You speak French, Uncle Sam needs people like you! Ludovic Connod wasn’t ready to fall in love, but he did. Corsica and it’s mysteries. France and it’s secret resistance. The Vichy, the Occupied Zone where mother lived in her elegant apartment using her ‘green joy’ to remain in her past. The OSS. The CIA and it’s shady psychotic substance activities. Berlin, it’s grey cold rain and world of deceptions. Saigon, the ‘Paris of the East’, captivating and fascinating, dragging in people who changed the world. Not because they planned to but because they followed their feelings, good and bad. Silvester the dog and Dennis the Donkey! His father would have loved them. But now he’d had enough!
For many of us, images of rice paddies and conical hats have grown insipid as a consequence of overuse. Yet in the following collection, French photographer Joseph Gobin trains his lens on what’s often unobserved — an artist, caked in plaster, creates a mold of himself just as Gobin forms his own image of the young man; a couple watch a film in the shade of their umbrella, the most intimate of theaters; in a school playground, onlookers appear like film directors while enjoying the subtle tension of a volleyball tournament.
As Ansel Adams once said, even in a landscape photo “there are always two people: the photographer and the viewer.” In Gobin’s images, his gaze focuses on endearing or touching aspects of Vietnamese culture with affection, a caring antithesis to the likes of Vietnamese Cursed Image.
Stripped of visual clichés and taken on an atypical camera, the images gain a tender vitality and quirky appreciation for contemporary Vietnam. Not all were taken in the capital, but all cherish the earnestness of Vietnam. And yes, that includes the swan boats in Vinhomes Riverside.
Take a look below:
A couple watches a laptop video on the street, beneath an umbrella.
Butchering a pig while it’s still drooped over a Honda Dream. Also known as “slow-smoking meat.”
A contemporary artist makes a mold of his body for an upcoming exhibition.
Motorbike traffic couples in the French Quarter.
Ladies dressed in áo dài stay in the shade.
An archetypal Hanoian street ninja with long-sleeved top, sunglasses and mask for camouflage.
For these discarded fans, an occasional breeze gently spinning their blades is the only reminder of their former life.
Spectators watch a volleyball tournament in Vũ Yên Village in a scene reminiscent of a film set.
The worst-ever attempt at hiding a motorbike? Photo taken in Hòa Bình Province.
Waiting to catch a train back to Hanoi from Đà Nẵng.
A gang of brothers in the far north.
Traditional style meets modernism at Pà Cò Market.
Waiting.
Boris Zuliani creating images using 50×50 wet plates between Da Nang and Hoi An.
A swan boat lingers beside the grandiloquence of a Vinhomes Riverside villa.
Chaotic streets and bustling markets, Hanoi in the 1950s was not much different than it is now.
Sure there were less cars and motorbikes back then, and the air quality was probably much better. But these black and white photos show that the spirit of the capital is very much the same. Through these photos, one can almost hear the cacophony of life on the streets and feel that familiar sense of being lost in the crowd.
let’s visit the past, strolling by the Old Quarters and meeting the vendors at Đồng Xuân market through these photos below.
Vendors on Đồng Xuân.
Đồng Xuân Market.
Why such beauty in this place?
Tràng Tiền Street.
Tràng Tiền, Hàng Bài, Hàng Khay intersection.
Basket weavers.
More basket weavers.
For your woodenware needs.
and I don’t have a wooden heart
Blankets for when it’s cold.
Pottery shops.
Offerings for the ancestors.
This is still a very ‘alive’ tradition in Vietnam. There is no ‘official’ religion but unofficially it’s a mixture of Buddhism, Taoism and ancestor worship. Every Tet holiday family graves are cleaned, painted and offerings of flowers and food placed.
Pots and pans.
The iconic cone hat.
It’s called a Non La.
Phở vendor.
Pho – pronounced phurr, is probably the most popular street food in Vietnam. Currently it will cost between 1.50 to 2.00 UKP’s and a bowl will keep you going all-day. It comprises of noodles and thinly sliced morsels of beef along with herbs and vegetable leaves all in a hot broth made from boiling beef bones. Delicious!
Learning to sew.
Trung Liệt Pagoda.
Street food.
On the left looks like ‘Binh Bao’ a white rice based soft dough containing minced and herb infused pork and often a quail egg.
Metalware shop.
Humanity seems to be on the cusp of massive and frighteningly quick changes mainly due to A. I. Humanoid robots doing boring dangerous work, driving a car will become a thing of the past. Personalised treatment for cancer. Changes to your baby’s DNA to remove potential diseases. Teachers will disappear, information instantly available, languages instantly translated, Cash will go, and maybe in a hundred years from now we may need permission from an authority to die! But hey, at the moment we’re ok! we can still fire bullets, aim bombs, send very fast missiles and kill people. I’ve forgotten why! Maybe it’s because rich people with lots of shares in Arms Manufacturing Companies can get richer! Yes that must be it!
Sunday, 06 October 2024. Written by Uyên Đỗ. Nikolai Sokolov.
A space outside of one’s home and workplace, where people meet and interact socially.
Where do we go to find a place that feels like home, but isn’t?
Not home, not the office — a third place is a space that stands apart from daily life, where one feel comfortable enough to connect with new people and form new relationships.
Sociologist Ray Oldenburg first coined the term “third place,” describing it as a cultural incubator where shared values take root. It’s a space where people can converse with others, express their individual identities, and find a sense of “belonging” through platonic and romantic bonding. The third place manifests in various forms, constantly evolving to fit the fabric of each society, whether it’s a neighborhood bar, a cozy used book store, or even a temple.
Saigon boasts more than 200 bridges.
In Vietnam’s major cities, rapid economic development and urbanization have led to the shrinking of public works and free communal spaces like parks, libraries, or playgrounds — the most natural and accessible third places for people from all walks of life. But human connection is resilient, and informal third places have emerged in the leftover cracks of urban infrastructure.
Workers resting under the Ba Son bridges.
In 2019, Russian photographer Nikolai Sokolov moved to Vietnam from Saint Petersburg. His work gradually shifted from abstract and landscape photography to street photography, drawn by “the people and the life here.” In the summer of 2024, he spent his time capturing everyday moments beneath Saigon’s many bridges.
“I’ve traveled all over Vietnam, and I often found myself sheltering under bridges to avoid the sun or rain. I started noticing that many people were sitting under these bridges, especially in the south. There was something special about them — each came with a different story. One day, a man asked me to take his picture, and from that moment, I knew I wanted to document the lives of these people. Each face, each gaze offered a story. And I wanted to share it.”
Lazin on a Sunday afternoon!
Neglected and overlooked, bridges are far from anyone’s idea of a traditional third place, and the commuters who usually use them are passing through out of necessity. But in Nikolai Sokolov’s black-and-white photos, these anonymous bridges (though if you’re sharp, you might recognize them) come alive as tranquil yet vibrant sanctuaries. Beneath rigid concrete structures, rough patches of ground are transformed into playgrounds, gathering spots for friends and family, or simply a place to rest in the midst of the city’s constant motion.
Free-range ducklings, now available at your nearest bridge.
What’s your name? — Errrr Donald.
The sweet joy of swinging in the shade on a hot afternoon.
The first rule of cockfighting club is: you do not talk about cockfighting club.
Birds of a feather surely flock together.
We’re here to make up the numbers at a Trump Rally!
“Dude, you cheating?”
Future stars of the national team?
Sisters and best friends.
Just middle-aged people casually flexing spines healthier than yours.
Yes! You definitely get a different perspective on global events from this position!
Dressed to impress.
I’m the Princess, you be the fairy!
“I already won. No point arguing now.”
Better safe than sorry.
Messin about on the river!
Most definitely a good boy.
Get my motor runnin! I was born to be wild!
The bridge-side tango.
For some, this is the first place.
“What kind of school awards did you get this year?” “I barely passed, uncle!”
You can practically hear the squeak in this photo.
Cigarette smoke and dust.
Who’s coming in last this round?
In 1915 a Jewish / Zionist Bio-Chemist Dr. Chaim Weizmann working at Manchester university invented a new way to make Acetone. – acetone is an essential ingredient for making the smokeless explosive cordite. England got it’s acetone from Germany but now there was WW1. Weizmann did a deal with Lord Balfour and the English Government to give the new process free of charge to the Government for essential munitions manufacturing.PROVIDING! That after the war the British Government supported the creation of the State of Israel on land currently occupied by Palestinian Arabs. The rest is the horrible history that still exists today where babies legs are blown off and children’s parents are blasted to death.
Looking at past albums of our cities today, I’m always stricken by a bewildering vastness — every street, every square, every building seemed to have been constructed in a ghost town, serving lonesome phantoms and nonchalant horse-drawn wagons.
That sense of eerie emptiness extends to this collection of black-and-white shots taken in Hanoi in the 1920s, serving as stock images for postcards and illustrations for books about the city under French rule. Be it major avenues or tiny lanes, the thoroughfares of Hanoi past hosted few pedestrians and fewer vehicles, so they appear breezy and tranquil, a far cry to the pandemonia of today.
This cognitive dissonance can be attributed to Vietnam’s skyrocketing population, the growth rate of which would quickly render even the most generously designed streets narrow and ineffective. When these images were recorded, Hanoi had a population of 81,000, compared to New York’s 5.6 million and Paris’s nearly 3 million. Flash forward to today and Hanoi’s size has ballooned to over 8.5 million people, while the streets depicted here have not changed much throughout the years.
Have a closer look at Hanoi in the 1920s via the images below:
A jewel shop on Hàng Bạc Street.
A customer browses jewelry options.
Jewelry makers hard at work.
A glass display showcasing valuable decor and accessories.
The fashion visual merchandising game was on point.
The intersection between Tràng Tiền and Trần Nhật Duật.
The building that housed the French Veteran Club, and then Unity Club. Today it has been demolished for an office.
Hat makers.
Inside the Hai Chinh hat workshop. It used to produce around 10,000 items a year.
The exterior of Hai Chinh.
The entrance to Saint Paul Hospital, which still exists today.
Tràng Tiền Street.
Tràng Tiền Street from the Hanoi Opera House.
Shops on Tràng Tiền.
Another perspective of Tràng Tiền.
Grands Magasins Reunis, a department store specializing in imported goods from Europe.
A view of Tràng Tiền from the Opera House.
A football match at the Stade Mangin, now Cột Cờ Stadium.
The exterior of Le Coq d’Or, a high-end hotel. Today it’s the Hòa Bình Hotel.
Students in the yard of Yên Phụ School.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes Don’t want to be a richer man Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes There’s gonna have to be a different man Time may change me But I can’t trace time. —– David Bowie 2004.
Friday, 04 August 2023. Written by Julie Vola. Photos courtesy of Julie Vola
Starting this September, Hôtel des Arts is undertaking a number of initiatives to celebrate Vietnam’s architectural and cultural heritage. One such effort is the Digital Exhibition: A Journey through Saigon’s Timeless Heritage which places links to Saigoneer Heritage section articles throughout the hotel so guests can enjoy in-depth explorations of topics that the boutique hotel believes are worthy of preservation.We often see archival images of old Hanoi, but these photos are different — they are personal. The following shots, which come from a collection of five photo albums, are the only surviving record of my two great-great-grandfathers’ presence in what was then Indochina.
I don’t know when exactly they arrived, but it was around 1880, right in the midst of the French colonization of Tonkin. One, named Vézin, was an entrepreneur or a contractor; the other, Louis Vola, was a civil engineer for the colonial administration.
The most remarkable subject in these albums is the documentation of early railway construction. We can see land being leveled, bridges being built, locomotives at train stations and workers toiling in the mountains.
After gathering some information from my father and uncle, it seems more than likely that both my ancestors worked together on the railway from Phủ Lạng Thương, which is just outside Hanoi, to beside the Chinese border at Lạng Sơn.
Neither of the two men has gone down in history; their names are almost completely forgotten. And it might be for the best. As Tim Doling explains in his book The Railways and Tramways of Việt Nam, Vézin was not known for his kindness:
‘Cause out on the edge of darkness There rides the peace train
On 18 March 1887, a technical commission nominated by Resident General Paul Bert approved the construction of a 98km military line leading from Phủ Lạng Thương (Bắc Giang), 50km northeast of Hà Nội, to the strategic border town of Lạng Sơn. This ligne de la porte de Chine (China gateway line) was conceived primarily to improve lines of communication between the border region and the Red River Delta and to facilitate the movement of troops and supplies to and from Lạng Sơn fortress during the Tonkin campaign.
The Department of Public Works entrusted the construction of the line to the Entreprise des chemins de fer du Tonkin, ligne de Phu Lang Thuong–Lang Son, which in turn engaged two sub-contractors—Entreprise Vézin and Entreprise Daniel—to carry out the work. However, the project was blighted from the start by poor management, cost over-runs and frequent attacks by roaming bands of brigands, who inflicted considerable damage on the chantiers during the difficult four-year construction period.
When initial attempts at voluntary recruitment failed to provide enough workers, thousands were forcibly requisitioned from neighbouring provinces to carry out the work. Treated brutally by overseers and obliged to work from dawn to dusk in difficult terrain and intense tropical heat, many succumbed to dysentery and cerebral malaria, while others deserted en masse.
Now come and join the living It’s not so far from you
Kidnappings were a regular occurrence on the construction sites of the Phủ Lạng Thương–Lạng Sơn railway. Monsieur Vézin himself was kidnapped in July 1892 by a band that included many of his own workers, who then demanded money for his safe return.
While it can be hard for me to read about such a troubled and immoral family history, it at least seems clear that Vézin eventually received the treatment he deserved.
Have a look at the railway’s construction below:
Now I’ve been crying lately Thinkin’ about the world as it is
Oh, peace train take this country Come take me home again
Everyone jump upon the peace train
This article was first published on Urbanist Hanoi in 2018.
What’s it all about, Alfie Is it just for the moment we live? What’s it all about Alfie, are we meant to take more than we give? “
Sunday, 03 March 2024. Written by Saigoneer. Photos provided by WWF-Cambodia
Saigoneer is partnering with WWF to explore and explain important initiatives for protecting the region’s natural environments and communities. Our efforts will not only detail how conservation is taking place, but why its such a crucial undertaking.At dawn, the blunt foreheads of Irrawaddy dolphins breach the calm surface of the Mekong River the way an epiphany enters one’s mind; unexpected, graceful and profoundly welcome.
I see friends shaking hands Saying, “How do you do?” They’re really saying I love you
Photo by Gerry Ryan.
The sight of these majestic mammals epitomizes the unique environment found in a 27,000-square-meter area in northeast Cambodia known as the Mekong Flooded Forest (MFF). The spectacular freshwater ecosystem includes wetlands, rocky and sandy riverine habitats and deep pools.
Considered a national living treasure, the Irrawaddy dolphins draw visitors from around the world, providing an important source of tourism in a generally low-income and overlooked region. The endangered dolphin’s presence serves as a measure of the ecosystem’s overall health as well. Along with giant freshwater stingray, giant barb, Mekong giant catfish, giant softshell turtle and other endangered species including hog deer, Eld’s deer, white-shouldered ibis, river tern and vultures, the dolphins are an integral element of community-based ecotourism (CBET) efforts that can help ensure the entire Mekong region enjoys a prosperous future.
I see trees of green Red roses too I see them bloom For me and you
Photo by Pha Nem.
The Environmental, Economic, and Social Significance of the Mekong Flooded Forest
The MFF’s stunning network of seasonally-submerged forests, rapids-beset riverbeds and floodplains support diverse plant and animal populations. 411 species of inland fish, 37 species of mammals, 281 species of birds, 52 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 674 species of vascular plants live in the 180 kilometer stretch of the Mekong River in addition to 65,000 people in 61 villages. These human communities have developed rich cultures and traditions dependent on the ecosystem.
Photo by Pha Nem.
MFF residents rely on the abundant waters for fisheries and the surrounding areas for agriculture. Thriving fish populations support ecosystems beyond the MFF as well. Most profoundly, the MFF contributes water, nutrients and migration routes to the Tonle Sap Lake, the world’s most productive inland fishery which is of immense importance to Cambodia’s overall economy and local livelihoods, providing 60% of all Cambodia’s protein intake. Marc Goichot, WWF’s Asia Pacific Freshwater Lead, explains: “Mekong floods are the main engine for the Tonle Sap Lake biological cycle that most species depend on. The exceptional productivity of the Tonle Sap Lake is very much correlated to the flood pulse and nutrient availability. Many fish species migrate between the Mekong and Tonle Sap. In fact, it may be the largest fish migration route on the planet.”
Photo by Nicholas Axelrod-Ruom.
Meanwhile, the greater Mekong ecosystem that impacts all of Southeast Asia benefits from the MFF’s role in groundwater formation, flood cycle regulation, natural pollution filtering, oxidation of surplus nutrients, erosion protection, and sediment retention. For example, some of the rich soil carried by the Mekong River through Vietnam can be traced back to the MFF.
The Mekong Flooded Forest at Risk
The threats to the MFF are nearly as diverse as the wildlife dependent on it. Illegal fishing and overfishing, poaching and illegal logging, coupled with unsustainable development contribute to ecosystem degradation. The precarious balance of sustainable local lifestyles is in danger as illegal and irresponsible natural resource use increases alongside a lack of financial and educational resources.
Photo by Thomas Cristofoletti.
Compounding the threats to the MFF are the hydropower developments nearby and upriver. To meet increasing energy demands, many dams have been constructed with more proposed, bringing with them an array of environmental challenges. The impacts of the dams on water flow, particularly in conjunction with climate change, upends the delicate flood and drought cycles that have sustained humans and animals for centuries. The dam’s reservoirs reduce nutrients in the river system and weaken the connection between the area and Tonle Sap Lake. They also disrupt the natural spawning and migration patterns of fish and bird species, disturbing wildlife food chains and populations.
The Impact of Holistic Community and International Collaborations
No single solution will safeguard the MFF from the many threats it faces and the dedication of numerous stakeholders will be necessary. Local individuals, groups and agencies are working together with international organizations such as WWF-Cambodia to implement nature-based solutions (NbS). Specifically, Climate Resilient by Nature – Mekong Project (CRxN Mekong) aimed to improve the region’s ecologically sustainable response to climate change and environmental degradation. It nurtured CBET initiatives; improved governance and protection for vulnerable ecosystems; supported Community Fisheries Groups (CFi) for sustainable resource management and diversified incomes; strengthened policy advocacy and environmental awareness; and emphasized gender inclusion. WWF-Cambodia collaborated with Cambodia’s Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA) in Stung Treng Province and IIRR Cambodia in Kratie Province as well as local community members and leaders.
The colors of the rainbow So pretty in the sky Are also on the faces Of people going by
Photo by Sopheap Phim (left ) and Pha Nem (right)
WWF-Cambodia helped establish a variety of activities in pursuit of the desired outcomes. Households were provided fish fingerlings and new or repaired concrete tanks to raise them in as an alternative to illegally caught wild species. CFi offered training to female members on aquaculture product processing and labeling, marketing and competent financial management in addition to hospitality and tourist experiences. Bio-intensive gardens with 20 types of crops were established in households and at two schools to produce food and additional income sources, as well as to serve as educational resources for climate-smart agriculture techniques. The CBET involve local residents in tourism services including dolphin and birdwatching tours and facilitate the sale of indigenous crafts.
“My motivation and passion is from sustainable use of natural resources so that the next generation will have these resources,” explained Im Chak, a 63-year-old member of the Khsach Leav Community Fishery and River Guard in Kratie province. The continued support of these river guards is one of the CRxN Mekong’s most visible tasks. WWF-Cambodia helped to organize training classes for the guards to expand their knowledge of patrolling techniques and protocol, rivercraft operation, laws and enforcement to effectively safeguard natural resources. The courses were supplemented by the procurement of equipment including boats and engines, smartphones, lifejackets, power banks and headlamps.
Community fisheries patrol team. Photo by Sina Pha.
Carefully collected statistics can help explain the progress made since the CRxN Mekong project in Cambodia began in July 2022. As of the end of 2023, 2,458 individuals had been directly involved in NbS to protect and restore critical ecosystems and establish community resilience plans. 2,089 people had their vulnerability to climate change reduced via the adoption of technologies including solar panels. 370 people had been directly involved in newly established or enhanced livelihood activities such as ecotourism, fish raising and vegetable planting with 47% of targeted community members reporting a greater number of income sources for their households. 11,850 ha/km2 are now governed by or improved by management models with 72 river guards, 72 bird nest protection guards and 42 CFi helping safeguard against illegal and unsustainable activities.
Photos by Pha Nem.
What Success Looks Like for Local Lives
The CRxN program is perhaps best understood by examining specific individuals who have benefited from it. Kan Vannak, a 48-year-old father of four from Chroy Banteay Village in Kratie Province, for example, was an illegal fisherman as recently as 2020. Motivated in part by uncertain economic realities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a decline in natural resource abundance, he took part in WWF-Cambodia’s educational activities which introduced him to the benefits of ecotourism. He participated in a variety of training workshops including those focused on boat operations and hospitality skills. He stopped illegal fishing and now works as a boat driver to supplement his income from planting rice, raising chickens and growing vegetables.
Kan Vanak at his home. Photo by Pha Nem.
As Vannak’s story underscores, protecting the MFF involves providing viable economic opportunities as alternatives to unsustainable activities. Skilled traditional scarf weaver, Yin Sam Onn from Keng Village in Kratie Province, for example, received technical guidance from the CRxN project as well as opportunities to showcase her work at various local, provincial and national exhibitions and CBET. The 70-year-old’s ability to sell her products will be enhanced by the growth of tourism in the region which will bring in customers with educated interests in sustainable support of local communities.
Yin Som Onn with her scarves. Photos by Pha Nem.
Similarly, Horn Thida, a 44-year-old mother of four from Khsach Leav Village in Kratie Province participated in training courses for solar panel installation and helped share information regarding reducing plastic use, amongst other topics relevant to the emerging ecotourism industry. She trained village members on how to prepare food, welcome guests, raise chickens and grow vegetables, and now earns money serving meals to tourists who come to witness the area’s splendorous wildlife. Reflecting on the changes observed in her home village she notes that women in particular are more skilled and brave, with economic independence helping them avoid domestic violence.
Horn Thida. Photos by Pha Nem.
The success of climate resilience and ecosystem safeguarding efforts in the MFF can also be observed via individual animals. If organizations like WWF-Cambodia in partnership with local communities achieve their goals, it will mean Irrawaddy dolphins continue to play in the deep waters that rush between riverbanks covered in lush vegetation. Difficult to spot, a quick glimpse of a tail fin flicking above the current may signal that this special region of the Mekong River has hope for a healthy future.
Photo by Tan Somethbunwath.
Climate Resilient by Nature (CRxN) is an Australian Government initiative, in partnership with WWF-Australia, advancing high-integrity, equitable nature-based solutions to climate change in the Indo-Pacific. Funding for this project in Vietnam is provided by the Mekong Australia Partnership – Water, Energy and Climate.
I see friends shaking hands Saying, “How do you do?” They’re really saying I love you.
But over the past few decades, the construction of hydropower dams has undermined the river’s capacity to support life: more than 160 dams operate throughout the Mekong Basin, including 13 on the river’s mainstream, with hundreds more either planned or under construction.
It’ a wonderful world, shame about the dominant species destroying our only home and killing each other!
Thursday, 18 January 2024. Written by Saigoneer. Photos courtesy of Mark Hodson.
Starting this September, Hôtel des Arts is undertaking a number of initiatives to celebrate Vietnam’s architectural and cultural heritage. One such effort is the Digital Exhibition: A Journey through Saigon’s Timeless Heritage which places links to Saigoneer Heritage section articles throughout the hotel so guests can enjoy in-depth explorations of topics that the boutique hotel believes are worthy of preservation.How has your life been transformed in the past 30 years? Changes might materialize overnight, but some tend to creep up on you at a glacial pace. Through this collection of images from 1992, mull over how Vietnam as a country has grown with every 12-month cycle.
These photographs were taken by travel writer Mark Hodson, who had a rare opportunity to tour Vietnam in the early 1990s when international tourism was virtually unheard of here. Without the presence of themed resorts, travel agents, cable cars and cruise boats, scenes in the country were captured as closely as possible to the quotidian life of locals.
A busy phở joint in Hanoi.
“I was using a Canon AE1 SLR, shooting on Fujichrome Velvia 50, mostly with a 50mm lens,” Hodson writes on his website about the trip. “I had prints made from the original transparencies, and what you see below are scans of those prints. I haven’t adjusted any of the coloring.”
Here are some glimpse of Hanoi, Hội An, and Nha Trang in the 1990s:
Fruit vendors set up shop in front of rows of old buildings in Hanoi.
The vast emptiness of Hanoi’s airport, where Hodson was heading to “Vientiane aboard an ancient Russian-built Tupolev jet.”
A casual food street in Hanoi where one can slurp on porridge and instant noodles, or chew on a plate of hot xôi.
Sampans were often homes of families in Hạ Long. There wasn’t any hotels in the area, so Hodson reported sleeping in a Russian workers’ hostel.
I told yu once and I told yu twice.
Living on the water was much more common in 1992 than today.
Wood-fired inter-province coaches were quite unreliable and often broke down mid-trip.
But yu just don’t listen to my advice.
The colonial design of Huế’s train station.
An ice cream cart in Hội An.
There’s too much pain, too much sorrow.
The boats of Hội An.
In Đà Nẵng’s Chợ Hàn, a grain merchant took a nap during slow periods of the day.
Fishmongers in Hội An with their catch of the day.
Boats in Hội An.
Guess I’ll feel the same tomorrow.
A dapper Hội An man posed for a photo.
It’s corn! A big lump with knobs It has the juice (it has the juice).
Cross-country trips were often truncated by rest stops and engine failures.
Xích lô drivers in Hội An.
A fiery cockfight in Nha Trang.
A Nha Trang resident and her morning fish haul.
So! Two people were assassinated in Bosnia, politicians failed to contain the situation 20 million people died (WW1)
A despotic madman wanted to rule the world(Hitler. WW2) 70-80 million people died, about 3%of the worlds population.
About 20,000 dead so far in the Ukraine / Russia war, instigated by the leader of the largest country on earth who just wanted more!
However!
Now we all have NUCLEAR CAPABILITY, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump
