Hoi An, Vietnam
I woke up early today to visit the Hoi An morning market. It was my first look at the city and I was enthralled. I got goosebumps and was gobsmacked by all the yellow walls with blue shutters, ladies with conical hats sitting selling their vegetables or fish. It was the Discovery Channel Vietnam! All was bliss until about 10 o’clock when someone opened the doors to “the tourist”. Like bees to honey, they started swarming. After that it became almost impossible to make a photograph without some short trouser-ed tourist riding his bike through it. Maddening.
Honestly I see Hoi An as kind of a mix of classic Vietnam and over the top tourism. It’s a strange combination of Hammer and Sickle Communism and Starbucks Capitalism. In the old town of Hoi An you can’t find a real home or even a shop selling daily goods. It’s all bright red t-shirts with yellow stars or Chinese lanterns with Hoi An embroidered boldly on the side.
I really like Hoi An but honestly, I can’t believe it is Vietnam. It feels more like the Epcot World Showcase than a real city. We leave for Hanoi tomorrow.
Hello Matt!
I see you’re enjoying your time in Vietnam AND thinking of sharing some wonderful images with us!
The thing you said about opening the doors to tourists… I felt exactly the same in India. A photographer have to get up early in order to take good snaps (with beautiful light and no tourists)
Take care and happy new year!
Wonderful snaps! Vietnam will always be my home away from home. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Hanoi but it’s more “touristy” there. I actually found my love for digital photography during my stay there. I follow you on twitter and it was my first time to visit your blog which is great!
Btw, may I ask what bags are you using to lug your gears around the streets? Just curious as I saw you were using a Thinktank belt system on your BIO but I wonder if that would work for me as I’m considering on getting one.
Enjoy the weather, culture and the people in Vietnam! Cheers!
thanks again for posting 🙂