Graceful Touch
Quang Phu Cau, near Hanoi, has crafted incense for over a century, with vibrant red sticks creating iconic visuals. Craftspeople skillfully prepare bamboo, dye, and dry the sticks in sunlit displays. In Vietnam, incense holds deep cultural significance, used in religious rituals, ancestor worship, and festivals as a symbol of respect and connection to the spiritual world.
Unfortunately, the village has become a "destination," with busloads of tourists, stands, props, and snacks. Fortunately we convinced guide Trang Nguyen to pose in her ao dai. That, with a ladder, a telephoto lens, and light fill flash, resulted in what I think is a keeper.
Graceful Touch
Quang Phu Cau, near Hanoi, has crafted incense for over a century, with vibrant red sticks creating iconic visuals. Craftspeople skillfully prepare bamboo, dye, and dry the sticks in sunlit displays. In Vietnam, incense holds deep cultural significance, used in religious rituals, ancestor worship, and festivals as a symbol of respect and connection to the spiritual world.
Unfortunately, the village has become a "destination," with busloads of tourists, stands, props, and snacks. Fortunately we convinced guide Trang Nguyen to pose in her ao dai. That, with a ladder, a telephoto lens, and light fill flash, resulted in what I think is a keeper.