Discover the two worlds of Ho Chi Minh City with Adrien Jean's Saigon Photo Tours | PodSwap Vietnam Is Awesome

"It's never a dull moment in Vietnam. Things are going so fast, things are changing, and, It's really interesting to document this contrast."
- Adrien on the ever-changing nature of Saigon's streets.

In this episode, host Niall Mackay welcomes Adrien, a French photographer who has been living in Vietnam for nearly 10 years. Adrien shares his journey of falling in love with the country's vibrant street life and culture, leading him to become a street photography tour guide in Saigon. 

They delve into the allure of Vietnam for photographers, the art of respectfully capturing candid moments, and the ever-changing landscape of the city. Adrien offers insights into his approach to street photography and the authentic experiences he aims to provide through his tours.

Adrien's love for Vietnam blossomed unexpectedly after initially visiting for a short trip in 2014. As he immersed himself in the country's culture, he discovered a passion for street photography, drawn to the dynamic contrasts and constant flux of Saigon's streets. Adrien emphasizes the importance of respectful and genuine interactions with subjects, often returning to the same neighborhoods to build connections over time.

Takeaways:

• Vietnam, particularly Saigon, offers a unique and constantly evolving canvas for street photographers, with its blend of traditional and modern elements.
• Approaching street photography requires respect, genuine curiosity about people's lives, and an authentic exchange rather than staging or intruding.
• Adrien's tours aim to provide an off-the-beaten-path experience, taking clients to lesser-known neighborhoods where interactions with locals are more natural and welcoming.
• Capturing the essence of a place goes beyond just scenic landscapes; street photography freezes fragments of time that may soon disappear due to rapid development.
• Building trust and returning to the same locations allow for deeper connections and more candid photographic opportunities.

"When you photograph people doing a lot of things in the street, there are many angles, there are many ways to compose your images, and that just makes it a lot more exciting." - Adrien on the appeal of street photography in Saigon.

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Transcript

Niall: 2:29

If you are listening to this episode, I guess you're here because you're like me and you love Vietnam. I cannot believe that, as I recall this today, it was eight years since I left New Zealand, which was my home, to go on a possibly year long trip around Southeast Asia, starting in Thailand and Malaysia, and then was going to be only about eight weeks in Vietnam as I learned how to teach English with my wife, and that eight weeks has now become eight years, which is incredible. So obviously I love this country. It is a challenge living here. It has its ups and downs and I've experienced them all but overall I do absolutely love it and that's why I started this podcast. You're listening to a Vietnam podcast back in 2019 just as a hobby and now podcasting is my full time job so it is a dream come true. This might be the first episode you're listening to or maybe you've listened to every single episode already But the original of Vietnam podcast has been on a long break for now. So I'm sharing episodes from another podcast I host called Vietnam is awesome where I talk to people around the country about tourism in Vietnam and share awesome experiences basically In this episode, I was really excited to talk to Adrienne John from France, whose name I might be completely mispronouncing, I'm so sorry, we'll call him AJ. That makes it easier. I can't mispronounce that, right? But he came into my studio. I now even have a studio in Saigon, which is amazing. I went from recording in my front room in Phu Nhan to having my own podcast studio. So he came in and we had a good chat about his photography and his photo tools around Saigon, showing visitors to Saigon, what I love the most, my favorite word, the word I use to describe Saigon especially, and that is juxtaposition. Showing people the juxtaposition of Saigon, where you can have the Bottexco Tower, and you can have a Really nice fancy cocktail bar right next to a market selling meat on the street and old buildings and distressed walls. It's one of the things that makes me love it here the most. So check out this episode of A Vietnam Podcast with Adrienne Jeanne. We're talking about photography in Saigon. Even if you're not a photographer, check out this episode. There's so much good information in it. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for tuning in to A Vietnam Podcast. I have some exciting news coming soon. Cheers! welcome to the Vietnam is Awesome podcast with me, your host, Niall Mackay. I've been living in Vietnam now for nearly 8 years. I came here with my wife for just a short trip and, like many people, absolutely fell in love with the place and decided to stay. I ended up creating a podcast called A Vietnam Podcast and I'm now the host of it. Vietnam is awesome. My guest today is from France originally, and he has been in Vietnam now for nearly 10 years. But he did get to see the beauty of Vietnam, which led him to doing photography. He is also an ambassador for Vietnam is awesome. And you can check out his work on our website. And so we're going to be talking today to Adrian about photography in Vietnam. Welcome to the Vietnam is Awesome podcast.

Adrien: 6:00

Thanks for having me. yeah, I'm really excited to, to share about my journey in Vietnam with you today.

Niall: 6:06

Congratulations on 10 years. Did you come to Vietnam expecting to be here for 10 years?

Adrien: 6:12

Not at all. I came for the first time in 2014 and I was working in a completely different industry in Paris, but I wanted to experience something else. I had a friend doing an internship for this new company in Saigon and he told me you should speak to the owner, like maybe something, yeah, they need people to start the company. And I met this guy in Paris and a few months later. I was here in Saigon nice, years, 10 years anniversary,

Niall: 6:37

I know that there are many people that come to Vietnam specifically just to take pictures. And as somebody who's not a photographer, I was surprised to learn that. But then as I explored Vietnam and saw more of it, and you see the beauty of Vietnam, I understand why people would come here to take pictures. But explain why is that? Why do people, why is Vietnam such an amazing place to come and take pictures that people will come here for that purpose only?

Adrien: 7:01

is never a dull moment in Vietnam, you know it, right? and I think it's, speaking specifically of Saigon, first, maybe, I think it's, it's just a city in mutation, Things are going so fast, things are changing, and, It's really interesting to document, this contrast, the new versus the old, the traditional versus the more modern, or, a chaotic, noisy, busy market versus a quiet, pagoda, meditative pagoda, It's, it's, I think it's, it's really exciting for that. And I think for me, personally, I like people photography, you know, I like to get close to people to know more about their life, their traditions, their lifestyle, their traditions and culture. and photography has been an excuse to get close to them and to interact with

Niall: 7:46

What is the reaction of Vietnamese people when you stick a camera in their face?

Adrien: 7:51

that's one of the biggest question. Obviously, people are not that confident in approaching people, and it makes sense. You have to do it in a very respectful manner. And, and nowadays are organized photography tour, right? And, I tend to go to places first where there are not so many tourists, you know, where you feel more welcome, where you feel there is a genuine curiosity on both sides. And, I always start with my intention. If I have a good intention, I just want to know more about these people. I'm curious about their lifestyle. I have the body language that also reflects this intention. And people react to that in a good way. And I share some nice moments. and I get to know more about their lifestyle. And they get to know more about mine, And it's just this genuine exchange where we both learn, that's how I approach the streets and people, yeah.

Niall: 8:35

the reason I ask that question is because my mind goes to where I'm from, Glasgow, Scotland. And I can imagine if somebody walked up to somebody with a camera in Glasgow and just started taking pictures, they'd probably get beaten up pretty quickly. I don't know if it would be the same in France.

Adrien: 8:49

nowadays street photography is really popular along, all around the world. You just have to do it with the, in the right, approach. I will tell you a quick story of my first, time in, when I came back to Paris, as a photographer. And I was not confident. I was getting confident to approach people in Vietnam because it's easier. But in Paris, I was a bit hiding, I was a bit, I was not that confident. And I saw a guy, he was quite far from me, and I was shooting against the sun because he had a nice silhouette and everything. Maybe 50 meters from me, but he's then he saw me and he started walking towards me and he had a bottle of beer. I think it was early morning. He probably was at the end of his night where I was at the beginning of my day. And I was feeling, it was not a nice confrontation. And I didn't really know how to justify myself. But then I came back to France COVID for nine months. And I was a confident photographer and I can feel the vibes changing, you look like, you know what you're doing, even if it's not always the case, but people react to that and they're like, they're curious, but it's a, it's not an aggressive way. You know, they will be like, what you're photographing, what, and I, I'm just like, yeah, I'm documenting the streets. I love how the light falls on you, all this kind of stuff. And you can diffuse any confrontation a lot more easily, you know.

Niall: 10:00

And is that something that the people in your tools are nervous about when you first take them

Adrien: 10:04

Definitely. It's one of them. It's one of the big biggest question, and we approach when we start the tour, we discuss photography things, obviously, but we discuss that, a lot. And, and yeah, I tell them about, about how to be confi. I try to help them develop the confidence in approaching people, in a respectful way, obviously. And I'll tell them, they won't always get, Okay, I'll go, but it's okay. You just have to be respectful and to move on and to also give something back. Try to give something back. I'm always bringing them. Printing the picture of people I meet, because I go back to the same places in Saigon, so I, they're not moving, they're not going anywhere, and I bring it back, a small picture that they can keep in their room, show to their friends, and so I established this relationship. I think the, so the more you come back to a place, the easier it is to feel comfortable and not to be seen as a stranger from local people, you

Niall: 10:55

That's really beautiful. I can imagine if you come back and you're like from my knowledge of learning about photography in Vietnam, because we have some mutual friends that are photographers, And I think the thing that comes to most people's minds right away is probably rice paddies. And I love as well that word verdant, which I think is probably a French word, right? Verdant. V E R D A N T. Don't know that one, maybe it's not a French word. But I always love that word because it basically means bright green, like verdant rice paddies. And I think it's the only time you can use that word, verdant, is to describe green. So I love it for that reason. But everyone thinks you're going to come and get rice paddies, maybe some fishermen, you're going to get natural beauty. And the thing I love about Vietnam is that's the stereotypical version of Vietnam. And it is for maybe 90 percent of the country, that's what it looks like. But for 90 percent of the people that live here, they live in the cities, in the towns. You're not living in a rice paddy. You don't live. I think sometimes I live in Vietnam. It's so beautiful And I'm like I live in a high rise building in a big city. There's a highway down the road there's not verdant rice paddies and so Is that a big misconception or people come to think come to Vietnam to think that they're going to be filming verdant rice paddies And but you're doing something completely different

Adrien: 12:15

Yeah. And you have this, I guess the rise of Instagram and create some more expectations in for people, sometimes, coming to Vietnam, photographing the country. you have this part of the, of the cliches is actually true. You can capture beautiful, paddy, Baden

Niall: 12:29

fields. Sounds much better when you say, I'm sure it's a French word.

Adrien: 12:34

yeah, we've seen, for example, the incense village in the north near, near Hanoi have been changing a lot, because people see it as a side business. They actually stage, the scene to photographers. And, I'm not in this kind of photography. I understand some people. For me, it's all about, it's even more about the process as an authentic exchange than the final result, so I prefer to have a not a candid, an authentic, interaction with someone than maybe paying someone to just, pause with the hat and just everything put together, And that's why sometimes people have Unfortunately, on Instagram, they see this picture and they think it's candid, But when you have some experience, you know when it's too perfect, it cannot be this way. And for me, it's more I like to capture the chaos, the grittiness, the, this side of Saigon and the street photography of the big cities. Something is happening all the time, we mentioned the contrast and the, yeah, it's just changing so fast and it's so interesting to capture.

Niall: 13:30

And I have heard this from our mutual friends. I think it was about the staged photographs and you can go and it's just they've paid the people in the ready with the waiting. And for a lot of photographers, that's just a massive no, no. But at the same time for the tourists, for the customer, that's what they want, because they don't want to go on a three hour walk and maybe find something. They just want to show up, see what they came to see, take the picture and leave.

Adrien: 13:55

again. It's I think it's like you have to, it's. The difference between process and final result, what you, and for me, I'm more about the experience as well. Of course, I'm more happy if I go back home with amazing images, but, what's important at the end is also to have this exchange with locals, and, yeah, I think it matters even more.

Niall: 14:17

And it reminds me of an Anthony Baldin. Shot that I saw. I think it was a behind the scenes one,'cause I don't think it was on a show where the producer had set up some, I think it was a fish had been caught or something like that. And it was, it had already been caught and then they were gonna film it like it, they'd caught it live and Anthony Bodine was just furious about it. He was like, I'm not doing this. We are not like staging this shot. And I can't remember if they actually ended up doing it'cause he, he had to give in or whatnot. But I do remember that was an example of.

Adrien: 14:46

a big question to be honest, that's one of the biggest questions in the travel photography world. as I'm more into street photography, we don't stage things in a big city like Saigon, and it's, we have enough things happening all the time, it's not necessary, and one thing I really love about, about, about street photography is also, you capturing a fragment of a time that will be soon gone, when we look at pictures from Saigon, 30 years ago, we are like, oh, that, that must have been amazing to be in Saigon at this time, and I really feel it's gonna be the same, feeling, you When we look at pictures taken now, for example, the two team area, so there is this new bridge that was built on the Saigon River, now connecting District 1 and, and this area. And I used to take a lot of pictures of people, families, going on the weekend, flying their kites. a no man's land feel, really wild. and I'm really happy I have these pictures because now you have some high buildings, you have, they want to do a very modern, thing, like modern areas there. And it's, yeah, you're capturing a fragment of time. And it's really important,

Niall: 15:45

I absolutely, 100 percent agree. So, I used to live in District 4, in one of the first high rises there, it was called Copac, and we had a view of downtown Saigon, and every now and again I'll come across a picture I took from 8 years ago. There's no landmark 81. There's nothing, around Landmark 81 is all high rises now, there's nothing there, there's no 2TM bridge, there's nothing in 2TM, it's still a swamp. If anyone has been here for long enough, they'll remember the Heineken billboards that were on the other side of the river, the Heineken billboards are still there. And then even recently I came across a picture, my friends got married at the Lotte World Hotel and Thon Duc Thang Street and I have a picture from the window from the hotel and the 2TM bridge is still not joined together and I love finding these pictures exactly like you say they're like a snapshot in time so it is really important and I'm just thinking about a staged picture in Saigon I could just imagine you stopping traffic on Hai Ba Trung Street right quick everyone cross the road let's go we're getting the picture like I don't think it would happen.

Adrien: 16:42

That will get intense, yeah.

Niall: 16:44

too close. I think actually probably in Saigon you could get away with that maybe. I don't know. So what made you decide then to do Saigon street photography instead of doing the verdant rice paddies?

Adrien: 16:54

I just feel like it's more exciting, rice paddies, like it's a bit, like landscape photography versus street photography and people photography. you can find some amazing markets in the north of Vietnam place where you can photograph people actually, but in Saigon, it's it's just so much happening every day. and you can just have. This photograph, but also this experience. When you photograph a landscape, you don't have many ways to photograph a landscape, right? When you photograph people doing a lot of things in the street, there are many angles, there are many ways to compose your images, and that just makes it a lot more exciting. And again, this part of the heritage, the culture, I think you can get it in a big city that's moving fast. so yeah, I think that makes it really exciting in Saigon. And I just want to understand the lifestyle, that's about it, and I'm documenting it over years and years, yeah.

Niall: 17:43

So that's why you chose street photography. Why do the customers, the clients, the tourists, whatever we want to call them, why do they choose to go with you and do street photography? maybe they would do both, but why do they choose to do the Saigon street photography?

Adrien: 17:56

that many options in Saigon for tours. No, no, seriously, I think, they are looking for a way to experience Saigon. Of the beaten tracks, and, and yeah, to have this exchange, like authentic exchange with people, which I facilitate during the tours. so yeah, I think that's, we're looking for an authentic experience of Saigon, yeah.

Niall: 18:15

And do you have influencers and bloggers come on your tours with the video camera and just disrupt everything, or is it always pure photographers?

Adrien: 18:24

I have a mix of people. I have, I have, there is this blogger, French blogger based in Hanoi, Brice, that we're in touch and I have to invite him on a tour when he comes back to Saigon, but I haven't had, properly, proper influencers or bloggers. Maybe unfortunately, who knows, it could bring me some attention, but, I have really a mixed range of people from, from complete beginners who are looking into a way of understanding their cameras, how to set their cameras and compose their images to, more advanced professional photographers who, who want to We want someone who knows where to find the good spot and what they are looking for in terms of photography spots, and time of the day and all these things. So it's very diverse.

Niall: 19:06

So what should somebody expect when they join your tour, from the start of the day to the end, and what different tools do you offer?

Adrien: 19:13

let's go through the details of a standard tour, for example. usually you have to expect to wake up really early. in the morning, early, early bird. so I will send a form to people, once they book through my website or another platform, to assess their level and interest, so I can adjust, my tour to their expectations as well. and it helps me to understand the, yeah, the client profile and expectations. then we meet at, I pick them up at their hotel, 6am in the morning, or 2pm in the afternoon. And we go for coffee where we discuss photography. I try to spend, not to spend too much time on the technical side of photography, because What matters to me is how to see, how to compose your images. So I'm just trying to quickly, translate it in easy words, like how they can set their cameras and focus on what's happening and how to compose their images. So we discuss of what makes a great picture, what makes a great photograph, what elements you need in a photograph to make it like catchy, And then we discuss how to tell story with your images. That's also important to go from a single image. to a crazy story, if it makes sense. and yeah, obviously, we discuss how to approach people, as we discussed earlier, in a respectful way, and, and then we hit the streets. And so we, I share my vision of photography, I share them how I will work a scene, how I will compose my scene. But I also want to help them unlock their own vision, what interests them. and to tell their own story of Saigon, basically. and so yeah, we go through different places, markets, everything. And we finish with a refresher, we, we review the images.

Niall: 20:43

I love the concept of what you do. I'm not a photographer at all, but I do love Saigon. I've been here for eight years, and the word that I always use to describe Saigon, and I think you touched on it earlier, is juxtaposition. I just love the juxtaposition of Saigon, and there's nothing more, relevant than when you go near the Bitexco Tower, and I forget the name of the market, really old, grimy market street with chinese characters on the buildings but then across the street, you've got Anan one of the top fifty restaurants in Asia, and behind it, you've got the Bitexco Tower, and if you go at sunset, it's beautiful obviously, the colors glow, but You have a building that just loops Like it's almost falling apart, put the Bottexco Tower behind it, and that's not, that's just one really obvious example, but anytime I'm walking around Saigon, I'll just be like, juxtaposition.

Adrien: 21:31

that's an obvious angle, but one you can start with, you know, I always tell them like the traditional versus the modern, old versus new, and I'm trying to, so I go to different locations, one of the tour I have is actually, I call it travel through history and time, I'm trying to go, to some old part of Saigon usually district four areas where you have some little alleys like old markets, really old vibes. And then we end the tour, on the river where you have the skyline and you have the new, landmark 81 with Central Park, everything for Sunset. And so you really have this juxtaposition, this contrast of two worlds working, living together.

Niall: 22:08

I recently took a guy who's a YouTuber, influencer, if you want to call him a guy, the traveling clat for his YouTube channel, I took him all around Saigon and I probably followed a similar path that you did. So we were on the bike, but we went to district four first, had some coffee, some banh mi. Then we went to that market street I was telling you about, drove down there. and we actually finished at Landmark 81, and we were on the river there looking over the river, and he was just amazed, because you're looking over the river, there's someone driving, not driving, sailing down the river with coconuts, and you can see the old houses from there, but then at the same time you look behind you and you've got Landmark 81, and he's this is just incredible, and I'm like, yeah, this is Saigon, it's amazing.

Adrien: 22:48

and it's nice to document, right? I think nowadays most people, they have a good phone in their pocket, and that can take high quality images. So obviously I like when photographer have their own cameras because you have a little bit more control, but I think everyone can take a nice pictures nowadays and it's a good feeling. you create memories during your journey in Saigon and maybe you could print it out and put it on your wall when you go back home. and look at this, yeah, like this great memory you had there,

Niall: 23:14

there. And I was going to ask, have you had somebody come on your tour with just an iPhone?

Adrien: 23:19

more and more, because, I used to be more like, people will find me only through my website, or more like niche, a bit of street photography, but, nowadays I'm on more, mainstream platforms, and so people will be more beginners with their, only with their phones, a lot of iPhone 15, Pro Max recently, but it's honestly, they get good results because you can, again, it's how to see, how to compose your image. So it's, phone is great these days,

Niall: 23:44

Yeah. I'm really keen to come on your tool now, but I only have an iPhone

Adrien: 23:48

It's fine, we'll do something nice, don't worry. I'm just afraid I cannot show you some parts of Saigon you don't know yet. You've been here for a long time,

Niall: 23:55

there'll be lots. tell is a typical day, whether you go because. There are plenty of places that I've still not been to in Saigon.

Adrien: 24:02

so, I think when people don't know Saigon, what I do is I bring them to, Cho Lon, which means big market in Vietnamese, and it's, it's a Chinatown,

Niall: 24:10

I did not know that meant big market. A new Cho meant market, but I didn't know Cho Lon. Of course, Lon, yeah, it's when you go in all the food and things like that. Lon means big, of course. okay. See, I learn things all

Adrien: 24:21

we're starting. And, yeah, because it offers just a lot of photography opportunities from the busy markets to the temples where you have a pagodas where you have a nice light going through the sailing and the incense smoke. It's really atmospheric. You have the small alleyways and you really have this authentic vibes and sometimes the more modern building as you mentioned before. So it's a mix of cultures of all of that. And so I do tours in the morning in the afternoon there. It's a good location for photography. we go as well, to, a place called Tanda. it's a small kind of island on the other side of, of the Expat District. and that encapsulates all that defines Saigon. a vibrant market with historic buildings around, a park where people will walk out really early in the morning, coffee shop by the river with the landmark 81 in the background. really exciting place as well for street photography. around the train station as well, you follow the tracks and then there are some really exciting places to photograph. District 8 is a bit more, even less known I would say,

Niall: 25:26

I don't think I've ever been there. but

Adrien: 25:28

but really exciting. so I would say I have, yeah, four, five locations like that where I bring clients, photographers, depending also on what they're looking for, yeah.

Niall: 25:37

And are people surprised by what they find? Or have they already looked at it on Instagram and they're expecting that?

Adrien: 25:43

I think most people are surprised because, Again, like you mentioned, the Verband, the Paddyfields and everything, that's why they're exposed to on Instagram and everything, a bit less of, streets of Saigon. and I'm always trying to bring them again to places where tourists don't go because the interaction with people is so much nicer, people are, generally happy to exchange and everything. When you go, if you go to Benton Market or a very popular touristic place, people just be, will just be fed up, and so I think they're always surprised because, oh, I say, oh, Vietnamese are just so nice and it's also because they're, they don't see too many tourists.

Niall: 26:15

I had this discussion just yesterday with somebody and I think I've said it before on this podcast. It's such a cliche and I hate to say it because I feel like it's such a condescending western thing to say like, oh the people are so friendly, the people are so nice. But it is actually true for Vietnam because I've been to other, some Southeast Asian countries that I won't name. Where they weren't so friendly and they're not so accommodating and maybe they've been over touristy and they're sick of tourists But Vietnamese people in general, day to day life are just the friendliest, most welcoming Down to earth people you can meet even if you don't speak a word of Vietnamese You'll get a smile and they'll try and help you and

Adrien: 26:51

I agree. It helps a lot for street photography and people photography. Yeah, it's an amazing place. And, but again, some people tell me, of course, they go to really touristic places and they don't get the same kind of, of smiles, And, and yeah, it's good to get away a bit of the tourist path for that.

Niall: 27:04

And that, the video I was telling you about, I did the traveling class. So we actually, I took, he let me took the, take the audio and I put it on my other podcast, the Vietnam podcast. So if you wanna go listen to that, check that out. It's actually the most listened to episode I've ever made, and took the audio from his video. And exactly like you said, so we went to District 4. I was really excited because I used to live in District 4 and I know it's gritty and it's dingy and it's dilty and it's different to District 1 and District 2 especially. And we sat down and had some coffee and of course we had the guys just all start talking to us and my friend, he can speak a bit of Vietnamese so he was able to translate to us. And then We had a woman go by who, on all intents and purposes, she had mental health challenges, I guess she was a bit, talking all over the place, but super friendly, harmless, and then the guys were explaining to my friend, oh yeah, that's the quote unquote local crazy lady, and I later saw another video, if anyone's heard of Spanian, who's a guy that It's from Sydney in Australia and he was in District 4 doing the food and the same woman was in the background in his video and he was like, who is this woman? I was like, ah, she's famous. Like she must just appear on everyone's videos and things like that. But we went there, had a great time. No tourists around. People want to talk to you. yeah, it's a great experience.

Adrien: 28:16

Yeah, it's, of course it's about taking nice pictures, but it's also about this exchange that you will remember a long time after you, you go back home

Niall: 28:23

so you've been doing the Saigon street tours now for a while. Do you have plans for anything else?

Adrien: 28:28

Yeah, so I'm always looking for new, itineraries through the city. but I'm also, I'm also developing a tour in Mekong Delta because there are many, I really, there is a region called Chau Dop, near the Cambodian border where it's, that is really exciting to photograph. And, I'm also, working on some tours, mixing street photography and traditional festivals. So for people who are interested in this kind of photojournalism, documentary, of tradition, traditions, basically. And you have a lot in Mekong Delta, or in fishing villages, and I think mixing these both will be, will be quite an experience.

Niall: 29:04

And not to cause a mass panic and a sense of urgency with people listening to this, but do you think those kind of festivals, those floating markets, are they disappearing? Are we going to see the end of them within the next 5 to 10, 15 years?

Adrien: 29:20

I think it's case to case, but definitely these, these floating markets don't serve the same purpose that they used to, where you have bridges, you have connections made easier. I think that some of them are mostly for tourists now. You can still find some of them, but I'm not really confident in still having them in five years,

Niall: 29:37

Or if they will be, they will just be staged?

Adrien: 29:39

Exactly. and regarding festivals, I think traditions will survive and and and it's a really nice way to have a glimpse at what is Vietnamese culture, maybe just come to Vietnam and experience it through photography, you know, it will make a long lasting memories. if you happen to be in, in Hoi An, during your trip, I have also a really good friend, Etienne, who is, organizing, photography tours in and around Hoi An and also in North Vietnam. and, I actually did my first photography tour ever with him. And he planted the seed, for me to do this kind of stuff. he's, yeah, go check him out if you're in Hoi An. He's also, an ambassador for Vietnamism. yeah.

Niall: 30:15

And it's a small world in Saigon, so you've been in touch just recently with my brother in law, who's a photographer, and so I've met Etienne before through my brother in law, and I remember talking to him and I met recently another photographer up there Quinn Mattingly, and he was talking a similar thing about The amazing reaction from people you can walk up to them in the middle of the verdant rice paddy and you know Just have a smile and a chat and I remember he was telling me as well people will invite you into their homes you can go in and they'll give you food and drink and sit with you and talk with You and it's just again another Cliche, but it's not a cliche that Vietnamese people are just amazing

Adrien: 30:54

They are the best, yeah.

Niall: 30:55

Awesome. how can that person listening right now that's I'm getting on the next plane to Vietnam, I'm taking some pictures, How can they get in touch with you and how can they book your tour?

Adrien: 31:03

I have my website, Adrien Jean Photography. So if they, if they put in Google, Saigon Photography Tours or Ho Chi Minh Photo Tours, they will find me, pretty quickly. I hope so. and yes, with the VAA platform as well. Vietnam is awesome with the platform. yes, they can contact me on Instagram as well. also through the website.

Niall: 31:21

Perfect, and we'll make sure we put those links in the show notes as well. Adrienne? Thank you so much, Adrian. Make sure you go and check out the show notes for all the links that you need. Go to the Vietnam is Awesome website. You'll be able to find more about Adrian and his photo tools as well. And if you do want to book a tour in Vietnam, then get in touch. Go to the VietnamisAwesome. com website. My name is Niall Mackay. I've been your host. And make sure you go follow us on social media, Instagram, all that good stuff as well. get in touch with us as well. I recently had somebody email me asking for tips after listening to one of our episodes, so you can get in touch with me as well. You can go to my website, sevenmillionbikes. com. And if you're confused by the Scottish accent, that was bikes, B I K E S, not bakes, B A K E S, which when we transcribe this episode, it always comes up seven million bakes, but it's bikes. Adrian, thank you very much. Thank you for listening. Cheers.

Adrien: 32:16

Thank you for having me.