Benjamin's Vietnamese 'muse'

The day he left Phu Yen to return to Ho Chi Minh City in early July 2023, Benjamin Tortorelli set his alarm for 3:30 a.m. and headed toward Mui Dien, the place to welcome the first sunrise on the mainland in Vietnam.

Tung chài bắt cá (Hòn Yến, Phú Yên) — *Casting a net to catch fish (Hon Yen, Phu Yen)*

Arriving at Dai Lanh lighthouse, he prepared his equipment and flew a flycam to capture the moment when the first rays of sunlight touched the Vietnamese land, casting a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors on the sky.

Vietnam became my beautiful "muse", and capturing the beauty of this country was truly a very fulfilling experience."

BENJAMIN TORTORELLI

Experience the magic of Asia

"In that peaceful moment, my heart was filled with gratitude for having the 'privilege' of seeing that splendid morning" - Benjamin wrote with a series of photos he took of Mui Dien lighthouse in the early morning on Instagram. Of course, these are not the only photos Benjamin took in Phu Yen. More than 8,000 of his followers on Instagram @with.b3n have many times "traveled through photos" with Benjamin to the land of "yellow flowers and green grass", visited Tuyet Diem salt fields, watched fishermen pull nets in Hon Yen, cut and weave mats in O Loan lagoon...

Benjamin loves Phu Yen so much that he has visited Phu Yen a total of 7 times in just 2 years. Benjamin Tortorelli is 35 years old, French, and currently lives in Ho Chi Minh City. In 2011, Benjamin passed up the opportunity to go to the US - the land he had always dreamed of - to choose Vietnam just because of his "instinct". At that time, Benjamin was studying for a master's degree in international business in Toulouse (France), and the program required him to have an internship abroad. Benjamin said his dream was to work and live in the US, partly because he liked American movies and TV shows . However, the process of searching for information led him to another choice, Vietnam. "Although my heart was set on the US, I felt that Vietnam would give me the opportunity to experience the wonders of Asia. So I followed my instinct and decided to embark on this new adventure," Benjamin recalled. The 23-year-old graduate student had no idea how much his choice would change his life. Benjamin believes that fate had already planned for him when he finished his internship and was offered a job as a marketing manager by a company. Vietnam's vibrant energy, unique culture and the warmth of its people made him accept the new chapter of his life without hesitation. So, there is a French Benjamin Tortorelli who calls Vietnam home. "Vietnam is not only a place to work but also a place I cherish in my heart, a place where I feel at home" - the French man confided.

Nhà thờ Tân Định (TP.HCM) — *Tan Dinh Church (HCMC)*

Vietnam in the air

In Vietnam, in addition to work, Benjamin also found inspiration for photography - a hobby that he has only pursued for a few years. Benjamin specializes in taking landscape flycam photos, dotting the beautiful land and sky with images of people passionately working, urban life interwoven with modern constructions. Benjamin's photos attract the attention of many people, both at home and abroad. Among the comments about Benjamin's photos on his personal page, there are many exclamations from Vietnamese people when they see the beauty of their homeland through the lens of a "Westerner", and inquiries from foreigners expressing their desire to see with their own eyes the famous Vietnamese landscapes that he took photos of. Living in Vietnam for more than a decade, Benjamin has had the opportunity to travel from North to South, taking many beautiful photos of the S-shaped country that he loves so much. If the North has Cao Bang that captivates Benjamin, the South has the bustling urban life of Ho Chi Minh City that gives him endless inspiration, then Central Vietnam is a special thing that fate has arranged for him once again: "The Central region has something very magical that I feel deeply resonates with me. It has the perfect blend of serenity and picturesque landscapes, a dream for any photographer . And the warmth and kindness of the local people have left a lasting impression, making me consider Phu Yen my second home" - Benjamin shared. Some of Benjamin's photos: