Advert for Hoi An, Vietnam in a travel agent's shop window in Civic, Canberra

Advert for Hoi An, Vietnam in a travel agent's shop window in Civic, Canberra in September 2013

Wedding couple

Wedding couple and a pretty woman at the Hoàn Kiếm Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam in January 2012

Woman preparing for a wedding photograph in Vietnam

Woman having her hair made up for a wedding photo at the Hoàn Kiếm Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam in January 2012

Hanoi children in traditional dress

Girls in traditional dress in Hanoi, Vietnam in January 2012

All covered up

Bicycle lady trying to prevent the sun darkening her skin in Hoi An, Vietnam, taken in March 2008. Such an unusual and provocative sight, all covered up like that.

Cover up or burn?

Contrast between a western tourist trying to get as tanned as possible and Vietnamese women trying to stay as fair and as light-skinned as possible by covering up when outside in the sun. Such different perceptions of what is beautiful and desirable. Photo taken in Hoi An, Vietnam, taken in March 2008

Graceful

A portrait of a lovely old lady taken in Hoi An, Vietnam in March 2008

Ao dais

Two women dressed in ao dais, one buying food from the other. I like how the motorcycle mirror has inserted itself into the frame and thrown off a reflected image of its own. Taken in Saigon in March 2008.

Pretty ao dai

This pretty woman in a beautiful ao dai was at the tourist shop in the central post office in Saigon playing a traditional instrument. She agreed to her photo being taken but was a little apprehensive. Using a point and shoot camera I didn't get her face in focus, the camera being fooled by the brilliant Colours of her traditional dress. Still, the dress was so striking and she was so pretty, that I have included it anyway. Taken in Saigon, Vietnam, March 2008

Peasant life

This Vietnamese lady has obviously has had a very tough life. She was in the market in Hoi An, Vietnam in March 2008 and had a beautiful electric blue ao dai on and a lovely conical hat. But it was her ancient face that interested me the most, weather beaten and battered. Her teeth are in appalling condition, and it looks like she has been chewing betel nut for decades. Helps put our trials and travails into perspective. If you click on the image you will clearly see how the betel nut juice has stained and destroyed her teeth.