The "carrying horse" in the snowy land and the year of the "Fire Horse
At the beginning of 2026, right in the Year of the Horse, mountaineer Nguyen Manh Duy will successively release two books recording his journeys in the unique cultural and spiritual space of the "snow land" Himalayas over the past 10 years. "A journey up to reach... depth" – as he said, after returning from two of the world's highest peaks (over 8000m): Manaslu (October 9, 2024), Lhotse, Everest (May 5, 2025)... - where mountaineers only have 30% oxygen left to breathe and some days have to climb for 18-20 hours on the summit push journey (effort to reach the top).
The person who successfully conquered the "roof of the world" Everest said that he learned a lot from the mountains on his journey to explore the mysterious and enchanting Himalayas: "Jumping on towering peaks is truly a "full harvest" that brings the body to the limits of endurance. But it also helps people see the huge energy reserves hidden in each person. Climbing mountains for me is therefore not simply an adventurous challenge but also a journey to learn and understand myself in the vast world. The Himalayas has shown me the most precious treasure that everyone has available. Not far away, it lies right in the consciousness, energy and identity of each of us. And that depth is also the most difficult "mountain peak" to reach.
The journey of the "carrying horse in Snowy Land" has helped Duy gain not only worthwhile life pages but also worthwhile writing pages. "In the heart of Gorkha" is a chapter he appreciates for its value of experience, 10 years ago: "A week after the earthquake in Gorkha, I returned to Kathmandu, as soon as international flights were resumed. Those were the painful and desolate days in the ancient capital of Nepal.
Duy says the things he wants to wrap up in this book are extremely simple: Condensing memorable moments and stories in more than a decade with hundreds of trips (for him, returning) to a strange land that has never ceased to be strange, but also familiar as if it belonged too much. Most of the photos in the book are taken by him with film with a sense of nostalgia contained in the colors of time.
This climber, who claims to be a non-professional, also said that the journey to conquer peaks over 8000m in Nepal in the Himalayas will continue in 2016 and for many years to come. "The world has 14 peaks, I have only conquered 3" - Duy said. "The snow-carrying horse" is always belonging to a path whose destination has never been purely quantitative.
American photographer and three decades of "horse drunk on old road
If Peter Steinhauer had not been attached to Vietnam and deeply understood Eastern culture, he probably wouldn't know that 2026 is his "year of birth". And indeed, the animal Peter holds the essence of fruit has "influenced" his life and career path: the famous American photographer who has been attached to Vietnam for 30 years is a profound topic with thousands of photos and countless trips that he himself cannot remember.
Having been in Hanoi for 4 years (1993 - 1997), Ho Chi Minh City for 8 years (1998 - 2006) and continuously returning to Vietnam over the past 30 years, Peter has long considered Vietnam his second homeland (the American photographer married a Vietnamese wife and they have always stood side by side in projects for Vietnam). In December 2025, he wrapped up that meaningful journey with an exhibition titled Vietnam - A 30 Year Retrospective in Hanoi, displaying 59 photos depicting the beauty of nature, culture and people of Vietnam beyond the context of war, taken by Peter Steinhauer over the past 30 years. “Over decades, I have witnessed the country undergoing an incredible transformation as Vietnam and its people move towards prosperity and new opportunities. I have recorded a part of that transformation, and documented cultural heritages that are gradually disappearing over time. In many ways, my work is both a record of change and a tribute to what is being lost," he said.
Peter's professional qualities also evoke the qualities and mobility of a long-distance horse. "There are 3 similarities. Persistence: Like a horse born for long journeys, I persistently pursued a topic for many years, even decades. Movement: My professional qualities reflect the nature of a horse - steadiness, intuition, and born to walk purposefully. Movement intertwined in my work and like a horse, I go through long distances with persistence, concentration and quiet determination. Gentle movement: Horses can be both strong and gentle; photography is also like that: need quiet observation, but decisive action when the moment comes" - Peter "draws horses", while self-portraying himself.
Three decades of photographing and roaming Vietnam by the American photographer is a mixture of all three movement speeds of horses: "Nước kiệu in the early years: I observed, learned and moved forward, slowly but surely. Nước lửng is when I started to connect deeply with Asia, especially Vietnam: I became bolder, the projects grew larger and went wider. Nước đại is in the explosive stages of inspiration - when I found strong topic directions such as Cages, Enduring Spirit, or a series of long-term works about Vietnam... But if you have to choose the most suitable pace for me, it is nước lửng. It is fast enough not to miss the moment, but slow enough to contemplate - a suitable rhythm for documentary photography and fine arts" - Peter Steinhauer shared.
And obviously, "long roads know good horses": "Vietnam both challenges and nurtures me like an artist. On this long road, I learned things that no books can teach. Patience: Vietnam is constantly changing and only those who stay long enough can feel the beauty in each layer of change. Understanding: I don't look at Vietnam with the eyes of outsiders, I look with the respect and affection of a long-time friend. Now I feel like an insider. Emotional growth: Vietnam gives me countless stories about endurance, culture, and people - all shape me like an artist. If I become a "good horse", then Vietnam is the long, challenging road and also the reward for me".
