“When I was eight years old, I left my motherland and a piece of me behind. Growing up as a Vietnamese refugee, I felt a deep wound that ached whenever something reminds me of my country as I know I’ve left it too far behind. Drawn from the yearning memories of heartache and triumph, of struggle and perseverance, and of loss and fulfilment, my photography strive to comfort and share the passion that has fostered me throughout my life.
My photography embraces my heritage, a remembrance of my roots and aims to preserve the beauty of my culture. Photography is the channel through which I connect my lost childhood to my existence and to tell the stories that we might all share. For me, it has made the intangible tangible and the unseen visible, and at times, offers comfort in the seemingly unbearable. It is my form of healing, and through my work, I share my journey through this trying and blessed life.”
- Hoai Nam
Ao Trang 202 4 : Cò Trắng
Áo Trắng 2024 lấy cảm hứng từ hình ảnh của con cò trắng, một biểu tượng sâu sắc trong văn hóa Việt Nam. Con cò không chỉ là biểu tượng của bản sắc quê hương thanh bình, mà còn là tượng trưng cho thân phận và những phẩm chất cao quý của phụ nữ Việt Nam, bao gồm sự siêng năng, cần mẫn, hy sinh, tần tảo, gánh vác trên vai nhọc nhằn sớm tối.
Nhìn thấy con cò, tôi nhớ về hình ảnh của mẹ, như những bài ca dao dân ca mẹ thường hát cho tôi nghe khi tôi còn nhỏ. "Con cò bay lả bay la... Con cò mà đi ăn đêm..., Con cò lặn lội bờ sông..." Những lời ca dao như thấm sâu vào lòng mỗi chúng ta cùng hình ảnh con cò chịu thương, chịu khó đã trở thành một phần không thể tách rời của tâm hồn người Việt Nam.
Áo Trắng 2024 draws inspiration from the image of the white stork, a profound symbol in Vietnamese culture. The white stork is not just a representation of the peaceful essence of the homeland but also symbolizes the noble qualities of Vietnamese women, including diligence, sacrifice, unwavering resilience, and the ability to carry life's burdens from dawn to dusk.
Seeing the white stork, I am reminded of my mother, much like the folk verses she used to sing to me when I was young. ‘The stork glides gracefully... The stork goes out for food at night..., The stork maneuvers along the riverbank...' These folk verses along with the image of the beloved white stork have ingrained themselves and become an inseparable part of the soul of the Vietnamese people.
Our Team
photography - Hoai Nam
models - Michelle Dolezal, Melinda Dolezal, Lisa, Nguyen, Phan Quynh Thu
graphic design - Laurent Lan Nguyen
wardrobe - Nha May My Phi
production assistant - Viet Hoai Pham, Vinh Hoai Pham
Our Mission
We want to express our gratitude to you and your organization(s) for the valuable support extended to the Ao Trang Calendar. It brings us immense pride to share that, through our collaboration in the past years, the Ao Trang Calendar has successfully contributed over $287,000 to support orphanages in Vietnam, providing essential supplies through direct deliveries. Your commitment, trust, and dedication to creating a brighter future for the less fortunate have played a crucial role in the substantial growth of support and effort we have witnessed. Thank you for your unwavering support!