Terrace rice paddy photo among the best in Nat Geo contest

A photo of terraced rice fields by photographer Nguyen Quynh Anh has been named among the top photographs in the evaluation round of the 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest.
Terrace rice paddy photo among the best in Nat Geo contest ảnh 1Terrace paddies in North Vietnam by Nguyen Quynh Anh. (Photo: nationalgeographic.com)

A photo of terraced rice fields by photographer Nguyen Quynh Anh has been named among the top photographs in the evaluation round of the 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest.

The photo depicts terraced rice paddies in Tu Le Valley, northern Yen Bai province at the beginning of the new season with the H’mong people crossing on their way home at the end of their work day.

The annual contest is accepting entries from all around the world between September 1 and November 16 this year, classifying them into three official categories – People, Places and Nature.

The entries selected in the evaluation round will proceed to round two where the judges will select a first place winner in each category based on the following criteria: creativity, photographic quality and ingenuity and authenticity of the content.

The first place winner in each category will receive 2,500 USD and the wining photographs will be published in an edition of the National Geographic magazine.

The mountainous Yen Bai province is home to thousands of hectares of terrace rice fields, which were recognised as national heritage sites in 2007. The area is about 1,000 metres above sea level, making it impossible to grow rice fields as they are in the delta. Thus, local residents grow their own rice on terraced fields to prevent the water from flowing downhill.

Terraced fields in Yen Bai are beautiful all year round. Visitors in March are treated to the sight of glittering ponds before locals transplant rice seedlings from April to May. After May, the hills are covered in green until the fields start to turn yellow with ripe rice in early September.

During the harvest in October, the golden rice field stands out of green forests, creating a magnificent picture in Vietnam’s northern area.-VNA

VNA

See more

The five-year pact can be automatically extended for another five years. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, France step up sport cooperation

The cooperation agreement outlines several key initiatives, including regular training programmes in sports nutrition and psychology, sharing of advanced technological applications, and athlete performance evaluation methods.

A performance by Choeur Tim choir at Vietnam cultural night in Versailles. (Photo: VNA)

French choir revives Vietnamese folk music

Choeur Tim choir, a group of young singers from France’s Versailles city, is captivating audiences with their passionate renditions of Vietnamese folk music, bringing the rich musical heritage of Vietnam to life in Paris and far beyond.

A performance at the gathering held by the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Macau on February 9 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese expats uphold national traditions in Macau

The growing Vietnamese presence in Macau in recent years is driven by the development of the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China, including Macau, according to President of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Macau Duong Trung Duc.

Bat Trang ceramic products not only serve people in their daily life, but also have high aesthetic value thanks to the amazing craftsmanship and artisans' creativity. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Hanoi’s craft villages to make entry into global creative network

This achievement reinforces Hanoi’s position on the world cultural map while opening new opportunities for the villages to enhance their competitive edge, preserve traditional values, expand market reach, bolster international cultural exchange, and foster sustainable development.

Weightlifter Pham Thi Hong Thanh targets a gold at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. (Photo courtesy of Hong Thanh)

Athletes setting high goals for 2025

Athletes and coaches across national training centres have returned to intensive training, preparing for strong performances in 2025’s international competitions.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and overseas Vietnamese in Singapore at the Chingay Parade 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese in Singapore join Chingay Parade 2025

The Vietnamese community in Singapore showcased culinary delights such as pho (noodle soup with beef or chicken), banh mi (bread), and banh trang (rice paper) at the Chingay Parade 2025 on February 7-8.