People’s Artist Pham Khac took 20,000 photos during his trip to shoot “Mekong Chronicle” documentary series, including valuable moments of the river that can’t be captured a second time.

People’s Artist Pham Khac.

During dozens of trip along the Mekong River, spanning six countries - China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam - the general director of “Mekong Chronicle”, Labor Hero Pham Khac, spent a lot of time taking photos of the lives of people and cultures along the great river.

Some 650 of 20,000 photos have been collected to make the “Mekong Chronicle - Film and Photos”. While editing this book, artist Pham Khac passed away because of a fatal disease.

“The story of the Mekong River cannot be told without the story of artist Pham Khac. The trip left unforgettable memories on our career. The movie and the photo book are the final stops in his life,” said scriptwriter Tran Duc Tuan, a member of the “Mekong Chronicle” film crew.

HCM City Television (HTV) Station’s Deputy General Director Nguyen Chi Tan said: “The photo book is a valuable source of documents of HTV”.

The book was released on May 17 to commemorate Pham Khac’s second death anniversary. It comprises two parts: the first is about the Mekong River and memories of the film crew and the second introduces landscapes of the six nations, China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, with comments.

“Pham Khac – Mekong Chronicle – Film and Photos” is published by the Literature and Art Publishing House.

People’s Artist Pham Khac or Pham Tan Phuoc was born on December 10, 1939 in the southern province of Ben Tre. He passed away on May 17, 2007.

Khac was granted the Labor Hero title in 2000. He was the former Director of the HCM City Television.

With “Mekong Chronicle,” Khac was the one who laid the foundations for chronicle films of HTV. Other famous documentary films by Khac include: Chien Thang Binh Gia (Binh Gia Victory), Dong Xoai Ruc Lua (Flaming Dong Xoai), Chien Dau Tren Duong Pho Sai Gon (Fighting on Saigon Streets), Ben Tre Nhung Dao Dua Xanh (Ben Tre – Green Coconut Islands), Nu Tuong Nguyen Thi Dinh (Female General Nguyen Thi Dinh), Khi Dan Seu Tro Ve (When Cranes Return) and others.

The Mekong River by Pham Khac.

Permanent snow mountain at the Mekong River riverhead.

Buddha images on cliff.

This bank is believed to be the place where Xuan Zang, an eminent Chinese monk, dried prayer-books.

A Tibetan man.

Vong That Pagoda in Laos, which is located at the riverhead of the Mekong River.

A wedding party.

A Di ethnic girl, China.

Playing billiards outdoors.

The supernatural rock at 1,000m in Myanmar.

Long Ha