(Photo: Smithsonianmag)

The photo, titled ‘A fish seller displays his goods’, was taken by British photographer Jon Enoch during his visit to Vietnam.

It beat over 36,000 entries by photographers from 145 countries and territories.

Enoch said he was impressed with merchants transporting heaps of merchandise on their motorbikes and spent a week chasing them down to ask them to pose for the camera.

"It’s an image that crystallizes a tradition, one that may not exist for much longer," the editors of the magazine said.

"Hanoi has plans to ban motorbikes by 2030 to cut down on emissions, something that is wonderful for the environment but will certainly change how business gets done," it added.

Jon Enoch’s photo captures a street vendor riding motorbikes and selling ornamental fish, which is a familiar sight in Vietnam (Photo: Smithsonianmag)


The beauty of Vietnam introduced to the international photography contest

This year, the Smithsonian Photo Contest includes 7 categories: Natural World, Audience-voted Awards, People, Travel, Mobile, the American Experience, and Altered Images.

In addition to the winning photo, Vietnam appears in several works in the top 60. The “Travel” category has 3 works: “Cave Fishing” taken in Kien Giang province by Thai photographer Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn, “Harvesting Water Lilies” taken in Long An province by Nguyen Tan Tuan, and “Blooming” taken in Phu Yen province by Nguyen Ngoc Thien. In the “Altered images” category, Nguyen Tan Tuan’s photo “Follow the Herd" was also taken in Vietnam.

“Cave fishing” by Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn (Thailand) captured the image of a father and his son catching fish inside a cave in Kien Luong district, Kien Giang province. (Photo: Smithsonianmag)
Nguyen Tan Tuan's photo ‘Harvesting Water Lilies” was taken in Moc Hoa, the southern province of Long An. The water lilies are washed before being sold at the market. (Photo: Smithsonianmag)
“Blooming” by Nguyen Ngoc Thien captured a fishing boat pulling a net during anchovy fishing season in waters off Hon Yen islet, Phu Yen province. (Photo: Smithsonianmag)
“Adélie Penguin on an Iceberg” by Conor Ryan won the “Natural World” Category. (Photo: Smithsonianmag)
Yam G-Jun won the “People” Category with a photo of the Dungan’s wedding. The head of the 20-year old bride from Milyanfan (Kyrgyzstan) had been covered by a red veil before she left the groom’s house (Photo: Smithsonianmag)