In Phu Yen, upon hearing that 3,200 people would form a human flag and map of Vietnam at the Bai Mon - Mui Dien area on the morning of March 29th, Quynh Anh and her husband planned to go there to take wedding photos.
The bride, originally from Gia Lai, told her fiancé that the flag-raising ceremony, along with the natural scenery at Mui Dien and the image of the national map formed by over 3,200 people wearing red shirts with yellow stars during a marathon, would create beautiful photos for their big day and showcase her patriotism.
On March 28th, Quynh Anh and her husband, Quoc Anh, flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Yen. To arrive at Mui Dien before sunrise, they, along with their photographer and makeup artist, traveled to Vung Ro at 3:30 AM. The entire group then climbed for another 30 minutes to reach a vantage point offering a panoramic view of the flag-raising ceremony.
As dawn broke, the sight of the large, vibrant red Vietnamese flag and map on Bai Mon beach astonished the entire crew. Photographs of the bride and groom saluting the flag were quickly taken. As the national anthem played, they stood solemnly, singing it with pride.
"Initially, I thought this was just a rehearsal and probably wouldn't be elaborate or spectacular, but because I like the Vietnamese flag, I decided to come and take pictures. However, the scene before me was so overwhelming and sacred that I was moved to tears," Quỳnh Anh recounted.
Bride Quynh Anh and groom Quoc Anh pose for photos during the flag-raising ceremony at Bai Mon, Phu Yen, on the morning of March 29th. Photo: Provided by the couple.
Phan Gia Thuan, the photographer who took the photos for Quynh Anh, said this was his first time photographing and witnessing such a grand flag-raising ceremony.
"The moment the Vietnamese flag was slowly raised alongside a map of the homeland created by thousands of people was indescribable. Not only the bride and groom, but I myself felt happy to have created a photo that captured both the happiness of the couple and national pride," said Thuan.
The crew started shooting at 5:30 AM, intending to continue until noon. However, because it's the easternmost point of the country, the sun rose quickly and was quite sunny, causing the shoot to end at 9:30 AM.
According to the plan, after the photoshoot, Quynh Anh and Quoc Anh were going to compete in the 21km race of the Tien Phong Marathon, having pursued running for four years. However, the photoshoot in the hot weather combined with waking up early to travel made it difficult for them to cope. The couple had to cancel their plans and rescheduled for other races in the future.
Bride Quynh Anh and groom Quoc Anh pose under the Vietnamese flag at Bai Mon beach, Phu Yen province, on the morning of March 29. Photo: Phan Gia Thuan
Quynh Anh and Quoc Anh both work in Ho Chi Minh City. They met during a mountain climbing training session in early 2021. Because they shared a love for outdoor activities like mountain climbing, running, and archery, Quoc Anh took the initiative to pursue her and received her acceptance after a year.
"For us, running helps relieve stress, is a way to understand ourselves better, to know our limits and endurance," Quynh Anh said. She also mentioned that she and her fiancé have participated in three or four short-distance races. For this race in Phu Yen, they registered for the 21km distance but haven't been able to complete it yet, despite preparing physically for almost a year.
Quynh Anh and Quoc Anh participated in many running races in 2023. Photo: Provided by the subjects.
On April 21st, the couple will participate in the VnExpress Marathon held in Hue, and a week later they will hold their engagement ceremony in their hometowns in Gia Lai and Dong Thap .
"I hope that the two of us will always hold hands and conquer new paths together," Quynh Anh said.
Quynh Nguyen
Source
Comment (0)