Debasish Sarma, Whistle Vendor (PEOPLE 2025)

Under the dappled shade of a park tree in Hanoi, an old woman sits on a low wooden stool, her frail hands deftly arranging a collection of small, hand-carved whistles on a worn bamboo mat. Her face is lined with deep wrinkles, each one telling a story of decades spent in the heart of the city’s ever-moving tide of life. A conical nón lá hat shades her sharp, watchful eyes as she watches the passers-by with quiet patience. I walked up and asked permission for a photo and she burst out laughing in surprise. Canon EOSR 50mm F2.8

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.