Bui Xuan Viet, a photographer from southern Dong Nai Province, has spent years traveling across Vietnam documenting the country's most breathtaking sunrises. Driven by his fascination with the dramatic contrast and vibrant colors that emerge when night transitions to day, Viet has made it his mission to capture the essence of Vietnamese landscapes and people through the golden hour. For him, every photograph tells a unique story that goes beyond mere visual appeal.
One of his most memorable experiences began in September 2019 in Lao Chai Town, located in the remote mountainous region of Lao Cai Province. Despite the village's isolation and lack of modern amenities, Viet was welcomed with extraordinary hospitality by a local family who invited him to share a meal and adamantly refused any payment for their kindness. This encounter, set against the backdrop of a stunning sunrise, exemplifies the human connections that have enriched his photographic journey.
Viet's dedication to his craft often requires precise timing and extensive preparation. In Sa Pa Town during December 2019, he captured the ethereal beauty of oolong tea hills at dawn during cherry blossom season. To ensure he didn't miss the fleeting blooms, he meticulously followed travel groups for updates and rushed to photograph the flowers before they faded. His commitment to documenting these ephemeral moments demonstrates the level of planning required for successful sunrise photography.
The photographer's artistic vision extends beyond landscape photography to capturing intimate human moments. In August 2019, while photographing Ngai Thau Ha Village in Lao Cai Province, Viet observed smoke rising from a house, creating beautiful rays of light. Initially, the composition felt incomplete and emotionally vacant. "Suddenly, a mother and child walked hand in hand into the scene, and the gift I received was this photograph," he recalls, highlighting how patience and serendipity often combine to create powerful imagery.
Viet's ambitious goal is to complete a comprehensive sunrise series spanning all of Vietnam. This nationwide project has taken him to diverse locations, from the terraced rice fields of Hoang Su Phi Town in Tuyen Quang Province, where he photographed from a hillside homestay specifically built for panoramic views in September 2022, to coastal regions where dramatic seascapes provide entirely different photographic challenges.
However, nature doesn't always cooperate with his artistic vision. During a week-long trip to Chu Va village in Lai Chau Province in September 2020, persistent rain clouded his entire visit. Rather than abandon his mission, Viet adapted to the circumstances by staying with local residents and joining them for daily fishing expeditions while patiently waiting for the sun to reappear. These setbacks have taught him resilience and flexibility in his craft.
Some locations have proven particularly challenging despite multiple attempts. In Cao Bang City, Viet managed to capture only one satisfactory sunrise photograph across three separate visits in October 2020. The sunrises in both Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces have left profound impressions on him, yet he remains unsatisfied with his captures from these regions. "The weather hasn't been on my side, so I hope next time I can try again without regret," he reflects on these ongoing challenges.
Coastal photography presents its own unique set of obstacles and rewards. At Rai Cave in Khanh Hoa Province, a popular destination among photographers, Viet discovered that success depends entirely on natural timing rather than finding the perfect angle. During his January 2018 visit, he learned that the most dramatic views occur from November to February when waves reach their peak strength. At low tide during sunrise, the stone shelf emerges while waves crash over its surface, creating a waterfall effect as water cascades back into the sea under the morning light.
Extreme weather conditions have both hindered and enhanced his work. On Phu Quy Island in January 2021, Viet endured gales gusting at approximately 70 kilometers per hour that left both passengers and crew members severely seasick during the boat journey. Despite the physical exhaustion and challenging conditions, he acknowledges that "the storm gave me the shots I wanted," demonstrating how adverse weather can sometimes produce the most spectacular photographic opportunities.
Technical precision and early morning dedication are essential components of Viet's methodology. At Co Thach, located 100 kilometers from Phan Thiet Province, he photographed a moss-covered beach at dawn in February 2020. He advises that visitors must wake by 5 a.m. to capture the optimal lighting conditions at this location. Similarly, at Klong Klanh Pass, 50 kilometers from Da Lat City, he departed at 2:30 a.m. to photograph the sunrise over a sea of clouds, which required very specific meteorological conditions: recent rainfall followed by sunshine, cool nights to generate mist, and sufficient wind to maintain cloud formations.
Viet's photographic journey continues as he works toward completing his comprehensive nationwide sunrise project. His experiences range from the highlands of Da Sar Town in Lam Dong Province, where he added another dawn to his collection in November 2018, to countless other locations across Vietnam's diverse geographical landscape. Throughout this ongoing endeavor, he maintains that the fundamental challenge remains constant: finding the perfect angle at the right location and time while hoping that weather conditions will cooperate with his artistic vision.
