The weekend of Aug 18-19 was originally scheduled for HSBC Golf tournament shoot as I had confirmed my availability with an intention of hopping on a plane on the 20th to Hanoi with my client Asia Inc Forum for their anniversary event ASEAN 100 Leadership Forum (an event I had undertaken in Jakarta in 2006). I was, however, concerned about the imminent sunburnt and having to tolerate the itch that ensued while in Hanoi—it would not have been a pleasant experience. As fate had it, my itinerary changed and I was required to fly in the morning of the 19th with a good few days of prep time and an opportunity to see a little bit of Hanoi.
Photo Gallery: STREETS OF HANOI PHOTO GALLERY
Bangkok International Airport © Jan Shim Photography [Gallery]
Variety is the Spice of Life seems to the theme at the new Bangkok International Airport and I’ll have you know this airport is huge and it would be prudent to know your way through the complex network of similar looking departure councourses. The team had many hours to kill and before the scheduled departure so some of us shopped, ate, shopped and ate some more. When you have a chance to stop over at this airport, make sure you make the effort to walk around. Trust me, you will be walking a lot, maybe even run—the airport concourses are filled with surprises that might just catch you off guard! Variety is the spice of life.
Hanoi Street Food © Jan Shim Photography
Let me be quick to point out that I knew very little about Vietnam much less about Hanoi, its people or its culture. So there was a lot to discover as my associate Anthony and I took a brisk walk not too far from our hotel for a little sight seeing. The very first thing I noticed was the tendency to sit on very low stools, low enough that it appeared they were squatting. That’s not far from the truth either as many do squat and do so prominently when eating.
© Jan Shim Photography
Just as I described above, you can find local delicacies sold along popular streets that are densely populated with more two-wheeled vehicles than there are cars. By that I mean the streets are literally occupied by waves of motorcycles, bicycles, cars and the occasional trishaws. Crossing any street in Hanoi can be a nightmare for the first time tourist, traffic never seem to stop for you so you dare yourself with death-defying attempts to make it across without an incident. Or, resort to staying in the hotel and miss all these interesting sights and sounds Hanoi has to offer.
© Jan Shim Photography
I don’t know the name of this cathedral but the interesting bit of this picture is the little girl who was crying her eyes out because she couldn’t fit her head through the bars as her mother made fruitless attempts to console her.
With Bobby Chinn @ ASEAN 100 Forum. Photo by Anthony Er.
With Bobby Chinn @ Restaurant Bobby Chinn. Photo by Anthony Er
Autographed Restaurant Bobby Chinn menu © Bobby Chinn
Anthony and I booked a morning tour where we visited the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum , the first university of Vietnam, one pillar temple and ended the morning with a drive-by visit of West Lake and more streets of Hanoi, driving past Restaurant Bobby Chinn (restaurant owner and host of World Cafe Asia TV programme). I watch his show all the time and you can imagine my delight discovering that he’s in Hanoi and has a restaurant located about 15 minutes walk from our hotel. I met Bobby not once but twice and he said to drop by his restaurant for the signed menu. He’s concerned how folks might react to his humour so I’ve taken the liberty of blurring the text. There is more humour on Page 2 but you don’t get to see any of that stuff unless you’re a really good friend. I had Bobby autograph an additional copy for a fellow gastro-naut Reeda Malik. Bobby, there’s a face to that name you inked.
Popular Vietnamese Beef Noodles (Pho Bo). Photo by Anthony Er
No visit to Vietnam is ever complete without a bowl of the ever so popular Pho Bo. The only problem is one wasn’t enough and I ended up with a bowl each day of the my remaining stay. I only managed to bring home a couple of dried Pho noodles and I’m giving that a go to see if I can pull it off like I did with Japanese Beef Udon.
Equipment used in gallery: EOS 20D, EF 24-70mm, EF-S 10-22mm lens
Louis 7:56 pm on September 3, 2007 Permalink |
Looks like a historical place. I would love to drop by Hanoi next year. Don’t think I can steal time for a vacation this year.
Glenn 10:44 pm on September 3, 2007 Permalink |
Jan, the beef noodles look like it tastes great… omg…
and u are making me hungry again….
justenjoyhim 2:25 am on September 4, 2007 Permalink |
It’s been more than five years since my husband and I were in Hanoi on the first part of our trip to adopt our son from Ha Tinh, Vietnam. We loved Hanoi and these pictures bring back wonderful memories.
Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful photographs.
kfsim 10:27 pm on September 4, 2007 Permalink |
hope I will can go there someday.
Rebecca_mel 9:57 pm on September 5, 2007 Permalink |
WOW,again~
Nice pictures ,Jan~
Although i have never been to there, i can experience the
local culture from your photos, thank:)
mike 8:02 am on September 7, 2007 Permalink |
Great shots as usual Jan. I too, would like to go there one day.
jason 11:37 am on September 7, 2007 Permalink |
nowadays….. if i dunno what to do on internet, i will first check out your website
you look good bro. more handsome than bobby chinn. hee! show us more surprises.
Jan Shim 10:31 pm on September 7, 2007 Permalink |
@ Jason,
Bro, Bobby Chinn might kick ya ass for that smart comment!
sgdavid 10:41 pm on September 7, 2007 Permalink |
Part of Jan’s job is to make ordinary people look good. He is also very proficient in photoshop….:P enuff said !!!
vincent 5:02 pm on September 8, 2007 Permalink |
hi jan,
what a nice shoot, i like ur shooting style..honestly, it look likes an art product..really..
jia you bro.
Jan Shim 6:54 pm on September 8, 2007 Permalink |
@ Vincent,
Thanks for taking the time off your insanely busy newspaper journalism to visit this page. I am happy to see you’ve also decided to join the online community with your Multiply blog—way to go bro! It’s good to be able to look back one day and see just how far we’ve lived life. Thanks for your support too and I hope our paths cross again soon.
Vietnamese Gallery » Blog Archive » STREETS OF HANOI. A HUMBLE INVITATION. 10:57 pm on September 8, 2007 Permalink |
[...] STREETS OF HANOI. A HUMBLE INVITATION. Airport © Jan Shim Photography [ Gallery ] Variety is the Spice of Life seems to the theme… Vietnamese Beef Noodles Pho Bo © Anthony Er No visit to Vietnam is ever complete without a bowl [...]
Roland Lim 11:12 pm on September 10, 2007 Permalink |
I would love to visit Saigon. I love eating the Vietnamese beef noodles too! However, I still have to get over the psychological barrier of paying for an expensive visa to visit Vietnam.
Great pics btw!
Roland
HATS OFF TO THEM « A Moment Lived. A Journey Shared. 10:54 am on October 13, 2007 Permalink |
[...] and motorcycles are a common sight in my neighbourhood in the oil town Seria, reminiscent of the Streets of Hanoi just not as intense. During the day you can catch them in their coveralls so it’s rare [...]
ASSORTED IMAGES OF SINGAPORE « A Moment Lived. A Journey Shared. 2:43 pm on November 8, 2007 Permalink |
[...] help noticing the shiny example of Singapore version compared to the ones I came across in The Streets of Hanoi. Adjacent to that is a view from the fourth floor of Sim Lim Square, Singapore’s high tech [...]
Jewelle 8:51 pm on November 12, 2007 Permalink |
I’m sure this was a great article but I only saw two pictures and what wonderful pictures they are – more of him, if you please.
teiaia 2:42 pm on November 15, 2007 Permalink |
hi SHIM,
IM WOMAN SO IM CURIOUS, CONSIDER THAT I AM YOUR FRIEND AND TELL ME SOME ABOUT BOOBY”S HUMOR.
PLEASE
Jan Shim 8:14 pm on November 15, 2007 Permalink |
Tip: Check out Bobby Chinn’s program, Cafe Asia, on Astro every monday Channel 707 Travel & Living to get a first hand feel of his humour (assuming you’re in Brunei or Malaysia).
teiaia 1:07 am on November 16, 2007 Permalink |
i already seen his show! i wanted from you to tell me other things.
im from romania and also rules here world cafe asia,monday!
from where you are?
THE PRICE OF FAME « A Moment Lived. A Journey Shared. 2:51 pm on November 17, 2007 Permalink |
[...] Looking at my archives of fun shots, I found a series of test images of WOODY from the hit Disney animation Buzz Lightyear. Lighting was a single source from a 32″ studio captured using an EOS 5D. I have a collection of Absolut Vodka bottles that make great photographic subjects on their very own. Since this shoot, I’ve added Absolut Mandarin and Pears to the mix, picked them up from an airport duty free on my way back from Hanoi. [...]
NIGHT STREETS OF HANOI « A Moment Lived. A Journey Shared. 8:21 pm on November 27, 2007 Permalink |
[...] 2008 event, I’m reminded of my shoot in Hanoi at the ASEAN 100 FORUM and the interesting Streets of Hanoi bustling with more motorcycles and bicycles than you can ever imagine. You have to have crossed not [...]
clementina 1:25 am on November 30, 2007 Permalink |
hello SHIM
YOU ARE SO CUTE,DARLING.
TELL ME ARE YOU MARRIE OR YOU HAVE GIRL FRIEND?
CLEMENTINA FROM SWEEDEN
Brunei’s No.1 Social News » Blog Archive » .Bobby Chinn in Brunei. 8:14 am on April 17, 2009 Permalink |
[...] I caught them two nights ago at Gadong Pasar Malam as both the celebrities get a chance to mingle with the local people and experience the atmosphere of Pasar Malam. I didn’t know know Bobby Chinn supports the Reds as he was chanting “Liverpool, Liverpool” while posing for the camera. A press conference will be held later today. So more on that later on. Oh yeah, Jan Shim managed to catch Bobby Chin in Hanoi few years back. [...]