Breathtaking Vietnamese tea hill lands spot in 2026 int'l weather photo contest final

Sunrises, storm clouds, lightning strikes and sunsets are among the stunning natural phenomena captured around the world in the 30 finalists for the 2026 Weather Photographer of the Year competition.

Among the shortlisted images, Vietnamese viewers may immediately recognize Long Coc tea hills in Phu Tho Province, where rows of rounded, dome-shaped hills stretch toward the horizon, partially veiled by early morning mist.

Long Coc is a popular destination for sunrise viewing and Milky Way photography. At dawn, mist drifts across its more than 670 hectares of tea plantations, creating a picturesque landscape that attracts photography enthusiasts.

The destination has recently gained further attention through videos shared by Nguyen Hoang Trung, secretary of the Long Coc Commune Party Committee, showcasing the tea hills and the daily lives of local residents.

According to the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS), the competition's organiser, this year's edition attracted 5,500 entries, with 30 outstanding photographs shortlisted for the final.

The shortlisted images not only showcase the breathtaking beauty and dramatic displays of the sky but also serve as an important reminder of the impacts of climate change, according to the organisers.

The shortlisted photographs were captured at various locations around the world, including a rainbow over Lakeland, Finland; midnight sunlight in Reine, Norway; and lenticular clouds above Mount Shasta in the United States, among other striking weather phenomena.

The Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 is an annual international photography competition organised by the UK's Royal Meteorological Society.

The competition celebrates outstanding photographs which capture the beauty, power and impact of weather phenomena, while raising public awareness of climate change and global environmental issues.

At the final stage, the winning photograph will be determined by a public vote open to readers worldwide, on the Royal Meteorological Society's official website.

Voting is open until November 5.