Le Bich is a seasoned photo reporter who has for many years collaborated with tourist journals such as Wanderlust , Travellive. Vietnam Airlines inflight magazine Heritage. To him, photographing relics has become a natural passion, especially after long ramblings in the countryside, busying himself with village wells and craftsmens tales.
To date, Le Bich has already hoarded a sizable collection and held five personal exhibitions, all on the theme of heritage, including ‘The carriers of the cream of Hanoi’,‘Vietnam’s traditional trade villages’ (in Mozambique), ‘Trade villages in spring’, ‘The soul keepers of mid-autumn’, and most recently, ‘Colors of life’.
The really remarkable quality in Le Bich’s photos is the natural order of the stories behind each and every picture. Hidden in them is the cherished ideal of the photographer-artist dedicated to capture those stories and more in his photos. ‘Without being photographed in the journalistic style, maybe someday nobody will get to know about them.’
A few minutes talking to Le Bich is enough to get an impression of a passionate photographer, very sensitive about simple, small, old things, from the village wells that have become nothing but symbols, to the few remaining artisans who make traditional mid-autumn toys for children, to rustic women in the craftsman workshops, exhausted but oozing life.
Asked why he chose photography, Le Bich said that as a young man, he didn’t love it that much. Having graduated from the University of Foreign Languages, Le Bich worked for a foreign company and moved up to a managerial position. It took quite some time before he finally realized his real destiny. It was even harder to start over again. But then, what is the value that lasts? To him, it was photography.
This story is from the October - November 2018 edition of Vietnam Heritage.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October - November 2018 edition of Vietnam Heritage.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TYPICAL TRADE VILLAGES GOING “EXTINCT”?
Ha Thai Village of Thuong Tin District of Hanoi started its traditional paint trade in the 17th century. In the 30s of last century, the paint village of Ha Thai learned polishing techniques and the use of materials such as egg shell and snail. It was during this time that elder Dinh Van Thanh of Thai Ha Village was invited to an exposition in France to demonstrate the art of lacquer painting.
Tourism remains far away from Hue village's reach
Villagers in the 550-year-old Phuoc Tich Village on the outskirts of former imperial Hue City have dreamed of bumper tourism in the village for 10 years, but their dreams have yet to come to fruition.
Traditional wedding of the White Yao people
Having a son coming of age, a White Yao family begins selecting a wife for him among the White Yao young girls in the same hamlet or one nearby.
Xin Man at a glance
In April, the last fiery flowers of the cotton trees spark on mountain slopes. With the long-brewing desire inside to conquer the scenic tourist path from Bac Ha (Lao Cai) to Xin Man, the most desolate highland district of Ha Giang Province, we hit the road on a beautiful weekend.
Silver carving by Po Ho Creek
Following the tunes (“Spring comes to Muong Hum hamlet high up the mountains with heart-rocking distant singing…” ) of talented composer Nguyen Tai Tue, we come to Seo Po Ho hamlet to visit Red Yao artisans diligently blowing life into silver, creating wonders of sophisticated craftsmanship, worthily contributing to the cultural traditions of their tribe.
The fabulous Phu Tho tea hills
Today’s Phu Tho Province was the land chosen by Hung Kings, the first rulers of Vietnam, to be their capital. Considered the cradle of the Viet people, this area still preserves the temples of Hung Kings and many other historical relics such as pagodas and shrines.
Bridges that distill the love of the native land
Every Vietnamese has a bridge to be nostalgic about.
EXPLORING PU MAT CONSERVATION ZONE
Pu Mat National Park belongs to Nghe An Province. At 93,113 ha, it is the only remaining primeval forest in Northern Vietnam.
Cultural touches grieve locals of the royal city
Culture has served as the most sensitive part to Hue natives and they are always ready to fight for the cultural values that have existed in a long period of time in this former imperial capital city.
A DIVINE FLAGPOLE OF THE VIETNAMESE
Lung Cu Peak of Dragon Mountain, rises 1470m above sea level and belongs to Lung Cu Commune, Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province. Sharing a border with China, this mountain has witnessed the long history of the Vietnamese fighting against foreign aggressors. That is why Lung Cu is considered a sacred place of the Vietnamese people.
