Nguyen Thanh Hai (born 1986),[1] known professionally as Maika Elan, is a freelance photographer born in Hanoi, Vietnam. Elan is known for her first project, The Pink Choice, that focuses on the personal lives of gay couples in Vietnam. In 2013 Elan won first prize in the Contemporary Issues category of World Press Photo with The Pink Choice[2] and was a participant in the Joop Swart masterclass in Amsterdam. She was selected for the VII mentor program from 2014–2016.[3]