Stunning Detian Falls straddle the China, Vietnam border shining with brilliant, jewel-like colour.   Consisting of several tiers of water that gush over its edges, the falls stretch more than 200 metres and are surrounded by beautiful limestone karsts.  Water flow varies throughout the year, however regardless of the season I am sure they maintain their simple magnificence.

There is nothing I love more as a traveller than hanging out at markets.  Always a hive of activity they are a place where you will find real life – real people doing real things!

Nowadays, people often talk about how the number of shots they take with a digital camera has increased substantially compared to the old film days.  Well in the markets of the ethnic minority areas of northern Vietnam back in 1999 I managed to easily burn through 8 or 10 rolls of film in a couple of hours.  Some fast and furious shutter clicking – which did seem a little obscene back then.

The colour of the traditional dress for the Flower Hmong was just brilliant with vibrant pinks, blues and greens, while the Black Hmong wore deep indigo and the Tay often wear a shirt (differing colours for various areas and tribes) with indigo trousers – the PaDi with the triangle style hats in the images also belong to the Tay ethnic group.

This gallery contains a collection of images originally shot using mostly Fuji Velvia colour slide film which have been digitally converted to black and white.    Most were taken at Can Cau and Muong Khong markets, with images in the fields shot on the outskirts of Bac Ha and the Black Hmong in the mountains outside of Sapa.

The colour images are gorgeous and are posted separately (click here to see), however I find it is easy to get lost in the vibrant colour.  The black and white allows me to appreciate the all the detail of the image – the people, the location and the traditional dress.

A few of my favourite lanscape images….

Hailing from Southern Vietnam the Cai Dai religion is a feast of colourful kitsch.  Its saints include Sun Yat-sen, Victor Hugo and Vietnamese Poet, Nguyen Binh Khiem, while its beliefs and teachings seem to be a bit of a mish-mash of Buddhism, Catholicism and Taoism – the vibrant robes of red, yellow and blue are said to represent and in a way pay homage to each.

These images were taken at the church’s principal location, the Holy See in Tay Ninh just a couple of hours from Saigon.  Unfortunately, we had pretty average weather with a bit of rain before dawn and overcast skies for the early morning service, however the people were incredibly welcoming and the church filled with intriguing detail.

Flower Hmong Girl

This gorgeous little Flower Hmong girl from Northern Vietnam just has the most amazing and emotive facial expression in this shot!

We were wandering about the area near Bac Ha one afternoon some 11 years ago, the golden light was bathing the countryside making for simply incredible views.   To add to the already very photogenic conditions villagers were all traditionally dressed and just going about the business of farming.

This was the first in a series of days where we were privileged to visit some of the most remote and authentic communities I have ever experienced.

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Friends Forever

This day was definitely a memorable one! Back in Nha Trang, Vietnam some 11 years ago we headed out for a bit of shooting with local photographer, Long Thanh, after admiring some of his work that adorned the walls of the Sailing Club.

We rode to the other side of Nha Trang to a local beach area where there was a small merry go round on the sand and lots of kids playing. My presence created a bit of a mob scene as they didn’t get too many foreigners hanging out down there in those days. But this was one of those times where every shot I look back on recreates the feeling of just how special an experience the day was.

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The Laughing Boatman, Hoi An, Vietnam

This old guy was stretched out on his boat sporting a wide, gold enhanced toothy, or perhaps I should say near toothless smile that beamed from his weather beaten face as he went about his business of eliciting customers for a boat ride along Hoi An’s Thu Bon river in Central Vietnam.

Always a sucker for a face with character he had soon cast us off onto his mate’s boat, fortunately a gentleman who was similarly photogenic.  The next half hour or so was spent gliding up and down this picturesque waterway that was awash with vivid reflections from the old French colonial buildings that line the waterfront of this World Heritage hamlet.

Enjoy this selection of images!

Jillian