A Ho Chi Minh City-based photographer is wowing netizens with his dazzling photos of the city’s Hoc Mon District waking up to a gorgeous sunrise.

Many agreed that Vo Hung Manh’s photos were stunning, particularly Hoc Mon residents who were quick to admit they never realized just how beautiful their district was.

“The sunrise is fantastic in my hometown of Hoc Mon,” Manh captioned his photos posted to a travel group on Facebook with more than 690,000 members in June.

Apparently 4,900 people agreed enough to hit the ‘like’ button, with many leaving comments praising the beauty of the rural district, which sits 20 kilometers from central Ho Chi Minh City.

“As my photos of Hoc Mon under the morning light have drawn attention, I’ve realized that forgotten beauty can have a deep effect on people if it is shown in an extraordinary way,” Hung Manh told Tuoi Tre News.

“I’m just happy that I can show people how pretty my hometown is.”

Manh explained Hoc Mon is not a famous tourist destination, but he hopes his photos will begin to draw more attention to the district.

“Hoc Mon’s delicacies include gà hấp hèm [chicken steamed with wort] and cháo bầu [porridge calabash],” Manh explained, adding that the places selling such dishes often have big gardens where people can relax with their families on the weekend after a long work or study week.

“The district also has big fields where people fly kites in the afternoon, as well as vegetable gardens where they can buy clean and green veggies,” Manh said.

According to the 29-year-old, he has been involved in the local photography scene for about two years and has developed a love for landscape photos at sunrise and sunset.

“Sunrise and sunset are golden moments in photography thanks to beautiful lighting which can’t be recreated in Photoshop,” Manh shared, referring to the photo and graphics editing software developed by Adobe Inc.

“The beauty of nature at sunrise and sunset gives me some peace and relaxation amid the hustle and bustle of the city.

“Try to get up early, watch the sun rise, enjoy the morning dew, and breathe in fresh air, and you will feel peaceful and full of energy for a new day.

“You might also find yourself snapping incredibly beautiful photos.”

Below are some of Vo Hung Manh’s photos:

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