On the corners of Hanoi, a photo from Ha Noi, Red River Delta

Photographer's Note

Some of you expressed astonishment after my last upload, which by coincidence didn't show any people at all. I am sorry if I upset anyone for stepping out of my "comfort zone", so I decided to urgently repair my mistake.

This time I had planned to show a few photos from the imperial palace grounds in Hué, but I found them rather boring – partly because of dull weather, partly because there were again hardly any people seen – so I will instead use my plan B: showing people in the streets of Hanoi.

I visited Hanoi in 1993, when today's photos were taken, and again in 1995. It immediately became one of my favourite major cities – a case of love at first sight. It has probably seen great changes since then, during the years when Vietnam has been so much modernized and tourism has increased dramatically, but I can't imagine it has lost the charm that made me like the city so much. Large cities can of course absorb tourist masses much better than small towns.

About today's photo there is not much to say, except that they were all scanned from Kodachrome slides and any of them could have been a main upload. In fact I changed my mind several times during the preparations. The dull autumn weather of northern Vietnam has affected the colours, but I think these scans are as good as I could possibly make them.

The main photo shows flowers and vegetables being sold somewhere at a corner in central Hanoi.

Here is a larger version.

The WS photos show, among other things, a street-side noodle stall and a lot of laundry. It wasn't always possible to crop the dull sky.

pajaran, Fis2, pierrefonds, jhm, alvaraalto, ikeharel, jean113, PaulVDV, PaulVDV, PiotrF, macjake, tyro, dale54, ktanska, papagolf21, bukitgolfb301, clic, mcmtanyel, adramad, worldcitizen, ChrisJ, cornejo heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

drt100 (4038) 2019-08-29 0:48

It is nice to see these more historical images. Having been in and around Asian since 1968 I remember these daily life scenes well. I was amazed January this year when visiting Hanoi again after many years how there are still zones that reflect such a sociable sales corner like this today. Perhaps more motorized bikes. Whether in China, Vietnam or other Asian countries, these scenes persist. Thanks for the preservation and technical resurrection of this and other photos in your collection. Well DONE drt100 David

pajaran (115911) 2019-08-29 1:13

Pozdrav.
Dobar rad skeniranjem slajdova, lepo pokazana ulica sa ljudima, dobro uhvacen trenutak.
Dobra ponuda lepog cveca i povrca, lepo secanje.
Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja.

Greeting.
Good job scanning slides, nicely shown street with people, well captured moment.
Good supply of beautiful flowers and vegetables, nice memories.
I wish you all the best.

Fis2 (170779) 2019-08-29 1:41

Witaj Gert!
Another very nice scene from daily life.
Good POV, composition and colors.
Excellent shot.
I like this picture from street.
Well done.
Nice day.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (221627) 2019-08-29 2:29

Ciao Gert, great view of lovely corner, nice scene full of life and people, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (114470) 2019-08-29 4:40

Hi Gert,

You have captured well a daily life scene. The point of view is showing the details of the vegetables for sale. The light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211736) 2019-08-29 5:30

Hello Gert,

A nice market along the street.
I see nice fruits and lovely flowers.
All in a wonderful soft atmosphere.
We see real wonderful artwork images nice sharp and clear photographed
Pleasant photo work, I am also a little bit make a trip
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

emka (158172) 2019-08-29 6:35

Hello Gert, Delightful all three pictures but this one is the best. It looks more or less the same when I was there. But the traffic sometimes was horrible. Marvellous conical hats, as always in Vietnam. But something that I haven't see are these bikes with the baskets on both sides. Charming scene under the big magnolia tree. I wonder if there will be something that I have on my pictures and then the comparison could be made. Marvellous composition.

Kind regards Malgo

alvaraalto (42804) 2019-08-29 6:37

Hello Gert,
Three beautiful photos with a large number of Vietnamese people filling the streets. Busy with their daily routine and not yet disturbed by hordes of tourists as would probably be the case today.
Modern tourism is becoming a nuisance in more and more places. Haarlem today also announced measures to ban the large number of turncoats from Amsterdam.
Have a nice day. Groet Rob

rychem (72187) 2019-08-29 8:25

This time a photo of a different character, a large group of sellers on the roadside market, a very nice scene, well presented
regards Ryszard

jmdias (115186) 2019-08-29 8:44

gert

curious they use the bikes like stalls. the typical conic hats are in evidence. a nice flagrant of the daily life in this area and time, probably it is very different today.

take care

jorge

Nicou (193806) 2019-08-29 10:16

Hello

avec tous es vélo quelle vue de ce marché en vélo on oit des fleurs des fruits sous les arbre avec leurs chapeaux tout en rondeur quelle scène de rue et image quelle animation splendide
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

mesutilgim (0) 2019-08-29 10:56

Hello dear Gert,
Another topclass "oldie" in your gallery. Both photographycally and informative perfect TE job.
I think also this capture is from good old analogue times :-)
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Tue (92370) 2019-08-29 11:22

Hej Gert,
Der er rigtig mange mennesker tilbage i billedet med det livlige hjørne i den gamle bydel. Det giver et meget godt indtryk af dagligdagen med den grøntsags- og blomstermarkedet, som også tilføjer nogle attraktive farver til billedet.
Lars

Miguel82 (47110) 2019-08-29 12:13

Gert, the merchants use their cycles instead of tables to exhibit their goods. They stay also stand up, they don t use chairs. Vegetables like cabbages and flowers are sold in that market located on the road side in Hanoi center. The picture shows a lively scene as well as the luxuriant vegetation.

jean113 (27879) 2019-08-29 12:24

Hello Gert, three extremely interesting pictures, with a lot to enjoy in each one.
Scenes of everyday life, everyone getting on with their own business.
The body language of the various people is interesting, you can imagine some of their conversations.
Once again the scanning is excellent.
Very interesting notes.
Thanks for sharing, regards Jean.

PaulVDV (62920) 2019-08-29 12:45

Hello Gert,
The three photos are indeed all worth to be a major picture on this site. I see three times a wonderful street scenery that would easily convince me to visit Hanoi (if I hadn't been there yet).
All three pictures are colourful, show an interesting busy street life and also something of the architecture.
I've a little preference for the second one in the WS. This because of the attractive composition.
But they're all three very good and interesting.
Best regards, Paul

GyurMaster (24830) 2019-08-29 14:42

Dear Gert,

First of all I wouldn't call your last pick as a mistake, rather a step towards variety with a decent postcard. However, as you mentioned these photos fits better into your style. I agree with you that the other would have made a good main photo too. In this one I particularly like how the sellers are lined up and almost every of them wear the uniform hats.

Have a nice evening!
Gy

PiotrF (54698) 2019-08-29 16:47

Hello Gert
An interesting picture from Hanoi.
Thank you for informative note.
Picture with great composition and nice colours.
Good work, fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

ifege (48111) 2019-08-29 21:13

Hi Gert
I had a look at your previous posting and it wasn't one of your best but this. A photo of a classic Hanoi scene - perfectly scanned and presented.
Cheers
Ian

macjake (98456) 2019-08-29 21:53

Hi Gert
well, you know which one I would choose as the main photo! haha
love that building shot, so much to feast our eyes on. but seriously, all three are like that. and no worries, you stepped out of your comfort zone for one post, but we knew you'd come back haha. for some reason this main post looks like a movie set shot. it sort of doesn't look real, yet it is real, its quite amusing to me for some reason or another. again, all three are excellent, keep posting these. cheers
Craig

Gerrit (62042) 2019-08-30 3:39

Hello Gert,
Nice to see the people selling their stuff from their bicycles like they still do nowadays but then without the many western visitors roaming the streets of the old Hanoi quarters. The photos in the WS are great too.
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

tyro (30513) 2019-08-30 8:02

Hello Gert,

It is always a pleasure to read your comprehensive and fascinating notes, then examine your (usually three) photographs - and then return to your note - and finally re-examine your images - because there is always so much to take in, enjoy and learn.

And this presentation is no exception. Your note gives a perfect first hand account of your visit and all three photos are excellent, though I have to agree with Malgo that your main image is the very best with good light, perfect colours and exceptional details and clarity - a tribute not only to your photography but also to your scanning and editing skills as well as our much revered Kodachrome.

Wonderful!

Kind Regards,

John.

ikeharel (113353) 2019-08-30 10:58

Hello Gert,
A portable vegetables street market, from long ago in this city, that looks much different nowadays, I bet.
Fine outcome for a scanned photo, vivid colors and altogether charming corner as I see this place.
My best regards,
Ike

dale54 (17768) 2019-08-30 12:56

gert good evening and hello..as you sit and look at this scene you can feel as if your going back in time! love it. tfs dale

lousat (139286) 2019-08-30 14:29

Hi Gert,so a classic post this time,showing different moments of daily life,always a lot of people in different sceneries,the quality is excellent and the compositions very busies and full of colors and life,i like it! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

ktanska (44766) 2019-08-31 1:58

Hej Gert,
Fascinating street view from Hanoi. This has so many charming aspects. Green trees, simple buildings, people on traditional hats, flowers and lots of bicycles. Just lovely.
Kari

papagolf21 (152607) 2019-08-31 2:04

Bonjour, cher Gert,
Je ne me lasse pas de découvrir ce pays durant l'année 1993.
Ces moments de la vie quotidienne sont très bien présentés et donnent une idée de l'ambiance qui règne dans la ville.
Un marché aux fleurs mobile ! ;o)
Amitiés.
Philippe

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2019-08-31 4:28

Hi dear Gert

Another great archive shot for Ha Noi city. I like this typical Vietanian hut so much. Still byscles are main viehcles for them. This is the origin of Asian people's daily life. When I visited Ha Noi in 2008, I still could see such secne at some places---.

All the best and have a good day! Takero

willperrett (14215) 2019-09-01 0:30

Hello Gert

Well I can assure you that not much has changed in the intervening years, though perhaps the bicycles have been largely replaced by mopeds. And more people are wearing face-masks! Nice street shot.

Kind regards

Will

gervaso (28177) 2019-09-02 8:43

Hello, Gert!

Now that's a photo that has your signature, with a lot of people on the street! And the typical hats make evident the place where you took the photo. A lot of interesting details to see here in this kink of market over bikes! Very nice job!

clic (76) 2019-09-04 14:53

Hallo Gert The first two lines of your note communicate an acute sense of humour and will leave nothing to be desired, for sure; given so much cyclists selling colourful goods in the same vending point! These traditional hats seemed very trendy in the early nineties. Your revenge is very pleasing to look at as well as the customs of by then. Halsningar

carlo62 (81265) 2019-09-05 7:54

Ciao Gert
probabilmente sono scene che oggi si possono vedere con difficoltà, per cui la tua condivisione è molto più efficace.
Non so come sia oggi la vita in questa città, ma sicuramente è molto diversa dalle tue foto.
Saluti

mcmtanyel (68533) 2019-09-05 21:45

Hello Gert,
Three lovely photos from hanoi. My favorite is the noodle stall. In the main entry, do i see a BMW - in a communist country? 👍🏻👍🏻
Reagrds,
MT

adramad (72998) 2019-09-06 12:28

Hi Gert.
In these next two months, I will have less time to devote to TE, because I will be very busy preparing a change of address and also a city.
It is certainly a beautiful balcony with that large amount of petunias flowers, great chromatism.
A fantastic composition, with this lively group of vegetable vendors, with their products on bicycles,
It is a beautiful scene from day to day that offers us the atmosphere in this country.
Very effective color, which highlights the details of the image.
A good management, both of the luminosity, as of the sharpness.
Very well done. I like it.
Have a splendid weekend.
My best wishes for you.
Luis

kasianowak (17676) 2019-09-06 12:48

Indeed, I really don't know which of these photos deserves the most attention, they are equally valuable records of the past and very well-captured, well-composed street scenes with lots of colour and a sense of place.
Has Hanoi changed, as much and in the same way as Hoi An, since?

worldcitizen (16072) 2019-09-08 12:39

Hello Gert,
I like this main photo the most. The trees provide a shady corner for all the commerce. The colorful flowers in the center catch my eye, and so do the traditional hats. There's nice interaction among the people, too.

ChrisJ (171822) 2019-09-16 6:44

Hi Gert,

Missed this one. A nice capture of many cyclists with their nón lá (conical hats). They have found a shady respite from the fierce tropical sun under the trees. The cloudy weather has given a good diffused light. Perfect sharpness. Tfs!

cornejo (61504) 2019-11-12 11:31

Hi Gert, very good photograph of this interesting scene of everyday life, very well captured in this interesting image with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Very good and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work.

Good afternoon and happy week.
Warm regards from southern Spain.
Angel.