Northern Vietnam on Film

This trip around Northern Vietnam was quite unlike the others we’ve done before. We’ve always traveled as a pair—when we spent six weeks backpacking around Central Europe and Turkey; when we hiked, walked, and ate our way through parts of Western Europe; when we caught glances and made friends in Morocco; and all the times we rested and restored our hearts in Japan.

This time we were six: me, Amy, her parents, her sister, and nephew—traveling as a mini caravan around Northern Vietnam. At times we were even eight and then eleven, when we collected family members on the way back through to our first and last stop: Hanoi.

After having been in Japan for the past two and an half weeks to say we experienced major culture shock is putting it lightly, especially when you consider the itinerary that had been planned for us (with the help of family on the ground in Vietnam). 

Not long after arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, we were resting our heads at an auntie’s home in the city. The very next day, we were back in the sky and headed for Phong Nha. Two days after that, we caught an overnight train to Quế where many of Amy’s relatives still live. It was the first time I had phở for breakfast (at the ripe time of 5:35am at that) and a traditional Northern Vietnamese feast for lunch. Her relatives (and their neighbours) pulled all the stops to show their Canadian guests a good time. Uncle came around to each table to treat us and everyone to his home brew. We explored the property and were shown the very spot where a scar of war was still visible. We were met with laughter, hearty handshakes, and wide smiles.

And then we were off again: to Ninh Binh where we would get to enjoy a slower pace for a bit. Coconut coffee every day, please and thank you. Street cats and dogs, and the quintessential sight of motos which would of course also be waiting for us back in Hanoi as we rounded out our trip.

CAMERAS
Hasselblad SWC, Olympus PenD, Contax G2

35MM FILM
Kodak Portra 160 & 400, Harman Phoenix, Ilford HP5

DEVELOPMENT
The Lab — Vancouver, BC Canada

FILM SCANNING
Half Frame / 35mm on Fuji Frontier SP500
Medium Format via Camera Scanning