Vietnam had been on my list for a long time, a chance to experience a different pace, culture, and environment through a camera. I was there photographing three weddings, but this set of images focuses on everything in between - the travel, the streets, and the everyday moments that shaped the experience.
The trip started in the south, with time in Hoi An, one of the most visually rich places I’ve been. From there, I travelled north, moving through smaller towns and cities and photographing daily life as it unfolded. Early mornings with fishermen and street vendors, long walks through unfamiliar streets, and moments you can’t plan, just observe. That stretch became less about destinations and more about paying attention.
There were a few bumps along the way - a motorcycle accident, a stolen wallet ...
Hanoi was intense and full of energy — the kind of place where everything is happening at once. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but also easy to get lost in the process of photographing it. The trip wrapped in Halong Bay, a completely different setting, but the same approach.
This kind of work - observing, adapting, and working in real environments, that all carries directly into how I approach commercial photography. Different setting, same mindset. Be sure to check out more of our commercial work here - https://cookedphotography.com/halifax-commercial-photography/
Destination Photography by Jeff Cooke
