Vietnam is a fascinating and beautiful nation. shaped by a rich, but at times, tumultuous history.
For years, many outside the country viewed it through a Western-centric lens of conflict, as images captured by mostly American photojournalists during the Vietnam War shaped its global perception. However, in recent decades, Vietnam has emerged from that shadow, with a new generation of image-makers capturing the essence of this unique and beautiful land.
1. Phong Nguyen – “Young H’mong Girl”, Ha Giang
Vietnam is home to fifty-four officially recognized ethnic groups, most of which live in the country’s northern mountainous regions. With around 1 million members, the Hmong are one of the largest groups, known for their vibrant culture and bright, intricately embroidered traditional clothing. This beautiful portrait by Phong Nguyen, depicts a young Hmong girl dressed for a Spring Festival, a significant event in the Hmong calendar. The festival symbolizes joy and tradition, providing a time to celebrate their heritage and pray for prosperity, health, and a bountiful harvest in the year ahead. The rich yellow fabric framing her young face serves as a powerful symbol of the Hmong’s enduring culture and the diversity of Vietnam’s ethnic groups.
2. Andreas Kremer – “Home in HCMC”, Ho Chi Minh City, 2019
Ho Chi Minh City, the economic heart of Vietnam, is a bustling metropolis home to gleaming skyscrapers and modern infrastructure. While it boasts the highest GDP per capita in the country, it also grapples with significant inequality, with the top 20% of earners making over 10 times more than the bottom 20%. German photographer Andreas R. Kremer perfectly captures this stark contrast. His striking image depicts the polished luxury apartments catering to expats, wealthy locals, and foreign investors, casting a juxtaposing shadow over the dilapidated residences in the foreground, which often house poor migrant workers who have moved to the city from rural areas in search of better opportunities and are essential to the city’s economy and cultural fabric It is a striking scene that highlights the contrasting lives of those often living side by side, mirroring the challenges faced by many rapidly growing cities in Southeast Asia
3. Napalm bombs explode on Viet Cong structures south of Saigon in the Republic of Vietnam, 1965
There are innumerable iconic images from the Vietnam War, many captured by Western photojournalists who shaped the public’s perception in the U.S. and beyond. These harrowing images continue to serve as important touchstones of the conflict and have had a lasting influence on modern photojournalism. However, some of the most striking and powerful images were not taken by professional photographers, but by American soldiers, such as these aerial shots of a napalm attack in the south of the country.
The use of napalm by the United States during the Vietnam War is one of the most controversial and horrific aspects of the conflict. The U.S. dropped thousands of tons of napalm across the country, destroying entire villages and large areas of forest and farmland, while killing and maiming countless civilians. Though often portrayed by U.S. Army administrators as tactical moves against Vietcong structures, the aerial shots of napalm attacks, particularly when taken by U.S. soldiers themselves, often showed the vast scale of destruction, and beyond the immediate devastation, napalm also caused long-lasting environmental damage. The chemicals polluted the land and water, destroying ecosystems and contributing to soil degradation, a legacy still felt by generations of Vietnamese people.
It is important to note, however, that these images, though often iconic in the West, tell only part of the story. Vietnamese photographers and survivors also documented the war from within, though their perspectives have historically been underrepresented in global media
4. Khanh Phan-Thi – Untitled, from the series “Vietnam from Above”
From the series “Vietnam from Above”, this stunning image by Khanh Phan-Thi captures a woman drying incense sticks dyed in a vivid red— a color symbolizing good luck. In Vietnamese culture, incense serves as a bridge between the living and the spirits, making it an essential part of daily rituals and traditions. Framed from an aerial perspective, the photograph beautifully showcases the worker’s dedication as she carefully gathers the crimson sticks into bundles. Her bowed head, reminiscent of someone in prayer, reflects the deep reverence for this timeless practice.
5. Chris Ha – “Harmony in the Tea Fields”, 2024
Tea production in Vietnam plays a vital role in its economy and culture. The country is one of the world’s largest tea producers, and it also holds deep cultural significance, often symbolizing hospitality, respect, and social gatherings.
This stunning image, captured by Miami-based photographer Chris Ha, showcases the dedication of workers who hand-pick the leaves—an essential process for producing the finest teas. The workers, dressed in traditional attire and iconic conical hats, stand in contrast to the lush, green fields, bathed in soft afternoon light. The scene highlights the timeless connection between the people and the land, celebrating the cultural heritage and unwavering commitment behind this intricate craft.
6. Chan Kim – Fisherman in Hoi An
Despite rapid modernization traditional artisanal practices endure in many parts of Vietnam. This is especially evident in fishing methods, in regions like Hội An, where fishermen still use age-old techniques involving large square nets suspended from bamboo poles, raised and lowered using foot-powered winches. Once the nets are lifted, the fishermen navigate the waters alone in small boats or traditional basket boats — known as thuyền thúng — to collect the catch.
In this striking image, Korean photographer Chan Kim captures a solitary figure standing atop a small boat, casting his net with practiced precision in the soft dawn light. It is serene yet powerful scene that conveys the quiet dedication of these fishermen, guardians of traditions handed down through generations.
7. William E. Crawford –103 Hàng Bông (Cotton Street), Hanoi, 1995
Though today, Hanoi is a popular destination for street photographers both from within Vietnam and beyond, with images of the city appearing everywhere, in the decades following the Vietnam War, photographs of its now-iconic streets were scarce. This was due to the country’s political isolation, which limited access for foreign photographers and journalists. Though local photographers were actively documenting everyday life, their work was rarely seen or acknowledged internationally, in part due to the West-centric nature of global visual culture.
The work of American photographer William E. Crawford, though he may not have realized it at the time, is especially significant. He was one of the first Western photographers to work in postwar North Vietnam, first visiting the capital in 1985 and continuing to document the city at intervals for three decades. His images of Hanoi’s streets and its people going about everyday life capture the evolution of the city—demonstrating the changes while also highlighting how much of its essence has remained intact, despite the significant growth in tourism in recent years, particularly over the last decade.
8.Trung Pham Huy – “Waterlilies harvesting season”, Mekong Delta, Vietnam
This wonderful image by Trung Pham Huy portrays farmers chest-deep in the Mekong Delta, collecting and washing water lilies before they are packed and sent off to the market. Water lilies hold a special place in Vietnamese culture, symbolizing purity, resilience, and beauty.
In the rural heart of Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta, water lilies are deeply intertwined with daily life and spiritual practices, with their delicate flowers used in traditional cooking, religious offerings, and decorative arts. During the wet season, from August to November, the region’s waterways teem with vibrant lilies, and farmers — mostly women — wade through the shallows at dawn to gather them. This annual harvest serves as a powerful reminder of the bond between the people and the natural cycles that sustain them. The act of collecting and selling these lilies reflects the profound harmony between Vietnam’s rural communities and their environment, where each flower contributes to a much larger cultural and ecological tapestry.
9. National Archives – Ho Chi Minh with Children, 1950
Often called “The Father of Vietnam”, Ho Chi Minh led the Vietnamese independence movement against both French colonial rule and Japanese occupation during World War II. On September 2, 1945, he declared Vietnam’s independence from French rule in Ba Dinh Square, marking the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. After the division of Vietnam into North and South in the mid-1950s, he became a symbol of national unity, with the North, under his leadership, striving to reunify the country. Known for his modest lifestyle and connection with ordinary citizens, he was often photographed with children, embodying his image as a man of the people. When he died in 1969, hundreds of thousands gathered to mourn him, and his body was placed in a mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square, which is now a major cultural and political landmark. His legacy endured, and he became a symbol for the North Vietnamese Army in their fight against the South and the U.S. Following the end of the war and the reunification of Vietnam in 1975, the city of Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in his honor. However, like many iconic political figures, while he is widely celebrated within Vietnam, his legacy is viewed more critically by some — particularly among certain overseas Vietnamese communities — where the complex aftermath of the war and political divisions continue to shape perspectives.
10. Ben Glassco – “A Job Well Done”, Northern Vietnam
Rice is deeply woven into Vietnamese culture. According to folklore, the gods sent a messenger spirit to gift rice to humankind, and it has always been a fundamental part of daily life and a key export—Vietnam is the world’s third-largest rice exporter. The country’s lush, green rice fields have become an iconic symbol, beautifully portrayed here by Ben Glassco. The image captures a lone rice farmer strolling through the terraced fields, calling out to her fellow workers as they wrap up their day, with the late afternoon sun illuminating the verdant valley surroundings typical of the country’s northern regions.
All images © their respective owners