Mekong Terra Studio began with a simple observation: the riverine communities of the delta are changing faster than their stories are being recorded. Our mission is to build a lasting visual archive of floating markets, rice cultivation cycles, artisan fishing villages and seasonal flood adaptations, so that future generations can understand what was lost and what endured. We work slowly, return to the same households across seasons, and publish only what our subjects have approved. This is not a travel portfolio; it is a long-term documentary commitment to a region we know well.
Milestones and decisions behind the archive
2016 - First field season along the Hau River. A single camera, a rented boat, and three months of daily crossings between Can Tho and the floating markets. The initial contact sheets became the core of the archive.
2018 - Formalized the studio as a documentation practice. We committed to long-form essays over single images, and started pairing every photo set with field notes and interview transcripts.
2020 - Launched the commissioned documentation program for heritage projects and NGOs. The first assignment covered stilt-house restoration in Dong Thap, setting the standard for our ethical storytelling guidelines.
2022 - Opened the print archive. Limited-edition exhibition catalogs and large-format prints became available directly from the studio, with proceeds supporting ongoing field research.
2024 - Expanded the team with two associate photographers and a research editor. The archive now spans twelve provinces, with a dedicated focus on seasonal flood adaptations and riverine craft traditions.
A working chronology of how Mekong Terra Studio built its river archive, from the first survey trips to the current print catalogue.
Initial scouting along the Hau Giang branch, documenting stilt-house clusters and the early morning fish auctions near Can Tho. This trip set the visual language: deep teal water, ochre wood, and rice-paper light.
A full wet-season cycle spent at Cai Rang and Phong Dien. The resulting photo essay on boat-to-boat commerce became the first curated set in the archive and shaped our approach to long-form storytelling.
Followed three farming families through planting, flood recession, and harvest. Field notes from this period now anchor the rice-cultivation chapter and inform our commissioned work for agricultural NGOs.
Documented timber stilt houses and floating homes across Tra Vinh and Ben Tre. This study expanded the archive into built heritage and led to a printable exhibition catalog on riverine construction.
Opened the online portfolio with curated essays, field notes, and limited-edition prints. The studio now accepts commissioned documentation for cultural heritage projects and regional publications.