Travel Adventures to Vietnam (Part 2) Capturing Culture Through the Lens

The Traveling Studio
2 minutes ago
3 min read

Photographing the Culture of Southern Vietnam

Southern Vietnam doesn’t announce itself loudly—it reveals itself in moments. A woman balancing baskets of fruit on a motorbike, children laughing along the riverbanks as the sun drops low. Photographing the culture here wasn’t about chasing landmarks; it was about slowing down enough to see everyday life unfold.

Life moves quickly in cities like Ho Chi Minh City, but it also flows with rhythm and purpose. Markets open early, streets transform throughout the day, and by evening, the sidewalks become social spaces filled with food, conversation, and movement.

Street Life as Living Culture

Street photography in southern Vietnam is endlessly rewarding. Motorbikes dominate the roads, but it’s the people who bring the streets to life. Vendors prepare food the same way they’ve done for generations. Coffee shops spill onto sidewalks, with low stools and slow conversations. Repair shops, flower sellers, and tailors operate in open-air storefronts, blurring the line between work and daily life.

Quiet Details

Markets were a visual feast—layers of color, texture, and motion. Fresh herbs stacked in impossible greens, fish laid out on beds of ice, hands moving quickly as transactions happened without a word. The challenge wasn’t finding something to photograph—it was choosing what not to shoot.

Temples offered a different pace. Here, the light softened, incense drifted through the air, and people moved with intention. These spaces called for a quieter approach, focusing on small details.

Light, Heat, and Humidity

Southern Vietnam’s light can be both harsh and beautiful. Midday sun is unforgiving, but early mornings and late afternoons are pure gold. The humidity adds a softness to the air that gives images a unique atmosphere—especially near rivers and canals.

My Gear

I brought two cameras. A Nikon Z30 digital camera. Lens: Nikkor Z 16-50mm. Small and compact to capture images while riding in taxis and for capturing the robust colors of the land.

The second camera I chose for the pure history that it brings to this country, a Nikon F. Lens: Nikkor 50mm F:/1.4. Made from the 19749 through the early 70's.

This camera was pivotal for capturing the Vietnam war, used by virtually all journalists at the time. I shot B&W film to try to capture the nostalgic feeling of the streets. I processed the film in my home darkroom. It gave me goosebumps while developing the film of images I captured during my visit, knowing of the history this camera has represented during times of conflict.

Images from The Nikon F

Nikon F, Nikkor 50mm F:/1.4 Film: Ilford Delta 400

Leaving with More Than Images

When I look back at my photographs from southern Vietnam, I don’t just see places—I see connections. The culture revealed itself through everyday moments, and photography became a way to listen rather than speak.

Southern Vietnam taught me that cultural photography isn’t about documenting something foreign. It’s about finding shared humanity in unfamiliar surroundings—and letting the images tell those quiet stories long after the journey ends.

Stay tuned for part 3 of this blog series in which I explore the fishing culture. . . . .

Thanks for checking out my blog!