TOURIST FAVOURITE - Đà Lạt, a tourist city located in the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) region, is beautiful through the eyes of Giản Thanh Sơn. Photo courtesy of the artist.

HCM CITY — The mountainous tourist city of Đà Lạt is captured in a collection of aerial photos by veteran photographer and journalist Giản Thanh Sơn. 

The photos were taken during Sơn’s 12-hour flight, from Long An Province to Đà Lại, on a Mi-171 Helicopter of the Air Division 917 in January. 

These works portray the beauty of Đà Lạt, located in the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) province of Lâm Đồng. It spans 394sq.km and has a population of about 260,000 from many ethnic groups.

Last year, the city launched many cultural activities to celebrate the 130th anniversary of its establishment (1893 – 2023).

Each photo is lively and brings viewers a feeling that Đà Lạt is so close to them that they can just open a door, and see, touch and feel it.  

Forests, farms, lakes, buildings and houses are captured beautifully through the eyes of the artist. 

LOVELY ĐÀ LẠT - The resort city of Đà Lạt, with its landscapes of mountains, waterfalls, pine hills and lakes, are captured in aerial photos by veteran photographer and journalist Giản Thanh Sơn. Photo courtesy of the artist.

 “I hope my photos of Đà Lạt will help to spread love for the city,” said 67-year-old Sơn, who is a professional in aerial photography. 

Sơn said he is working to exhibit his latest aerial photos in Đà Lạt next month as his thanks to the city and its people.

Sơn is a member of the Việt Nam Journalists Association and Việt Nam Lawyers Association. As a journalist for 45 years, he has travelled to 60 countries and territories, and participated in many United Nations conferences and summits.

Sơn has set four national records recognised by the Vietnam Books of Records for photography. 

He released several photo books featuring Việt Nam, its culture and lifestyle. 

FROM ABOVE - Veteran photographer and journalist Giản Thanh Sơn (right) is a professional in aerial photography. Photo courtesy of the artist.

 Đà Lạt and other localities in Tây Nguyên are home to the culture of cồng chiêng (gongs), recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity in November 2005.

The city welcomed about 153,000 tourist arrivals from February 8 to 12 for the first five days of the Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday, an increase of 22.4% year on year, reported the municipal People’s Committee. — VNS