Vietnam

A Portfolio

John Karmouche
 Vietnam
Portfolio by John Karmouche
2006 to 2008
BangkokAirport

Bangkok Airport

While waiting for our connecting flight to Saigon, I captured this at the airport in
Bangkok.

© John Karmouche
Vietnam 2006 to 2008
The images in this book were captured on my first trip to Vietnam in 2006 and
then added to on a second trip in 2008.
Vietnam is a land of contrast. This book contains photos taken from the Mekong
in the south all the way up to near the boarder with China in the north.
MythoSnake MythoSnakeAA

My Tho My Tho

Boy with snake. Shortly after this photo was taken, this snake was wrapped
arounf my shoulders

© John Karmouche © John Karmouche

MythoMusicDD

My Tho

Local men play for the tourists who frequent this tourist area.

© John Karmouche
MajseticHotelSaigonBB

Siagon

A view taken from the Majextic Hotel breakfast restaurant

looking down on the Saigon River.

© John Karmouche
SaigonRiverFerries

Saigon

Ferries dance with each other transporting cars, bikes and

people across the Saigon River.

© John Karmouche

SaigonRiverMorningAA

Siagon

Early morning view of ferries on Saigon River.

© John Karmouche
Hanoi (20)

Hanoi

The old quarter

© John Karmouche
HoiAnO

Hoi An

Market scene typical of many elsewhere in Vietnam.

© John Karmouche
Vung Tau Peninsula VietnamAA

© John Karmouche
Vung Tau
This photo was taken on my first trip to Vietnam in 2006. Vung Tau is located on
a peninsula about 2 hours from Saigon.
This area was the home of the Australian Logistic base during the "American
War" as the locals refer to what we call the Vietnam War.
I took this photo with a 300 mm lens from the top of one of the hills that overlook
the area.
The tide in the area leaves fishing boats high and dry at low tide.
KidsHoiAnFishingBoat

Hoi an

Children playing in an old boat.

© John Karmouche

Mekong Delta VietnamAA

My Tho

Waiting to take tourists for a ride.

© John Karmouche
DSC_0017

Hoi An

There are two main forms of transport in Vietnam,

© John Karmouche
Hoi Ann BB (52)

Hoi An

Street scene in the old town.

© John Karmouche
BoysonBikeHoiAn ManRefuelingScooterHoiAn

Hoi an Hoi an

Note that the older brother has made sure his little Man waits to buyfuel.
brother gets the comfortable seat.

© John Karmouche © John Karmouche

Incense Sticks on sale Hue Vietnam

Incense Sticks

Just outside Hue you can watch women making incense

stick. They come in many beautiful colors.

© John Karmouche
Perfume river (48)

Perfume River

Upstream from Hue.

© John Karmouche
HoiAnRiverA

Hoi An

Early morning

© John Karmouche
Hoi An Classic French Village
Sunrise
This photograph was taken just before sunrise.
Hoi An is World Heritage classified town. It is recognized for its classic French
architecture, and was surprisingly spared from bombing during the war with the
French and the Americans.
This is truly one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam.
Fish on sale Mytho - VietnamAA

Dried Fish

Market in mekong Delta

© John Karmouche

Cyclo Drivers Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An

Cyclo drivers patiently wait for business

© John Katmouche
Hoi Ann BB (9)

Hoi An

Budist temple.

© John Karmouche
Crew of Tour Boat Ha Long bay vietnam

Ha Long Bay

Boat crew eat lunch.

© John Karmouche

Boats on Ha Long Bay Vietnam

© John Karmouche
Ha Long bay (52)

Ha Long Bay

These two boys were the children of the boat captain on our
Ha Long Bay tour. I grabbed this shot as they curiously
peeked around the corner at us.

© John Karmouche
HoiAnAL

Hoi An

$2 Shop...

© John Karmouche
HoiAnDusk

Hoi An

At sunset

© John Karmouche
Boats
Rivers, canals and the ocean are integral to Vietnam. Boats are an integral form
of transport.
Fishermen Vung Tau Harbour Vietnam

Vung Tau Harbour

Early morning shot of fishermen returning to shore.

© John Karmouche

Perfume river (44)

Perfume River

From Hue, we took a boat trip up the Perfume River. You can
see our boat captain here and another larger tour boat
following us.
© John Karmouche
Street Scene Hanoi

Hanoi

Women wait patiently in the Old Quarter.

© John Karmouche
Women Street Scene HanoiAA

Hanoi

The number on the wall are left by concreting contractors.

© John Karmouche
Mask Shop Hanoi

Hanoi

Decorative masks form an interesting pattern.

© John Karmouche

On the way to Hue (15)

Half way from Hoi An to Hue

A typical riverside town.

© John Karmouche
man in Window Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An

I saw this man standing in the iwndow, swung my lens in his

direction and captured this shot.

© John Karmouche
MekongKidsCanthoAA

Mekong Children

As we entered the rice paper production factory, these two

boys posed for a quick shot using my fish eye lens.

© John Karmouche

MekongKidsCantho

Mekong Children

Inquisitive.

© John Karmouche
RicePaperFactoryCanthoDD

Can Tho Rice paper manufacturing

This man is mixing the paste which goes into the production of rice paper .

© John Karmouche
CanthoFloatingMarketDD

Mekong Woman

This woman was madly bailing water out of the boat she was in. I managed to
grab this shot as she looked in my diredction.

© John Karmouche
CanthoFloatingMarketGirl

Mekong Girl

This girl pulled up beside our craft selling cans of soft drink.

© John Karmouche
Hoi Ann CC (43)

Joy for three on a scooter

While walking down a lane in Hoi an I grabbed this shot as a scooter flew past/
Not an uncommon sight is to see up to 5 people onn the one bike.

© John Karmouche
MajseticHotelSaigonBreakfastAA

Siagon

A view on the Siagon River taken from the Majestic Hotel.

© John Karmouche
SaigonRiver Restaurant

Saigon

Riverside restaurant

© John Karmouche

SaigonRiver RestaurantB

Ssaigon

Each night sevearl floating restaurants moor opposite the

Majestic Hotel near the Ferry Terminal.

© John Karmouche
SaigonRiver RestaurantA

Saigon

At night the locals come out in their hoards. It is surprising

how many people were around this area.

© John Karmouche
SaigonPostOfficeBB

Saigon Post Office

Uncle Ho's portrait dominates this magnificent building

© John Karmouche
SaigonfromaboveG

Siagon River

The view at night from the top of the Mjestic Hotel

© John Karmouche
CanthoFerryDD

Can Tho

Approaching can Tho on a car ferry. The one this is taken from is very like the
ones seen in the distance. I tookk this photograph to capture the cloud
formations
© John Karmouche
HoiAnRiverD

Hoi An

Fishing boats at anchor early morning.

© John Karmouche

HoiAnRiverE

Hoi An

This is a long duration exposure of the scene above.

© John Karmouche
SaigonRiverMorningCC

Siagon

Early morning ship in harbour taken forom Majestic Hotel

© John Karmouche
SaigonShopFrontA

Siagon

Typical shop front

© John Karmouche
CanthoFloatingMarketMM CanthoFerryEE

Can Tho Family on scooter

Flaoting market. Taken on board the car ferry as we crossed the Mekong to Can Tho

© John Karmouche © John Karmouche

CanthoFloatingMarketQQ

Can Tho

Floating market

© John Karmouche
HoiAnRiverW

Hoi An

Woman waiting to take someone back across the river.

© John Karmouche
HoiAnRiverZ

Hoi An

Ferry terminal. using my fish eye lens. I doubt this boy knew that he was in
frame....

© John Karmouche
HoiAnA

Hoi an

Boats at anchor

© John Karmouche

HoiAnRiverY

Hoi an

Ferry terminal

© John Karmouche
HoiAnCyclo HoiAnHouseEntrance

Hoi An Hoi An

It was very dark when I took thiss shot in one of the back street of Hoi An. House entrance

© John Karmouche © John Karmouche

HoiAnRiverZK

Hoi An

Looking across river from Old Town

© John Karmouche

HoiAnRiverZL

Hoi An

As above slightly different angle

© John Karmouche
HoiAn

Hoi An

Boats with eyes......

© John Karmouche
HoiAnRiverZI

Hoi An

Fishing boat in river

© John Karmouche

HoiAnRiverZM

Hoi An

Contrast in size...

© John Karmouche
HoiAnT

Hoi An

While sitting in a restaurant, we watched this man make an offering. Here he

can be seen setting up before praying.

© John Karmouche
HoiAnBoatAA

Hoi An

Sequence starts

© John Karmouche

HoiAnBoatBB

Hoi An

Ferry approaches

© John Karmouche
HoiAnBoatCC

Hoi An

The perfect moment - Man rowing past ferry

© John Karmouche
HoiAnBoatDD

Hoi An

Flowers on the bow of a tourist boat

© John Karmouche
CanthoGG

Can Tho

Floating market Mekong Delta

© John Karmouche
HoiAnMarketD

Hoi An Market

Ducks patiently wait to be sold.

© John Karmouche
HoiAnMarketH

Hoi An

Market - early morning

© John Karmouche

HoiAnMarketI

Hoi An

Market - early morning.

© John Karmouche
HoiAnAJ HoiAnAG

Old man in boat Hoi An Hoi An

This old man touts for tourist trade. Fishing boats at anchor

© John Karmouche © John Karmouche

HoiAnFerry

Hoi An Ferry

There is a continual flow of mevement as people come up from the south. As

one ferry drops off it load another wait to slip in behind it.

© John Karmouche
HanoiSnakeWineB

hanoi

Snake wine. tastes just like it looks - lethal!

© John Karmouche
HanoiOperaHouse

Hanoi Opera House

Seen here from our room in the Hilton Hotel.

© John Karmouche
HanoiR

Hanoi

Shop front scene

© John Karmouche

HanoiS

Hanoi

Water puppet shop

© John Karmouche
HanoiI HanoiM

Hanoi Hanoi

Motorcycles are used for everything. there are really two people seated on this That's a whole family on that scooter
bike....

© John Karmouche © John Karmouche

HoiAnVinhHungResortF

Vinh Hung Resort Hoi An

Lookingtowards the hotel restaurant.

© John Karmouche
HoiAnVinhHungResortG HouAnVinhHungResortH

Vinh Hung Resort Vinh Hung Resort

taken with my fish-ey, my lens is almost touching this flower! Reataurant entrance

© John Karmouche © John Karmouche

HoiAnRiverB

Early morning Hoi an

Dawn river scene.

© John Karmouche

HoiAnRiverC

Early morning Hoi An

It looks quite, but there were still people about as I took this
photo....

© John Karmouche
HoiAnRiver

Early morning Hoi An

I took this photo and the ones opposite as the sun rose over
Hoi An. It was about 6.30am I think.....

© John Karmouche
HoiAnAI

Scooter in Hoi An

Old quarter - Australia's reputation?

© John Karmouche
HoiAnG

Boy with bicycle

Near the Hoi An market this boy posed for me as I photographed this corner
scene. He is standing but inches away from my fish-ey lens.

© John Karmouche
Hanoi

Hanoi

Street side vendors wait for business Hanoi.

© John Karmouche
HanoiH

Hanoi Model toy boats

Sjop front scene.

© John Karmouche

HaGiangN

Ha Giang

Fabric shop in Ha Giang

© John Karmouche
HoiAnAB

Man in window - Hoi An

This man was calling out to his young child who was cradled
it mothers arms in the street below.. Typical of the architecture
found in the old town.
© John Karmouche
HoiAnAH

Hoi An

Restaurant overlooking the river in the old town

© John Karmouche
HoiAnBoatHH HoiAnAK

Hoi An Hoi An

We took a boat tour out of Hoi An. This is a typical Fishing boats moored in river
beachfront scene east of Hoi An about 5 kms from
town.
© John Karmouche © John Karmouche
HoiAnFloristAA

Hoi an florist

In the old town near the market

© John Karmouche
HanoibyCycloA

Cylo driver Hanoi

We picked up two cyclos outside the Hanoi Opera House (in background) and
tood a tour around Hanoi wuth these two men.

© John Karmouche
HanoibyCycloE

Cyclo driver

Waiting for business in Hanoi

© John Karmouche
HaGiangL

Ha Giang

This is a typical house in the Ha Giang town area.

© John Karmouche

HoiAnE

Hoi an

Riverfront scene. Typical structure found in Hoi An.

© John Karmouche
HanoibyCycloT

Hanoi

I took this with my fish-eye lens seated in a cyclo.

© John Karmouche
TanTraoE

Schooll children

These children were on school bus trip. We were a curiosity.

© John Karmouche
TanTraoD

Gate at Tran Tao

Tran toa has a lot of historicla significance because it is

where Ho Chi Minh went to paln his atrategy to defeat the
French at Dien Bien Phu.
© John Karmouche
HaGiangHillsE

Mountains 20 km out of Ha Giang

The photo and the one opposite give you some idea of the
switchback nature of the roads in this area. Its a long way
down to the valley below!

© John Karmouche

YenMinhC

Yen Minh

Fish-eye view of Yen Minh - its another 5 kms down to the

village.

© John Karmouche
HaGiangHillsG

© John Karmouche
DongVanR

Boy with cows

Just out of Dong Van we were stopped when a couple of

children meandered past with these cattle. I am almost
standing over this boy using my fish-eye lens to capture him.

© John Karmouche
DongVanO

Looking back twards Dong Van

Five kilometers out of town and already we are high in the hills.

© John Karmouche
YenMinhRiceFieldsA

Planting Rice

Outside Yen Minh.

© John Karmouche
RiceFieldsnearHaGiangC

Hill side village

As we rode up into the hills, small farming villages appear.

This one took my eye as it shows how rugged the terrainis
around here.

© John Karmouche

RiceFieldsnearHaGiangB

© John Karmouche
ManwithCowsPhoCau

Man with cow

I spotted this man walking up the hill towards us as we

stooped for some running repairs on our bikes. The valley
behind him is bigger than it looks.
© John Karmouche
NearMeoVacI

Near Meo Vav

The locals walk for miles to get to the market. I spotted this man resting as he
negotiated the terrain.

© John Karmouche
HmongVillageHaGiang

Bicycle and hemp mat.

The local white mong tribe have been funded by a NGO to

weave hemp products.

© John Karmouche

YenMinhRiceFields

Yen Minh

Rice fields as seen from the road leadind down to Yen Minh.

© John Karmouche
DongVanJ

Dong Van

The woman cooking poached duck eggs wrapped in sort of

rice paste wrap. Eaten with soup for breakfast - delicious!

© John Karmouche
HoiAnRiverI

Hoi An

Early morning

© John Karmouche
HoiAnRiverJ HoiAnRiverM

Hoi An Hoi An

© John Karmouche © John Karmouche

HoiAnShopC

Hoi An

Night time lane tourist shops in the Old Town

© John Karmouche
HoiAnMarketQ CanthoMekongRiceMillCC

Hoi An Can Tho

Market scene Mekong Delta rice husking factory

© John Karmouche © John Karmouche

Contact
John Karmouche
HD Chauffeur Ride Pty Ltd
PO Box 1106
BLACKBURN NORTH VIC 3130
Australia
www.harleyrides.com.au
jdkarmch@melbpc.org.au

Telephone + 61 3 9877 3004

No image in this publication may be reproduced without the express
permission of John Karmouche.

Copyright Notice
Vietnam Portfolio
John Karmouche