Living in Vietnam: Photography Over Twenty Years
What staying long enough taught me about work, culture, and perspective
For nearly twenty years, Vietnam has been my home, my teacher, and the foundation of my life and career in photography. I arrived here as a young photojournalist, documenting the long shadows of Agent Orange and telling the story of a young girl named Nu, never imagining how deeply this country would shape me.
Over the years, my work has taken me from the rugged mountains of Hà Giang to the tea fields of Mộc Châu and the streets of Hanoi—places that taught me patience, perspective, and humility.
Vietnam gave me love through my wife and partner, and it gave me purpose through the stories I was trusted to tell: moments of hardship marked by laughter, resilience during floods, unity through rapid growth, and quiet strength during the COVID years.
The video below is a love letter to Vietnam—not just to show what this country looks like, but to share what it feels like after staying long enough to listen.
Justin is an editorial and commercial photographer who’s been based in Vietnam for almost 20 years. In that time, he’s covered over 100 assignments for The New York Times and shot global ad campaigns for Fortune 500 companies across Asia and beyond.
I studied in Vietnam in 2000. It has changed so much since then - but your photographs certainly capture the timelessness. Absolute perfection. Thank you for your dedication to art!
Beautiful, beautiful work Justin