Vietnam's aerial photo honored at international prize

THE HANOI TIMES — A stunning aerial photograph of Vietnam’s countryside earned a spot in the prestigious publication of the 2025 International Aerial Nature Photography Awards, being among the finalist entries.

Taken by Indian photographer Dipanjan Pal during his visit to Vietnam, the photo, titled "Carpet," depicts workers harvesting sedge grass, an essential material for traditional Vietnamese mats. According to Forbes magazine, the workers appear to be "gliding across a soft, verdant carpet."

Vietnam’s presence in the competition highlights the country’s natural beauty, proving that even familiar landscapes can inspire awe when seen from above.

The International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest celebrates breathtaking perspectives captured from above and offers fresh, often surreal, views of the world. This year's contest attracted over 1,500 submissions from around the world, showcasing everything from wildlife to fairy-tale landscapes.

Finalists, including picturesque scenes from Vietnam, were selected by a professional jury. Only the top 101 finalists, who scored at least 86.67 points, were featured in the award book.

These awards highlight the growing global fascination with aerial imagery and its power to redefine our perspective on the world.

Steidle emphasized the untapped potential of aerial photography, calling it a gateway to "unique subjects and moments" that "stay away from the ordinary".

The competition’s rules required all submissions to be captured by humans, barring AI-generated content. Other notable winners included Daniel Vine Garcia from Spain (second place) and David Swindler from the United States (third place), as well as special category honorees for black-and-white, drone, and abstract photography.