Spring dances

THUAN VO, NGUYEN THANH LIEM

After a period of winter dormancy, the cherry blossoms await the spring sunlight and warmth to spread over the highlands, blooming across the hills and mountains. Nature lovers flock to Vietnam’s Central Highlands to admire the vibrant spring hues of the cherry blossom season.

From the town of Mang Den in Kon Tum province to Dalat,  the “cherry blossom capital” of the Central Highlands, vibrant pink cherry trees bloom along the roads, hillsides, and mountain slopes. These flowers are gentle and graceful. Their pink hue heralds spring. The blooming of the cherry blossoms also marks the return of flocks of wild birds, whose songs welcome spring. Spring’s festive dance resonates everywhere.

This season is especially precious for photographers, who chase photos of spring birds and cherry blossoms. Almost every spring, photographer Thuan Vo travels to the Central Highlands to capture images of birds and cherry blossoms. Sometimes, he stays in towns or cities. Other times, he heads to Langbiang Mountain in Lam Dong province, or into the forests to take photographs.

If local news hints that rare birds are back in the blossoming cherry trees, he races off to the Central Highlands. The sight of birds flitting from branch to branch, chirping and playing hide-and-seek amidst the bright canopy sparks his passion, compelling him to capture these moments with his camera.

Heritage Magazine is proud to present a collection of photos of cherry blossoms and wild birds performing their joyful spring dances. Thuan Vo created this photo series over many years.