The images of Cham ethnic women in traditional clothing and the endless sand dunes in Ninh Thuan Province have been captured spectacularly by Saigon lensman Nguyen Tan Tuan. 

Tuan shot around the Nam Cuong sand dunes in the south-central coastal province under a dawn sky that was a riot of orange, red and yellow, capturing the play of light and shadows.

He calls the photo series ‘Harvesting moon on sand dunes’.

The dunes are in Tuan Tu Village in Ninh Phuoc District’s An Hai Commune, eight kilometers from Phan Rang Town - Thap Cham.

Cham women playing with sand.

Nam Cuong sand dunes has long been a favorite destination for tourists and photographers because of its breathtaking images.

The shape and size of the sand dunes change by the hour depending on the strength and direction of the wind, constantly offering photographers fresh angles.

Nam Cuong is spread over 700 hectares, with dunes of 20 - 30 meters high, though occasionally they can tower 100 meters.

Cham ethnic women in traditional costumes walk across the sand dunes.

Tuan said he visited Nam Cuong in June, a time when the moon sets at 6 a.m.

Photographers can ask locals to perform for the camera, and get children to run in the sand and women walk carrying ceramic pots on their heads or with a unique net used to catch small fish.

During the last week of the lunar month, the moon rises at midnight and becomes fullest and sets at dawn.

The shadows of some Cham women stretch across the dunes.

A Cham woman said: "We hope to add color to life and highlight the culture of the Cham people through the 'Moon harvesting' photos. We enjoy doing this and got many costumes and acting props so that the photos would turn out great."