On March 8, 2025, the Bach Hoa Bo Hanh event took place for the first time in Southern Vietnam. The event aimed to honor the value of traditional costumes as they were gracefully showcased. Join Fox Spirit as we revisit those beautiful moments through the lens of film photography.
Bach Hoa Bo Hanh – A Journey Honoring Ancient Heritage
Recently, on International Women’s Day, Ho Chi Minh City witnessed the impressive “Bach Hoa Bo Hanh” event in the centre of District 1. This marked a significant milestone, celebrating Vietnamese traditional costumes in the Southern region for the very first time. The event created a distinctive cultural space where patriots gathered to spread positive messages of national pride.
More than just a recreation of traditional values, Bach Hoa Bo Hanh also offered an opportunity for attendees to admire the diverse and intricate beauty of Vietnamese traditional attire. This included the resplendent Nhat Binh robes, the elegant Ao Tac, and the graceful, flowing Ao Dai. It was a stunning picture, evoking a rich tapestry of the nation’s history and culture.
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“Thousands of flowers” celebrated at the Bach Hoa Bo Hanh event (Source: Dung – Nikomat FTN – Film: Lomo ’92 Sunkissed).
Preserving Cultural Heritage at Bach Hoa Bo Hanh Through the Film Lens
Why film? Because Fox Spirit aimed to capture the beautiful moments of Bach Hoa Bo Hanh using cameras steeped in time and film rolls that exude a classic aesthetic. Each frame tells a story, recounting ancient traditions meticulously preserved by our ancestors – a narrative that modern digital cameras can rarely convey with the same depth.
Using a film camera is more than just picking it up and shooting; it demands meticulousness and skill from the “artisan” creating these artworks. Every detail, from measuring light and focusing to adjusting aperture and shutter speed, is a deliberate step. Each photograph is the culmination of patience and intense passion. It’s no exaggeration to liken a film photographer to a “timekeeper.”
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Vietnamese women at the Bach Hoa Bo Hanh event (Source: Dung – Nikomat FTN – Film: Lomo ’92 Sunkissed).
The suspense of waiting for a meticulously shot film photograph to develop into a complete artwork is truly wonderful! It’s the surprise, the awe, and the delight in things you couldn’t know beforehand. This unique quality is why film cameras haven’t been phased out of the photography market to this day.
Every film photo is a story of culture, people, and old memories. Fox Spirit hopes that young people viewing these photos from the Bach Hoa Bo Hanh event will feel deep inspiration for their ancestors’ history, patriotic traditions, and the profound value that film photography brings.
Experiencing Film Photography with Fox Spirit at Bach Hoa Bo Hanh
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The procession at the Bach Hoa Bo Hanh event (Source: Dung – Nikomat FTN – Film: Lomo ’92 Sunkissed).
At the Bach Hoa Bo Hanh event, choosing the ideal film roll to complement the beauty of Vietnamese traditional costumes was an exciting challenge, given the blend of modern and traditional tones. Therefore, a clear understanding of what you wish to convey will enable you to tell your story very “truthfully” through each frame.
So, how do you choose the desired film type? The world of film offers a myriad of colors, from warm to dreamy, depending on the photographer’s intention. If you want a bit of nostalgia and gentle yellow in bright weather, Kodak Ektar 100 or Kodak Gold 200 would be suitable choices. If you prefer cool tones, film rolls like Lomo ‘92 Sunkissed or Kodak Ultramax can meet that expectation.
How do you take a good photo? Whether it’s “good” is up to the photographer’s perception. A photo might be “out of focus” to others, but to you, it’s beautiful, a memory, a keepsake. There’s no precise definition for “good.” But getting a polished photo is not hard. Fox Spirit is always ready to share small “tips” to make your experience more “sparkling”.
If you want to develop your film rolls into negatives yourself, Fox Spirit will also support you. Currently, every Saturday and Sunday, Fox organizes black-and-white film developing workshops – where you can personally carry out each step, from preparing tools to chemical processing,… to “transform” your film roll into complete photographs. This will give you the most genuine and surprising feeling when you receive your finished product. Fox will help you prepare everything; all you need to do is pick up your camera, take beautiful photos, and turn them into your own memories.
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Visitors at the Bach Hoa Bo Hanh event in Vietnamese traditional costumes (Source: Dung – Nikomat FTN – Film: Lomo ’92 Sunkissed).
The fun and uniqueness of film photography are that you never know what the picture will look like. Even when we participated in the Bach Hoa Bo Hanh event, we had to anxiously await the results every day! Each photo must be taken meticulously step by step; if it fails, you’ve essentially “burned” a rather “expensive” amount of money on the film roll, along with the disappointment of receiving a scan that doesn’t meet expectations. That’s why film photography is not for the hasty and requires caution. If you’re ready to immerse yourself in this adventurous world, let Fox Spirit accompany you in preserving the beauty of time!
