Lu Co - The Breath of the Great Forest

The lu co (or guin), also known as "quay tau" in some places, is one of the common tools used in the daily life and production of ethnic minority communities. If you have the opportunity to visit the highlands of Northwest Vietnam, you will easily encounter familiar images of Hmong women carrying lu co on their backs to the market, to the fields, to harvest bamboo shoots, to gather firewood, to catch fish... Especially during indispensable ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, the new rice harvest festival, and the worship of the forest god…

Việt Nam•02/06/2026

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Photo 1. A Hmong village perched on the slopes of Khau Vai mountain, where the Lu Co boats begin their journey from the doorsteps of their homes to the distant fields.

Author HoangThanh Yen submitted her work " Lu Co - The Breath of the Great Forest " to the " Happy Vietnam 2026 " Award .

Location of composition: La Pán Tẩn Village, Púng Luông Commune, Lào Cai Province , Vietnam.

Lu Co - The Breath of the Great Forest - Part 2

Image 2. Ancient bamboo forests are an inexhaustible source of raw materials, providing the most flexible bamboo strips to weave the durable shape of the Lu Co vase, built to last.

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Photo 3. Meticulous and patient, previous generations have diligently passed down weaving techniques, instilling faith in the enduring nature of traditional culture.

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Photo 4. For children in the highlands, the first world they touch is their mother's shoulder, and the rhythm of a lullaby is the sound of their mother's steady footsteps on the steep rocky slopes.

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Photo 5. A basket accompanies a woman to the fields to sow rice seedlings, carrying with it the hope of a bountiful harvest.

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Photo 6. In the twilight, the silhouette of the woman and her basket blends into the curves of the terraced rice fields, creating a beautiful picture of labor.

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Photo 7. A basket laden with golden ears of corn, the fruit of months of hard work under the sun and rain.

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If you enjoy this work, please like, comment, and share to support it via the link below: https://happy.vietnam.vn/happy-vietnam/contest-entry-detail/2260ef6e8f6a4a879438a519cb2b1ff5

The " Happy Vietnam 2026 " award is organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists and Vietnam Television.

The 2026 awards will continue to be held nationwide with two categories: photos and videos .

The submitted works will be judged in two rounds, preliminary and final, by a judging panel comprising reputable experts, journalists, photographers, and filmmakers, ensuring objectivity, transparency, and professional quality.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in the fourth quarter of 2026 in Hanoi and will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television.

Besides the awards ceremony, "Happy Vietnam 2026" also includes a series of large-scale communication activities such as the Happy Vietnam Festival, exhibitions of outstanding works, supporting events in many localities, and promotional activities on domestic and international media platforms…

The submission period for entries is from May 20, 2026 to August 31, 2026. Entries can be submitted online at the website: https://happy.vietnam.vn .

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