From natural disasters to political summits, Vietnam’s photojournalists brave floods, heatwaves, and long waits to deliver powerful images that shape the national conversation.
Across Vietnam, photojournalists shoulder dozens of kilograms of gear, sprint across event grounds, and endure all weather conditions to bring breaking visuals to audiences nationwide. Whether they’re waiting at summits, navigating floodwaters, or staking out airfields, their mission is the same - deliver the shot that defines the story.
One iconic image of the profession is young and middle-aged men with one to three cameras slung across their bodies. They throw themselves into the fray with unwavering spirit, determined to produce the highest-quality photojournalism possible. Some endure immense weight and awkward gear setups just to capture that one frame that says it all.
On-location under pressure
At major events, journalists crowd into pre-designated zones, jostling for the best vantage points. For example, during the US-North Korea summit in Hanoi in February 2019, photographers waited for hours for just one significant moment. Similar pressure arises during diplomatic ceremonies like the welcome for Chinese President Xi Jinping at Noi Bai Airport in December 2023.
Outside political affairs, these journalists also document parliamentary sessions, state funerals - like that of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2024 - and countless other milestones. They sprint ahead of processions, crouch for the perfect angle, and adapt to the demands of every setting.
Beyond the city, into the wild
When disasters strike, journalists plunge into flooded provinces and remote mountains. During the September 2024 landslide in Nam Buong village (Ha Giang), which claimed five lives, journalist Tuan Huy trudged through thick mud for on-site coverage. Similarly, in 2018, reporter Viet Hung hiked four kilometers through forests to document a deadly landslide in Lai Chau, capturing raw tragedy before getting stuck in the mud himself.
Others, like Tuan Anh and Toan Vu, braved floods during September 2024’s Typhoon Yagi, sustaining injuries or relying on locals for evacuation. In Ninh Binh’s Kênh Gà village, reporters even traveled by boat to report on submerged homes and isolated communities.
Moments behind the lens
Some assignments require days of strategic waiting. During the 2019 summit, photographers with ultra-telephoto lenses camped near Noi Bai Airport to snap military aircraft arrivals. Elsewhere, journalists cover economic zones, cultural events, and sports, all while enduring extreme heat and exhaustion.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, press photographers joined frontline medical staff. Many, like reporters Manh Quan, Giang Huy, and Viet Linh in Bac Giang (June 2021), were physically spent from covering hospitals and lockdown zones.
Even in routine coverage - such as climbing onto trucks to document rice exports in Hai Phong under 36°C heat - reporters demonstrate unrelenting effort. Their presence on new expressways or among flood-evacuated communities ensures that stories from every corner reach national headlines.
A familiar sight: journalists with multiple cameras sprinting between scenes.
They throw themselves into the field with a mindset of doing their absolute best to produce high-quality photojournalism. Many photographers willingly carry heavy, bulky gear - whatever it takes to capture the perfect shot. Photo: PVA Club.At major events, it's common to see large clusters of journalists gathered at designated media zones arranged by the organizers. Reporters must arrive early to secure optimal spots, directing their attention toward the stage or main platform -and wait. Photo: Hoang Ha.Journalists waited for hours on the sidelines of the US-North Korea Summit in Hanoi in late February 2019. It was one of many events where the press endured great hardships for just a single critical photo. Photo: Hoang Ha.At diplomatic events, journalists must arrive hours in advance for security screening. Pictured: Noi Bai Airport during the welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping in December 2023. Photo: Hoang Ha.Covering both major and minor national events is considered the most fulfilling part of the job for many photographers - yet they also take on assignments across multiple fields. Pictured: Journalists at the sidelines of the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly. Photo: Hoang Ha. "Eat well, carry heavy gear, sprint ahead of the subject" is the mantra of news photographers. Pictured: photographers Manh Quan and Minh Hoang during the funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2024. Photo: PVA Club.Crawling, crouching, and improvising workspaces are trademarks of the press corps. Steps, tree roots - anywhere can become a desk for editing and sending news. Photo: Hoang Ha.
Wading through mud and trekking kilometers to reach disaster scenes is routine for journalists covering current affairs in Vietnam's mountainous north. Pictured: reporter Tuan Huy working through the mud in Nam Buong village, Bac Quang District, Ha Giang during a landslide that left five dead or missing (September 29, 2024). Photo: PVA Club.Reporter Viet Hung on assignment in Noong Heo, Sin Ho District, Lai Chau in June 2018. A landslide hundreds of meters long had occurred along Huoi Em stream, leaving 25 dead or missing. Hung trekked 4km through forest, arriving just as villagers were carrying out a recovered body. He snapped photos immediately but got stuck in the mud and needed local assistance. Photo: Pham Truong.Photo of reporter Tuan Anh wading through floodwaters from the Ca Lo River that inundated a residential area in Trang Viet commune, Me Linh District on September 11, 2024, during flooding caused by Typhoon Yagi. Photo: Lam Thanh.Reporter Toan Vu injured his foot on a shard of glass while working in floodwaters during a Chương Mỹ (Hanoi) flood. He had to be carried out by a colleague and taken to a nearby home for help. Photo: PVA Club.Reporter Huu Khoa entering an isolated area of Thai Nguyen City during floods in September 2024 caused by Typhoon Yagi. He later immersed himself in water to capture images of police officers harvesting rice to help residents escape the flood. Photo: HKCC.
Heavy rains raised the water level of the Hoang Long River, submerging many homes in Kenh Ga village, Gia Thinh commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh. Life was disrupted, with power and water outages. Pictured: reporters Phan Tuan Anh (left) and Minh Duc using a boat to access submerged villages in September 2024. Photo: AD.In many incidents, journalists had to walk through over 20cm of mud, often losing shoes just to capture the right moment. Photo: Hoang Anh.
Journalist Le Quang Trung rented a motorbike to reach a village isolated by floodwaters in Ha Tinh after a storm (October 2010), only to find no visible path left. Photo: Hoang Ha.
A time-consuming task: photographers must camp out for hard-to-access shots. In such cases, they remain at fixed locations for days, carrying bulky gear including super-telephoto lenses and ladders. One such moment was capturing US military aircraft landing at Noi Bai International Airport ahead of the 2019 US-North Korea Summit. Photo: PVA Club.The COVID-19 pandemic also saw journalists on the frontlines. Reporters covering current affairs, healthcare, and education worked side by side with doctors, medical staff, and volunteers. Photo: Le Anh Dung.Reporters Manh Quan, Giang Huy, and Viet Linh exhausted after covering the COVID-19 outbreak in Bac Giang in June 2021. Photo: PVA Club.Facing daily rainstorms is routine for photojournalists. At the 70th anniversary celebration of the Dien Bien Phu Victory on May 7, 2024, photographers shielded their expensive gear - each camera setup worth hundreds of millions of VND. Photo: Nam Nguyen.Besides event coverage, photojournalists also report on economics, culture, society, and sports. Photo: Hoang Ha.Two journalists climb a truck to photograph Vietnam’s rice exports at a factory in Hai Phong under 36°C heat. Photo: Tuan Anh.VietNamNet reporter covering the nearly completed Van Don - Mong Cai expressway. Photo: Quoc Tuan.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
