Vietnamese photographer Khanh Phan won gold at 2020 Tokyo International Foto Awards for her shot of children dancing with gongs in the Central Highlands. 

Her shot titled "Children Dancing with Gongs" was taken in December 2018 at a festival in Gia Lai Province. In the photo, children are happily dancing with gongs at a Jrai ethnic minority festival.

"The children are taught to sing and dance at an early age by their parents and village elders. Despite their youth, they dance like professionals," said the photographer.

Children dance with gongs at a Jrai ethnic minority festival in Gia Lai.
Photo by Khanh Phan.

The gong, a musical instrument native to the Central Highlands, is popular in the five provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong.

UNESCO recognized gong culture in Vietnam's Central Highlands as a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005.

Another of her shots capturing a woman drying fish at Long Hai fish market in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau was also honored in the contest’s advertising category.

A woman dries fish at Long Hai fish market in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Photo by Khanh Phan.

The photo contest attracted thousands of entries from more than 100 countries and territories, covering nine categories including advertising, architecture, books, editorial, events, art, nature, people and science.

Organized by U.S.-based Farmani Group, a leading organization curating and promoting photography, design and architecture, its mission is to reward talented photographers from around the globe and put them in touch with the artistic community in Tokyo, Japan.

Khanh, living in Ho Chi Minh City, has won 30 awards at home and abroad over the past three years. Last year, one of her photos was selected among 50 shortlisted for the Agora award, organized by Agora, a platform for photography lovers worldwide.