Without an H

Photography from south-east Asia by Jon Sanwell

Narrow neighbourhoods (III)

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In my last few weeks before leaving Hanoi in September, I had lots of grand plans about various photography projects I would start or revive as a way of saying farewell to a city that had been my home for so long. Most of these never really got started. Turns out that there are quite a lot of other things you have to think about when you have less than a month to pack up your life and move to a new country. So, as always, there are a lot of pictures left untaken. I particularly regret not making it back to the Red River brick factories that were a fleeting obsession of mine this time last year. But I did spend some time wandering up and down the thin stretch of lanes and alleyways in between the dyke road and the river that I think of as the narrow neighbourhoods, and which I featured on this site in April last year. This is one of my favourite photo walks in Hanoi, a busy but not overcrowded stretch that offers countless little slices of everyday Hanoi life.

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14 Responses to “Narrow neighbourhoods (III)”

  1. allentimphotos2's avatar
    allentimphotos2

    As always, a very nice series of environmental portraits. A high level of sensitivity. I can see why you like this area so much.
    Where are you headed?

    Reply
  2. BuntyMcC's avatar
    BuntyMcC

    A great set of life-on-the- street photos as usual. Why are the pineapple workers wearing masks?

    Reply
    • Jon Sanwell's avatar
      Jon Sanwell

      Thanks, Bunty. There’s a surprising amount of dust in the air around those pineapple trucks – that’s why the workers are wearing masks.

      Reply
  3. bluebrightly's avatar
    bluebrightly

    Very effective, I can understand why you’d have regrets. It’s hard leaving a place you found so much inspiration in. That last photo in particular is priceless.

    Reply
    • Jon Sanwell's avatar
      Jon Sanwell

      Thank you. I’m now living in Yangon, in Myanmar. I’ve been here about six weeks now, and already have lots of pictures to sort through.

      Reply
  6. Alison and Don's avatar
    Alison and Don

    This is a wonderful series. I love the B&W. Something about using it for this collection makes me want to look closer.
    Alison

    Reply

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