"Catching the wind by the sea in January" was taken at Hon Do Beach, My Hiep Village, Ninh Hai District, central Ninh Thuan Province. The photo is part of Dung’s "Beauty of the Vietnamese landscape" collection. The HCMC-based photographer said the transitional period between the previous and new year was a good time to visit the sea and its moss-covered rocks.

In My Hiep, moss lingers on the high rocks until March. Its green color fades to yellow as time goes and this gets an added shine from the sun beams.

Watch the stars on a February night was taken at Ganh Den lighthouse in An Ninh Dong commune, Tuy An district, Phu Yen Province.About a 15-minute walk from Da Dia Rock Range that is accessible by motorbike, Ganh Den beach is nearly a kilometer long. Many people go here for camping, fishing or simply appreciating the views. The lighthouse has two red-and-white protruding highs to send light signal to offshore boats.

"Watch the stars on a February night" was taken at the Ganh Den beach lighthouse in An Ninh Dong Commune, Tuy An District, the central province of Phu Yen.

About a 15-minute walk from the Da Dia Rock Range, the Ganh Den beach is nearly a kilometer long. Many people visit the place for camping, fishing or simply admiring the view. The lighthouse location offers a great view of the star-studded sky even as it sends its beacons of light to offshore boats.

Hunting clouds in March captures a view of Da Lat town in a river of mist and lights.Dalat is often called the city of thousands of flowers. Not only a popular tourist destination, the town also attracts landscape photographers who are on the chase of dazzling shots.

"Hunting clouds in March" presents the Central Highlands town of Da Lat in Lam Dong Province cloaked in mist and night lights.

Da Lat, a hilly resort destination also known as the town of flowers, attracts landscape photographers wanting to capture its misty beauty at night and dawn. 

Searching for morning dew in April taken at K’Long Lanh mountain pass shows the route that links Da Lat and the coastal city of Nha Trang. The route runs through K’Long Lanh village, Lac Duong district, Lam Dong Province.A visit to Da Lat will be incomplete without a stop at Tuyen Lam Lake, one of the most beautiful in Vietnam and one whose raw beauty has yet to be undermined by tourist hordes.

"Searching for morning dew on K’Long Lanh mountain pass in April," is shot of the pass that links Da Lat with the coastal town of Nha Trang in central Khanh Hoa Province. The route runs through K’Long Lanh Village, Lac Duong District, Lam Dong Province.

The silk that is Hang En waterfall in May was taken at Kbang District, Gia Lai Province. The waterfall marks the origins of the Con River.Inside the Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve, Hang En stands out of the 10 waterfalls inside the reserve.The waterfall is 50m high. During the dry season, it has a width of about 20-30 m. The play of water with sunlight creates a lot of rainbows.Getting to the Hang En Waterfall is a challenge. If you accept it, you have to take the assistance of a local guide because the path is very dangerous for outsiders to navigate on their own.

"The silk that is Hang En Waterfall in May" was taken in K'bang District, the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. The waterfall marks the origins of the Con River. The 50 m high waterfall is one of 10 waterfalls in the Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve. The play of water with sunlight creates a lot of rainbows.

Getting to the Hang En Waterfall is a challenge. If you accept it, you have to take the assistance of a local guide because the path is very dangerous for outsiders to navigate on their own.

Discovering corals in June captures the shallow coral reef at Hon Yen when the tide recedes.Hon Yen in Nhon Hoi village, An Hoa commune, Tuy An district in Phu Yen Province.Hon Yen has been attracting travelers with its pristine beauty and carpets of coral reefs rising up during low tide. The islet is around 15 kilometers to the north of Tuy Hoa, the capital of Phu Yen.Phu Yen, a poverty-hit coastal province with a population of around 860,000, has a diverse topography consisting of mountains, rivers, lagoons, bays, and islands and a myriad of beautiful natural sights for visitors to explore.

"Discovering corals in June" captures the shallow coral reef at Hon Yen Islet when the tide recedes. Hon Yen is located in Nhon Hoi Village, An Hoa Commune, Tuy An District, Phu Yen Province.

The place has been attracting increasing numbers of visitors with its pristine beauty and carpets of coral reefs that rise up during low tide. The islet is around 15 kilometers to the north of Tuy Hoa, the capital of Phu Yen.

Phu Yen is rich in its diverse topography of mountains, rivers, lagoons, bays, and islands and a myriad of beautiful natural sights.

The dawn on the ‘egg’ beach in July shows the gleam at Hoang Hau beach, Quy Nhon town of Binh Dinh Province.One of the most beautiful beaches here, one that has got rave reviews from travelers and bloggers, is Hoang Hau (Queen), just two km from downtown Quy Nhon.Hoang Hau got its name because Queen Nam Phuong, consort of King Bao Dai, chose the place for a private holiday with her husband in 1927. Bao Dai was the last king of Vietnam, reigning from 1926-1945.Perched between the tourist hotspots of Nha Trang and Hoi An, Quy Nhon town in Binh Dinh Province is less crowded but has quickly become one of the most searched beach holiday destinations in recent years.It is blessed with a 42 km coastline, and has been dubbed the Maldives of Vietnam.

"Dawn on the ‘egg’ beach in July" shows daybreak at Hoang Hau (Queen) Beach, Quy Nhon Town, central Binh Dinh Province.

It is one of the most beautiful beaches, getting rave reviews from travelers and bloggers. The beach gets its name because Queen Nam Phuong, consort of King Bao Dai, chose the place for a private holiday with her husband in 1927. Bao Dai was the last king of Vietnam, reigning from 1926-1945.

Perched between the tourist hotspots of Nha Trang and Hoi An, Quy Nhon Town is less crowded but has quickly become one of the most searched beach holiday destinations in recent years. It is blessed with a 42 km coastline, and has been dubbed the "Maldives of Vietnam."

Hoi An by night in August shows a bird’s view of Hoi An which was one of the 15 best tourist cities in the world according to Travel and Leisure Magazine in 2019.The picture ranks the 39th in the top 50 images awarded by the judging panel for the Open Award – Built Environment / Architecture category at the EPSON International Pano Awards 2019.Dung said thanks to the development of flycam technology, photographers now can take unique panoramic photos, contributing to tourism promotion of famous tourist destinations.

"Hoi An by night in August" is a bird’s eyeview of the old town in central Quang Nam Province, named one of the 15 best tourist cities in the world by the Travel + Leisure Magazine in 2019. This picture was 39th in the top 50 images chosen by judges for the Open Award – Built Environment / Architecture category at the EPSON International Pano Awards 2019.

Dung says that thanks to the development of flycam technology, photographers now can take unique panoramic photos, contributing to promoting tourism in the country.

Rice harvesting season in September catches the moonlight shining on the terraced fields of Mu Cang Chai district in Yen Bai Province. September is when the famous terraced fields such as raspberry hill (pictured) sunk in the mist.The western province of Yen Bai, Mu Cang Chai has become a go-to destination for backpackers. With the new Noi Bai - Lao Cai highway, the road to conquer Mu Cang Chai is now less challenging.Mong people converted the mountainsides into terraced fields hundreds of years ago.

In a pleasing departure from the norm "Rice harvesting season in September" is not taken in bright sunlight. Instead Dung captures moonlight shining on the terraced fields of Mu Cang Chai District in northern Yen Bai Province. September is when the famous terraced fields such as raspberry hill (pictured) are shrouded in mist.

Mu Cang Chai has become a popular backpacker destinations. With the new Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway opening to traffic, getting to the district and its terraced fields is easier.

The Mong ethnic minority people converted the mountainsides into terraced fields hundreds of years ago.

The ripening rice season near the border in October captures the fields that turn yellow along the Que Son stream in Ngoc Con commune, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province.The northern province of Cao Bang is home to Ban Gioc waterfall, the largest in Vietnam and the world’s fourth largest waterfall along a national border, after Iguazu Falls, Victoria Falls and Niagara Falls.Seven hours northeast of Hanoi, tourism has long been a staple of the park, which has more than 200 cultural and historical monuments.

"The ripening rice season near the border in October" captures fields that have turned yellow glistening in the sunlight along the Que Son stream in Ngoc Con Commune, Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province.

The northern border province is also home to the Ban Gioc Waterfall, the largest in Vietnam and the world’s fourth largest waterfall along a national border, after the Iguazu Falls, Victoria Falls and the Niagara Falls.

Seven hours northeast of Hanoi, Cao Bang has more than 200 cultural and historical monuments.

November in the border region portrays the flower expanse in Lung Cu, Ha Giang Province.Situated around 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Hanoi, Ha Giang has become an increasingly attractive destination not just because of its spectacular scenery, but also for the narrow, twisting roads and mountain passes that kindles the adventurous spirit among many visitors.

"November season of buckwheat flowers in the border region" is a kaleidoscope of colours as women brightly bedecked in their traditional attire walk through fields of buckwheat flowers in bloom in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam.

Situated around 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Hanoi, Ha Giang has become an increasingly attractive destination not just because of its spectacular scenery, but also for the narrow, twisting roads and mountain passes that kindle the adventurous spirit among many visitors.

December tour to Trang An - Ninh Binh shows the world heritage complex in Ninh Binh province, 95 km south of Hanoi, has been recognized as a UNESCO world heritage.Trang An boat center, a highly-recommended venue, is located 3 km from the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and 7 km from Ninh Binh city. The center is very popular with families, friends, and couples.

"December tour to Trang An - Ninh Binh" catches a panoramic quiet at the world heritage complex in Ninh Binh Province, 95 km south of Hanoi. The Trang An wharf is located 3 km from the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and 7 km from Ninh Binh Town, capital of the northern province

 
 
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