Photos That Capture the Real Vietnam

I spent nine nights split between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, enough time to realize Vietnam isn’t the neatly packaged “lanterns + pho + rice fields” fantasy Instagram loves to sell. It’s louder, softer, messier, and way more real than that. Hanoi hits you with this beautiful chaos: honking that never stops, tiny plastic stools that somehow hold full-grown adults, and the constant smell of coffee strong enough to wake your ancestors. Then you land in HCMC and suddenly everything is faster, brighter, and bolder, like Vietnam pressed the turbo button.

But here’s the thing: the real Vietnam isn’t just the big attractions or the famous streets. It’s the old man fixing his bicycle at 6 a.m., the lady who refuses to let you leave without tasting her version of banh mi, the kids playing beside a busy road like it’s the most normal thing in the world, and the mix of tradition and modern life happening side by side without anyone overthinking it.

These photos capture exactly that. Not just the postcard version, the raw, unfiltered, “I was actually there and this is what I saw” version. The Vietnam you only understand when you stop trying to just check boxes and start watching the rhythm of everyday life around you.

Extra: my personal must-have travel gear (prices as of Dec 2025)

• My 60 liters backpack - 41 USD

• Lightweight Rain Poncho - 16 USD

• Portable Wireless Power Bank - 80 USD

• Multi Charging Cable - 10 USD

• Apple AirTag 4 Pack (you can also get any other smart tracker) - 65 USD

• 298 Piece All-Purpose Emergency First Aid Kit - 21 USD

• Noise Cancelling Ear Plugs - 36 USD

• Collapsible Water Bottle - 38 USD

• Memory Foam Travel Pillow - 14 USD

• Universal Plug Adapter - 43 USD

• Water Purification Tablets - 14 USD