The photo titled Banh Hoi wins first place in the Champagne Taittinger Food for Celebration category
Dang Hoai Anh, an ENT doctor currently working at Thu Duc General Hospital, took first place in the Champagne Taittinger Food for Celebration category with his photo titled Banh Hoi. The image, captured during a family trip to Phan Thiet over the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30) holiday, shows a shirtless man preparing a traditional Vietnamese dish often served during festivals and ceremonies. Hoai Anh spent more than an hour patiently documenting the moment under the midday sun.
The winning image is part of his photo series Sunlight and Smoke, created in memory of his late grandmother. The collection captures ephemeral moments when light cuts through gentle smoke, evoking a sense of nostalgia and reverence.
Hoai Anh began photography eight years ago while working in the emergency department. Initially using only a smartphone to photograph scenes in Da Lat, he later upgraded to a camera and taught himself through solo photo trips, often riding alone on his motorbike.
Dang Hoai Anh
To date, he has completed nine thematic photo collections, each representing a life lesson or personal reflection. Instead of taking time off to rest, he dedicates holidays and leave days to his photography journeys.
“Photography grounds me. It helps me switch off from overthinking,” Hoai Anh shared. “It keeps me focused, and every decision I make as a doctor now revolves around what’s best for my patients.”
A photo by Hoai Anh's new collection
Before winning Banh Hoi, he had already received several accolades, including: First Prize in Emerging Photographer at Noirfotocontest 2024; Silver Award at Prix de la Photographie 2023; Third Prize in People Category at Chromatic Photography Awards; Honourable Mention at Monochrome Photography Awards; and Bronze Award at Prix de la Photographie 2022.
