VI
EN
HaiLeCao, whose real name is Le Cao Hai (37 years old), is a freelance photographer who lives and works primarily in Hanoi. Currently, he is taking a break in Hai Phong. To satisfy his passion for photography, he occasionally takes his camera and travels throughout the "city of red flamboyant flowers," capturing scenes of daily life and sharing them with fellow photography enthusiasts on social media.
One of HaiLeCao's most impressive recent works is his photo series of Do Son beach.
According to HaiLeCao's description, if Hai Phong is likened to a stylish, smooth, fair-skinned city girl, then Do Son is like a country girl, toiling year-round, her pure and charming beauty obscured by the dust of alluvial soil.
Do Son doesn't have crystal-clear blue waters, white sand, or romantic coconut groves. Instead, it's covered in a humble color, imbued with the scent of alluvial soil, which somewhat diminishes its initial appeal. One must slow down and savor the experience to truly appreciate its unique beauty.
“The beauty of Do Son lies in its rustic, peaceful charm, the salty scent of the sea, and the simple lifestyle of the fishermen along the coast. It's the way the female traders carry their baskets to collect goods, waiting in an orderly and harmonious manner, without rushing, as if it were a long-established habit. It's the security guard leisurely serving tea and refreshments instead of shouting and yelling at people about traffic etiquette. It's the locals leisurely fishing and gathering shellfish from the rocks at dawn to provide themselves with a change of pace for a meal; for them, it's not simply about gathering food, but also about meeting friends and neighbors, sharing stories about family and life, with every woman smiling broadly,” HaiLeCao shared.
