From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

By Huynh Phuong, Pham Huy Trung   July 16, 2022 | 05:17 am PT
Aerial photography by HCMC-based Pham Huy Trang captures the sublime beauty of a range of Vietnamese landscapes from northern mountains to the southern plains.
From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

Hmong people walk along their terraced rice fields in Mu Cang Chai, a remote rural village in Yen Bai Province, around seven hours drive to the northwest of Hanoi.

At 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level at the foot of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, Mu Cang Chai is at its most beautiful in September and October during the harvest season.

From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

Limestone karst mountains rise out of the waters at UNESCO heritage site Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province, around two hours from Hanoi.

Trung said he started pursuing his passion for aerial photography in 2016. Since then, he makes two monthly trips, each lasting three to four days, to different parts of the country.

From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

A local farmer puts coffee seeds out to dry in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

The Central Highlands, called the 'Kingdom of Coffee', has pushed Vietnam to second place among the world's top coffee exporters. The region is home to roughly 570,000 hectares of plantations and gardens that producing over 1.6 million tons of coffee every year.

Nearly 88,000 hectares of coffee are planted in Chu Prong, Ia Grai, Dak Doa, Mang Yang and Chu Se districts in Gia Lai Province.

From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

Women wearing conical hats pick tea leaves in an estate where the yellow blossoms of Poinciana trees are in bloom at the Bat Nha Monastery in Dam B'ri District, Bao Loc Town, Lam Dong Province.

From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

Women tend to plants in a flower garden in the southern province of Dong Nai. The yellow chrysanthemum buds and blooms are bought in huge quantities during Tet, or Lunar New Year holiday. Vietnamese people have a long tradition of offering fresh flowers to deities and their ancestors during the holiday when they pray for luck and peace.

Trung said his photos capture just a small slice of the vast beauty of Vietnam.

He said he hopes to show off the country’s beauty to international tourists and promote Vietnam as a friendly, beautiful destination.

From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

Coracles anchored in Binh Thuan Province on the south-central coast where most residents live off fishing.

From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

A herd of buffaloes return home in Duc Hoa District, Long An, a Mekong Delta province.

From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

A girl washes water lilies after harvesting them on a field in Long An Province’s Moc Hoa District.

Water lilies, which blossom during the rainy season, are used for decoration, as floral offerings to deities in temples and pagodas, and to make tea. Their stalks are edible and can be eaten raw with either fermented paste or braised sauce or cooked in sour soups and hotpots.

Water lilies help locals earn an additional income, especially during the flooding season.

Trung said people play an important role in most of his photos. Farmers in the countryside are very friendly and willingly become his “models,” he added.

From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

Farmers wade into a flooded field in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap to harvest water chestnut, an aquatic vegetable that grows in marshes under water. Water chestnut is grown in many countries for its edible corm, and it is a common ingredient in Chinese dishes such as water chestnut cakes.

From a height, Vietnamese landscapes rise to beauteous highs

The bustling atmosphere of Vi Thanh Market in Hau Giang Province in the early morning.

Located near Cai Nhuc Bridge on Tran Hung Dao Street of Vi Thanh Town, the market has existed for more than 10 years, specializing in local agricultural products.

Vendors often squat or set up small chairs and goods within two to four square meters around themselves. Therefore, it is often dubbed "squatting" market, showcasing a unique Mekong Delta trait.

The market lasts from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m, with the busiest period being from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

 
 
go to top