Vietnam is a beautiful and terrifying place, full of contradictions. These contradictions become more pronounced as they open themselves up to the world and try to find their place in it. One example is the precarious coexistence of Communism and Capitalism. Another example is the uniquely Vietnamese institution of Café Om (literally translates to Café Hug) where coffee and drinks are offered as fronts to massage parlours. Like Capitalism, these shops run contrary to official policy, but are tolerated to an extent. They are a country on the cusp of change, modernizing with great exuberance, yet still shackled to the horrors of their past.
These are images of my recent voyages to my homeland, having fled decades ago as a refugee. With the aid of the Canada Council for the Arts, I am documenting my origins by photographing those we left behind, the scars of our past, and the daily lives of current times. This is my Vietnam.
