Len was born in Buchhob village and finished high school in 2016. He earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel and tourism management from International University in Phnom Penh in 2019.
Len chose the major after realizing the untapped tourism potential in his hometown and the limited number of hotels and resorts in the area.
He wants to help develop the tourism sector in Mondulkiri because there are many beautiful places and the cultural richness of indigenous people that others don’t know about yet.
In 2018, while still a student, he started taking photos on his phone. Driven by a deep passion, he developed his photography skills through self-teaching and experience and guidance from professional photographers.
He saw the advantages of posting photos on social media platforms, where he could promote tourism and cultural preservation in Mondulkiri.
Capturing Indigenous Cultures from Different Places
Through his photos, he hopes to raise awareness among both indigenous and non-indigenous people so that they understand, respect and protect the culture. His photographs highlight the daily lives of indigenous communities and their traditional clothing, serving as a form of cultural preservation and promotion.
“I see that indigenous people or young people aren’t interested in media promotion or taking photos of cultural aspects. The indigenous clothes and language are at risk of being lost,” he said.
His photos, along with articles about indigenous people, started to gain more support from the public in 2020. His Facebook page, named Tong Len, has 14,000 followers.
Len is happy to see the high level of support and praise from the public who are surprised by the variety of indigenous people in Cambodia as they often see it on foreign social media.
Indigenous people are changing by accepting their identity and being proud to reveal themselves through sharing, commenting, and conversation on social media.
Some said they regret not being able to speak an indigenous language, Len said.
Boosting the Community’s Tourism
Nowadays, he receives short-term projects to take photos of landscapes, temples, biodiversity and wildlife in the protected areas and indigenous culture from nonprofit organizations such as the Cambodia Indigenous People Organization, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Conservation Society and World Hope.
“I hope my photos will document the identity of indigenous people in Cambodia for future generations,” he said.
“My photography can spark interest among locals as well as attract both national and international tourists to visit, helping boost community-based tourism.”
Some of his photographs have been sold to those who are moved by their deeper meaning. A few have even created a significant impact, inspiring people to donate study materials to students and financial support to schools.
Len has been working full-time as a freelance photographer for more than two years. In the past, he worked in the consultation committee for over five years for the Cambodian Indigenous Democracy Party.
This party advocates for the voices of minority groups in the country. He is deeply passionate about photography and believes it is a powerful tool to help promote tourism and preserve the culture of the country and its indigenous communities.
An Up-and-Down Career
Len’s journey as a freelance photographer has been up and down, with inspiring moments and complex challenges.
Freelance photography gives him the time and opportunity to travel to different places and gain valuable experience but it comes with challenges when he has no projects and not enough income.
Traveling to remote areas to take photos often brings unexpected problems, sometimes even risking his safety. His motorcycle has broken down and requires a lot of money to repair.
Fortunately, he has been supported by people who believe in his mission, such as a computer donation, and from Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization that offers him projects documenting indigenous communities.
He has traveled to indigenous communities and temples across nine provinces, including Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Speu, Battambang and Kampong Thom.
Indigenous Community Photo Showcase
Len took the initiative to show his photography three times during the Indigenous Cultural Memorial Celebration in Mondulkiri province. He wants to continue exploring other indigenous communities and hopes that organizations and different photographers will join in to create a larger exhibition in the future.
“I want to hold a bigger photography exhibition to showcase the culture and lifestyle of indigenous people in Cambodia, so that both Cambodians and foreigners can learn more about them,” he said.
Len is proud to see content about indigenous culture being produced by indigenous people. He hopes they continue this work ethically and respectfully so that the true value of indigenous cultures can be preserved and shared
Len encouraged young people, especially indigenous youth, to take the initiative in photography and video creation, as this field holds the power of media to help preserve many valuable aspects of the country, such as wildlife, temples, tourist sites, and indigenous and Khmer culture.
He said these efforts not only benefit the community but also attract tourists.
He urged young people to study hard and learn about pndigenous culture passed down from their ancestors, understanding it deeply, documenting it and sharing it with the broader public.
