A Week of Street Photography in Hanoi, Vietnam
Earlier this year, as part of our 7-week Asia Street Photography trip, Cori (my wife and fellow photographer) and I spent some time in Vietnam’s capital – Hanoi. To date, it has been one of my favourite places for street photography, plus an amazing country to visit in general.
Visually, Hanoi is a Street Photographer’s playground. There is such an interesting range of stories and scenes around every corner. It is a fascinating city to explore and lose yourself in. At night prepare yourself to be greeted by the amazing smells of Vietnamese food where the roadside pavements transform into restaurants with shin-high seats and socialising. And the food, wow, just wow. From the world-famous roadside pho to one-of-a-kind delicious Vietnamese sandwiches, Hanoi sure is an adventure for the taste buds.
The people are warm, friendly, genuine and welcoming. On our last trip there, while out and about with my camera, I was invited to join a pre-wedding party on the streets and a morning Latin & ballroom dancing class taking place by the lake. Meanwhile, my wife was given a spontaneous Tai Chi lesson by a lady not shy about correcting her posture. There is a deep sense of community and pride in their heritage that makes Hanoi special.
Who needs the sun?
Most street photographers love playing with light and some will only venture out with their cameras on a sunny day. So, given that we only had 30 minutes of sunshine over an entire week (we visited in late April), is a testament to how much Hanoi has to offer, even without the sun.
While Hanoi is a bustling capital city, there is a calmness to the chaos, the kind that I have yet to witness elsewhere. This is perfect for getting into the right mindset for street photography, without feeling overwhelmed.
Below are some of my favourite frames from Hanoi. I’ll also be sharing some images shortly from the rest of our Vietnam trip in Hoi An, Da Nang and a little boat adventure. I can’t wait to return to Vietnam and Hanoi next March (2024) where I’ll be running a 7-day workshop.
