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Born and raised in Tay Ninh, photographer Nguyen Hai Trieu has always felt that his homeland is a fertile land of unique festivals and a distinctly different culture. The photo series he has painstakingly captured over the years is a journey of preserving memories and spreading that beauty – a Tay Ninh rich in identity, where daily life and spiritual beliefs intertwine to create unique cultural slices.
Dancing with Bodhi leaves on Ba Den Mountain
Hai Trieu shared: “I have always felt that my hometown holds many unique cultural values. I want to capture as many images as possible of the people and festivals of Tay Ninh – so that these beautiful aspects are not only preserved in the memories of the locals, but also reach international friends.”
The photo collection spans the rhythm of life in Tay Ninh through various festivals throughout the year: from the Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival – where tens of thousands flock for pilgrimage – to the traditional Khmer New Year, along with long-standing traditional craft villages such as incense making, rice paper making, and piggy bank making… It is not just a snapshot of time but also embodies reverence for working people and folk beliefs.
Tay Ninh impresses not only with its picturesque landscapes and rich local cuisine, but also as the birthplace of Cao Dai – a unique religion deeply imbued with national spirit. This profound connection to the land has fostered in its people a deep understanding of traditional values, while simultaneously nurturing a quiet but enduring pride in their homeland.
For Hai Trieu, photography isn't about seeking novelty in distant lands, but about understanding and appreciating the things closest to us. Amidst the glorious summer, when Tay Ninh is in its festival season and the rice fields shimmer with golden sunlight, his photo series is a sincere invitation: come, listen, and feel the land of the Southeast region through the lens of a local.
The traditional potato flour making village in Hoa Thanh
The photo collection chronicles the rhythm of life in Tay Ninh through the various festival seasons of the year.
