Tuan Khanh poses with local residents dressed in traditional Ma, S'Tieng and Tay attire. Photo: Supplied
"For K'Tun (Khanh's familiar name in the village), Ta Lai is more than a place to visit. It is a place to remember, to be grateful for and to always hope to return to," Tuan Khanh wrote on social media, sharing photos from his special graduation shoot.
From a trip to a lasting bond
Nearly eight years ago, Khanh, 28, first set foot in Ta Lai, Dong Nai City, while taking part in a hospitality competition.
In the years that followed, he returned countless times—first as an intern, then as a volunteer, later as a cultural tour guide, and eventually as a researcher for his master's thesis.
His visits gradually brought him closer to members of the Ma, S'Tieng and Tay communities in Ta Lai.
They also gave him the familiar village name K'Tun.
"In Ta Lai, affection comes naturally. After months apart, the first questions people ask are not about work or achievements, but simply: 'Have you eaten yet?' and 'How many days are you staying this time?'" Khanh said.
Those simple questions made him feel that Ta Lai was a place where he belonged.
So, before receiving his master's degree from Van Lang University, Khanh decided to return to Ta Lai for a graduation photo shoot in his cap and gown with the people who had been part of his journey.
"I wasn't trying to create a fancy or carefully staged photo shoot. What I wanted most was for everyone to appear as they truly are, as naturally and comfortably as possible," Khanh said.
Tuan Khanh with children from Ma village. Photo: Supplied
"I made it. Now I'm back."
When Khanh shared his idea for the photo shoot, the villagers readily agreed.
They prepared their traditional clothing and made time to take part.
The shoot included people who have shared many memories with Khanh, including Ka'Nga, a member of the S'Tieng community who introduced him to people in the village, and Ka'Huong, a member of the Ma community who has accompanied him on various cultural activities.
Then there is Tay, a member of the Nung community, who would prepare food and meals for Khanh and check in on him whenever he returned, offering the kind of simple care that made him feel at home.
Tam (L), in Tay traditional dress, Tuan Khanh and Tay (R), in Nung traditional dress. Photo: Supplied
The morning of the photo shoot, Khanh woke up early to get ready.
Seeing his graduation gown hanging neatly, Tay smiled and said, "I knew you would make it and come back."
The words left Khanh silent for a few seconds.
"What moved me was not the words 'make it,' but 'come back,'" Khanh said.
"After all these years, I still returned to Ta Lai, still remembered everyone here and wanted to share my joy with the place that had been part of my journey into adulthood."
For Khanh, Ta Lai is more than a place to visit. It is a place to remember, be grateful for and always hope to return to.
The photographer behind the shoot was Nguyen Duc Huy, 21, who was drawn to the idea of combining Khanh's graduation milestone with the cultural traditions of the local communities.
"Seeing Khanh in his graduation gown standing alongside local residents in traditional clothing, I could clearly feel the connection between them," Huy said.
Behind each photograph, Huy said, was more than a record of Khanh's graduation. It captured the affection, respect and pride that people in Ta Lai felt for him.
For Khanh, the photo shoot was also a way to mark an important milestone in his academic journey while thanking the people who had given him memorable experiences, affection and memories over nearly eight years.
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