Life by the Sea

Location: Lagi, Binh Thuan province, Vietnam
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Three hours by bus from Ho Chi Minh city, La Gi is a District-level town of Bình Thuận Province. The area is also known as the "Vietnamese Riviera" due to its beautiful beaches and resorts and it connects all the way to the beaches of Phan Thiet a further 25km up along the coast. While the growing number of foreign visitors lay in the sun to enjoy the high life, it is interesting to look at the daily life of the local residents.

Boat crew gets a ride on the basket boat to shore and can't wait to go home.

Basket boat owner with his pride and joy.

Waiting at the shore for the goods to arrive.

How the goods are transported from the boats to the trailers.

Loading up.

Spartan living conditions.

100 year old resident.

Preparing for the next day.

Let it Rain (on the streets)

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Seeing how much rain we are getting this Lunar New Year (aka Tet Festival), here is a post dedicated to street scenes in Vietnam in the rain.

Many photographers will hide their cameras and run for shelter at the first sight of rain. In Saigon, when the raindrops fall, a whole new street scene emerges. And couple that with a bright setting sun, it is simply wonderful.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Lost in Saigon

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Saigon, aka Ho Chi Minh City, is a playground for street photographers. You can simply walk and lose yourself in the streets and alleys. There is just so much to see and shoot that you just get lost in the ever flowing street life...

Catching up with the Street Shooter

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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This post is a tribute to Mr Tung, an exceptional artist and avid street photographer whom I have the honor of knowing and shooting with. He has taught me so much. Thank you sir!

Construction Worker on Break

Taken: 10th Nov 2011
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Winding through the alleys of Saigon, I came across this construction worker who is taking a break by a street stall in an alley. He is a handsome fella with little words. He smiled and nodded slightly at me when I picked up my camera to capture portraits of him. Even when I was done and said thank you, he did not speak a single word. Just smiled and nodded slightly. Cool as a cucumber.

Young Street Vendor

Taken: 10th Nov 2011
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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This young boy approached us at the bus station and asked if we wanted to buy some sweet pastry from him. I was amazed by his young age as he was with our cameras. He was all smiles as we took some portraits of him before his guardian (mother?) ran out and told us to leave. Most street vendors in big cities do not like their pictures taken. Maybe they are afraid that they will get into trouble.

Nha Lon, Long Son Island

Taken: 11th Nov 2011
Location: Long Son Island, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, Vietnam
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Long Son is home to an ancient commune. The commune is self sufficient. Nha Lon, meaning "Big House", is the home of Ong Tran religion and the center of this commune. In Nha Lon, the old "Nom" language, which is very similar to Chinese, is still practiced among the holy men. Here are some pictures taken in Long Son Island. You can read more about Long Son here.

The holy men practice their Nom and writes the ceremony banners using the old calligraphy.

This beautiful lady is the current person in charge of Nha Lon (the Big House).

The folks gather in the big hall of Nha Lon, waiting for the religious ceremony.

Some of the Holy men, sitting around and chatting. The second gentleman from the left actually speaks Chinese.

This handsome gentlemen is 80 years old.

A young man sits waiting for his turn...

The folks wears black robes and walks barefooted towards Nha Lon for a religious ceremony.

Inside the home of a Long Son resident.

Inside the home of a Long Son resident.

Long Hai Fishing Village - Part 2

Taken: 11th Nov 2011
Location: Long Hai Fishing Village,Ba Ria Province, Vietnam
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Click here to see Part 1.

The people of Long Hai are beautiful and very friendly. If they can afford the time, they will smile while we take our shots. The children are more wary of strangers and will shy away when they see the large black cameras pointed at them. The people of Long Hai do not have a lot, but they are content. They do not live in very good conditions but they are happy.

Crew from fishing boats hitting the shore after a hard night's work.

Going home.

We are going Home!!!

Old lady of Long Hai.

Happy family portrait.

Young baby boy at breakfast time.

While adults play, kids play too.

Portrait of a boy of Long Hai.

Mother and Son.

Breakfast time.

Click here to see Part 1.

Long Hai Fishing Village - Part 1

Taken: 11th Nov 2011
Location: Long Hai Fishing Village,Ba Ria Province, Vietnam
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Click here to see Part 2.

Long Hai is a small fishing village in Ba Ria Province and located 30km north-east of Vung Tau. It was a very cloudy morning when we arrived at Long Hai. We also reached Long Hai a little late. So most of the fishing nets have already been picked clean and folded, and most of the catch sorted. Nevertheless, we managed to get a feel of what life is like in the heartlands.

Heading out in the basket boat.

Pulling baskets back off the beach.

Ladies sorting out crabs on the beach.

Packing sorted fish into crates.

Ice is provided for free by the companies that are buying up the stock of fish. They will send the ice in trucks, and the same trucks will leave with all the processed and packed fish.

Fish crates iced and value calculated.

Heads, tails and waste collection.

Nets are untangled, tended and kept.

Click here to see Part 2.