Pham Xuan Quy brought a camera and mini printer to start his journey through Vietnam, this is also the 7th time he has returned to the northern mountainous region.
After more than a year of the Covid-19 epidemic affecting life more or less, Pham Xuan Quy suddenly realized that it was necessary to cherish youth, go out to experience more, instead of being tied to the worry of “rice and money”. Therefore, he decided to resign from the position of manager of a movie theater in Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), buy a camera and start trips, from April 2020.
5,000 highland photos
Moc Chau (Son La), Tram Tau, Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai), Y Ty, Bac Ha (Lao Cai), Meo Vac, Dong Van (Ha Giang)… are the first places you think of when start the journey. The pristine mountain scenery, peaceful houses in the village, especially the rustic people, according to him, are the attraction for him to come back many times.
Wherever he goes, he also spends time chatting, capturing images of the life, work, and smiles of upland people, especially children. During the trip across Vietnam, he spent 8 days in Ha Giang, of which 6 days was on Tham Ma slope to make friends with the elderly and children. During 7 journeys, he took more than 5,000 photos and printed more than 500 portraits to give back to the people.
Quy said he did not take photography classes, but tried his best to capture the most natural moments and expressions of children. Because the children can’t speak Kinh, he also learned some basic sentences like “Hello”, “What’s your name”, “Laugh up”… in H’Mong.
“The children in the highlands have an innocent smile and a very cute shy expression. It doesn’t matter what I capture, just chatting, giving small gifts, bringing smiles and joy is just a matter of time. enough,” he said. The trip images are also regularly posted by him on tour groups and some photo exhibitions, with the hope that tourists will come to the highlands, not only to discover the beautiful scenery of the country, but also to help their lives. Living here is better.
Stories after the journey of the Northeast and Northwest
Quy shared that even though he is from the South, he feels he is himself when he comes to the highlands of the North, rides between the winding passes, enjoys specialties of thang co, men men… Especially What I love most about this land is the people.
During a trip in May 2020, when stopping at a drink shop in Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai), Quy accidentally forgot his camera. When he returned to search the next morning and found no salesman here, he thought the worst-case scenario would be to lose his camera and be forced to end the journey early. However, the people around were very enthusiastic to ask and help him. The water vendor seemed to be waiting for him to come, as soon as Quy got to the door, she immediately recognized it and went in to get the machine intact for him. I found out that she was a teacher, selling water at night to earn extra income.
Or another time while driving to Ban Mu (Tram Tau district, Yen Bai), due to heavy rain and narrow roads, too much mud, gravel, Quy lost control, causing both people and cars to drift in the direction of the cliff. At this time, there were 3 women going to the forest to hear his cry for help, so they climbed down the cliff, grabbed a rope to pull him and the car up. “At that time, I thought I was dead, fortunately, my sisters helped. When I offered to give them all the cash I had, everyone smiled and shook their heads in denial. Just think about it every time. I’m very touched,” he said.
During the journey, he also received a lot of sharing and help from the highlanders such as inviting him to drink water and have lunch, even though he only had meals with salt when he went to work in the field. The children and the elderly, when receiving the portrait he gave, were extremely excited, talking and laughing.
“Their lives are still difficult, the children after school go back to selling goods to their parents, the old people don’t have good enough food, but the smile is always bright, this also spreads love and positivity Come to me,” he said. As soon as the epidemic is under control, he will return to Ha Giang again, bringing a gift, this time not only photos but also hairpins, school supplies… for the children here. Follow vnexpress
Photo: NVCC