Two Vietnamese photographers were honored in three different categories of the 2021 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY).

Tran Viet Van, a journalist for Lao Dong (Labor) newspaper, was crowned winner of the ‘Smartshot iTravelled’ category and runner-up of the ‘People and their Stories’ for a photo collection of a 90-year-old shoemaker in Ho Chi Minh City.

"A lovely composition using colour and shape to capture a 90-year-old shoemaker’s craft," the judges of the 2021 TPOTY commented on Van’s photo.

Born in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tran Viet Van received a bachelor's degree from Hanoi Cultural University in 1996, according to TPOTY's website.

Upon graduation, he began a career in journalism and now works as a reporter for Lao Dong – one of the leading newspapers in Vietnam.

He started photography in 1998.

He has had 10 solo exhibitions, including ‘My Mum’ in Photometria (Greece), and has been a part of over 35 group exhibitions in Asia, Europe, and the U.S., including the Fifth Exposure Annual Awards at the Louvre Museum, Paris, France (digital).

He has won over 80 international photo prizes and has been a judge for many film festivals and photo contests in Vietnam.

His pictures have been published in many books and magazines.

A photo of water buffaloes taken by Nguyen Tan Tuan. Photo: Supplied

Among the Special Mention group was Nguyen Tan Tuan, who now works and lives in Ho Chi Minh City.

His photo of water buffaloes near Dau Tieng Lake in Tay Ninh Province, which is near Ho Chi Minh City, won him a place in the 'Best Single Image in a Portfolio' category.

The TPOTY grand prize was given to Italian photographer Fortunato Gatto for his collection capturing the landscape of the Denali National Park in Alaska, the U.S. and Scotland.

Travel Photographer of the Year 2021 winner Fortunato Gatto’s image of Polychrome Pass, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA. Photo: Supplied

"Nature is the highest work of art, and that is also my aim in representing it. Through metaphors, I look for hidden images, to tell nature’s secrets," Gatto shared.

"These images show us the beauty in nature which we need to protect and preserve," judges of the 2021 TPOTY commented on Gatto’s photo.

Alessandro Bergamini of Italy won the first prize in the ‘Best 8 Portfolio’ category with images that gave a great insight into his subjects' locations, cultures, and people.

Although Bergamini primarily photographs people, his series of images clearly depict communities and lives.

U.S. photographer Jie Fischer was the winner of the ‘Landscape & Adventure’ category with a vibrant portfolio of flamingos over Kenya's Lake Magadi.

The ‘Living World’ category was claimed by British photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, with his photo capturing images of leopards in Kenya, Africa.

One photo from Travel Photographer of the Year 2021 ‘Landscapes & Adventure’ portfolio winner Jie Fischer’s images from Lake Magadi, Kenya. Photo: Supplied

This year, more than 20,000 images by photographers from 151 countries and territories were submitted.

Throughout April and May, all of the winning photographs will be displayed on the TPOTY website and at an outdoor exhibition in Granary Square, near King's Cross St. Pancras Station in London.

"The last two years have been tough for everyone, and opportunities for travel photographers to shoot new imagery have been limited," said Chris Coe, founder of TPOTY.

"Despite this, TPOTY has managed to keep attracting great imagery and keep our exhibitions running in safe outdoor spaces."

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