Hai completed her trip to Madagascar in early November, spending over VND100 million ($3,936). This marked the culmination of her dream to visit the island nation. Having already traveled to Namibia, Kenya, and South Africa, she had long aspired to see Madagascar’s iconic baobab trees and lemurs, species listed as endangered.
This is an aerial view of a baobab forest, set against the backdrop of Madagascar's red grasslands.
Belonging to the genus Adansonia, baobab trees include eight distinct species found in Australia, Africa, Southwest Asia, and Madagascar. One hypothesis for their wide distribution is that baobabs existed before the supercontinent Pangea split apart.
"The baobab trees left me in awe the first time I saw them," Hai said.
Baobab trees can live up to 3,000 years. As they age, their trunks decay from the inside until they collapse.
Hai noted that baobab trees are visible almost everywhere in Madagascar, from small saplings to mature giants reaching heights of 30 meters, with trunks as wide as a bus.
One surprise was encountering dwarf baobabs, a peculiar variation of the species with unique shapes.
Locals explained that while the fungus creates striking patterns, it does not harm mature trees. However, adverse environmental conditions could make the trees more vulnerable.
Thanks to favorable weather, Hai captured nighttime shots of the Milky Way, framed by baobab trees.
"It was incredible to see thousands of stars in the natural setting," she said.
Hai's favorite spot on her journey was the Avenue of the Baobabs, a famous road in western Madagascar lined with Adansonia grandidieri trees.
According to World Atlas, these 30-meter-high baobabs are remnants of an ancient rainforest. Over time, the forest was cleared for agriculture, leaving the baobabs preserved by locals for their cultural and economic value. Today, the Avenue is a major tourist attraction that supports the region's tourism industry.
"The dwarf baobab area had fewer visitors, so it was easy to take photos from any angle. But the Avenue was crowded with people, especially at sunrise," Hai remarked.
The trip became even more memorable for Hai when she encountered sifaka lemurs, an endemic species and a symbol of Madagascar. They are known for their dance-like movements when walking on the ground.
She also photographed the ring-tailed lemurs, recognizable by their black-and-white striped tails. Hai noted that the lemurs were quite accustomed to humans and would often come to the ground in search of food, making it easy to capture their photos.
Hai acknowledged that her Madagascar trip was a remarkable experience but not without its challenges. The harsh weather, rough roads, and constant travel took a toll on her as an older traveler. Despite this, she felt pride when looking back at the photos she captured and adding Madagascar to her travel map before turning 70.
