HÀ NỘI — A photo collection depicting the Ndam Padhi of ethnic Chăm Bani people in Bình Thuận Province has been awarded the Special Prize – the highest honour of the 2023 Heritage Photo Contest – Journey of Heritages.

Taken by photographer Ngô Quang Phúc, the 10-photo collection is the result of his hard work over three years, from 2019 to 2022 (his creative process was interrupted by the COVID pandemic in 2021).

A significant custom of the Chăm Bani people aiming to pay tribute to their deceased parents, the three-day festival comprises several traditional rituals.

A photo in the wining collection Ndam Padhi Ritual of Chăm Bani People in Ninh Thuận by Ngô Quang Phúc. — Photo courtesy of Heritage magazine

Talking about the reason for capturing the photos, he said: “Having travelled to many places and seeing several ethnic groups being eroded and losing their identities, I wanted to capture the beauty of traditional culture and the heritage that is in danger of disappearing, to preserve it for everyone to learn about.”

The HCM City-based veteran photographer said that since the contest was first launched in 2013, he has entered the event almost every year, but "this is the first time I have won the Special Prize in the ‘Photo Collection’ category.”

Earlier, in 2016, Phúc was awarded the Special Prize for Single Photo for his photo Lễ Hội Voi (The Elephant Festival).

Bóng Biển (Shadow of the Sea) by Nguyễn Hải was given the prize at the Cover Photo category. — Photo courtesy of Heritage magazine

Also in the category ‘Photo Collection’, the first prize was awarded to Báu Vật Truyền Đời Sáp Ong Rừng (The Natural Treasure of Wild Beeswax) by photographer Bằng Cao. The collection showcases the hard work of gathering honey from beehives in the jungle by the Dao Tiền ethnic people in Hoài Khao ancient village in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bằng.

The contest also awarded five other collections, including Hành Trình Đi Tìm Cá Voi Ở Biển Đông Phi (Journey to Find Whales in the East African Sea) by Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện; Nghề Thu Hoạch Rong Mơ Ở Quảng Ngãi (Seaweed Harvest in Quảng Ngãi) by Alex Cao, and Nghề Gốm Không Bàn Xoay Tại Bình Thuận (Pottery Making without Using a Wheel in Bình Thuận) by Nguyễn Quốc Huy.

Photographers Nguyễn Vũ Hậu and his photo collection Lễ Hội Khù Già Già Của Người Hà Nhì, Lào Cai (Khù Già Già Festival of the Ethnic Hà Nhì People in Lào Cai), and Dương Mạnh Khiêm with Bến Nước Trong Đời Sống Các Dân Tộc Tây Nguyên (The Wharfs in the Lives of the Central Highlands Ethnic Groups) also received the prize.

A photo in the collection Lễ Hội Khù Già Già Của Người Hà Nhì, Lào Cai (Khù Già Già Festival of Ethnic Hà Nhì People in Lào Cai) by Nguyễn Vũ Hậu. — Photo courtesy of Heritage magazine

In the Cover Photo category, the judges selected five standout photos to honour. They include Sơn Trà Một Mùa Hoa (Flower Season in Sơn Trà) by Trần Minh Trí, Bóng Biển (Shadow of the Sea) by Nguyễn Hải, Cầu Vàng Đón Ánh Dương (Sunrise on the Golden Bridge) by Nguyễn Tấn Tuấn, Đường Xuyên Đảo Cát Bà (Road Through Cát Bà Island) by Đỗ Bá Hưng, and Mùa Lá Đỏ (The Season of Red Leaves) by Vũ Lâm.

In the Single Photo category, the photo Hạ Cánh (Landing) by Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện, depicting the moment an airplane from the national carrier Vietnam Airlines touches the runway, has been awarded the 'Vietnam Airlines Moment'.

Organised by the national carrier Vietnam Airlines' in-flight magazine, Heritage, the annual Heritage Photo Contest – Journey of Heritages aims to showcase images of Việt Nam’s nature, life, and people.

Heritage magazine has been recognised with the award for 'Asia’s Leading Inflight Magazine' at the World Travel Award 2023, recently held in HCM City. — VNS