Cover Seen through the lens of three generations of photographers, Hanoi oi is an evocative conversation about Vietnam’s thousand-year-old capital
Seen through the lens of three generations of photographers, Hanoi oi is an evocative conversation about Vietnam’s thousand-year-old capital
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From the distinctive viewpoint of three generations of photographers, the book ‘Hanoi oi’ is an emotional dialogue with the age-old capital.
After nearly four decades spent wandering the streets of Hanoi and moving between France and Vietnam, photographer Nicolas Cornet no longer views this city through the eyes of a foreigner. Each image he captures of its corners and characters holds the quiet ache of someone long parted from home. This sentiment compelled him to select, curate and compile the work of nine Vietnamese and international photographers into Hanoi oi (Thong Tan Publishing House, May 2025), a portrait of the city that feels both deeply personal and richly layered.
On a May morning in Hanoi, Nicolas sat down with Tatler at a pavement café, ready to share the story of his latest book: a visual journey through Hanoi, shaped by three generations of photographers. He also spoke candidly about the art of photography in today’s ever-shifting landscape.
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Above Since first arriving in Hanoi in 1987 as a photojournalist, Nicolas Cornet has remained captivated by the city
Since first arriving in Hanoi in 1987 as a photojournalist, Nicolas Cornet has remained captivated by the city
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Since first arriving in Hanoi in 1987 as a photojournalist, Nicolas Cornet has remained captivated by the city. He returns several times a year, gradually picking up the language and becoming part of its photographic community.
“Half of my friends are Vietnamese, most of them from Hanoi,” he explains. “Some were once students in my workshops. Vietnamese photography is thriving, and I have plenty of reasons to return, whether for collaborations, book projects or simply to visit friends. Every return brings me joy.”
This enduring connection inspired Nicolas to keep tracing the rhythms of Hanoi’s streets and lives in his work. Hanoi oi is his second book about the city, following Hanoi (2010), which featured his own photography and commentary by journalist Jean-Claude Pomonti, published in celebration of Thang Long – Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary. This new volume brings a different spirit: a collaborative photographic project, directed by Nicolas, with both local and international contributors offering fresh yet recognisable perspectives on Hanoi.
Above Some themes were matched with existing work; others required new imagery
Some themes were matched with existing work; others required new imagery
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The project began with a central question: how to depict Hanoi through a range of artistic lenses while preserving a unified emotional and visual thread?
Nicolas began with a memory exercise, speaking to Hanoians around the globe and asking what single word came to mind when they heard “Hanoi”. Their answers varied: “water”, “colour”, “season”, “night cries”, “elegance”, even “dreamy”. These “memory keywords” became the book’s guiding themes, shaping its visual and emotional landscape. They also served as prompts for the contributing photographers to craft a Hanoi that feels both layered and intimate.
“I reached out to more than 50 photographers, but not all were drawn to a collaborative format. In the end, I narrowed it down to nine who were willing to take part. Many had been my students, or came through personal recommendations,” Nicolas said.
Not every concept was easy to visualise. “Some keywords, like ‘elegance’, are intangible, a mood more than a thing, and each photographer interprets it differently. That was part of the creative challenge.”
Some themes were matched with existing work; others required new imagery. When the archive fell short, the photographers went back out to shoot. On occasion, Nicolas himself returned to the streets with his camera. But what mattered most, he emphasised, was “the emotional continuity and rhythm of the imagery.” The book unfolds across five chapters, not in chronological order, but shaped by mood and theme.
Above The result is a silent exchange between generations of artists offering the view of a generation raised in peacetime
The result is a silent exchange between generations of artists offering the view of a generation raised in peacetime
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“We don’t want to favour one photographer. It’s important to keep consistency in quality, lighting, composition, and a touch of poetry in each image.”
The result is a silent exchange between generations of artists: from those who witnessed Hanoi’s post-war reconstruction, like William E. Crawford and Huu Bao, to emerging names such as Vu Khoi Nguyen, offering the view of a generation raised in peacetime.
Nguyen shared: “I joined the project towards the end, when the book was nearly complete, what was missing at the time were photographs centred on food.” Although the brief felt quite “fixed”, with an assignment focused on signature Hanoi dishes like pho, Nguyen made a point of seeking out fresh perspectives. He chose newer locations, like the vibrant Tong Duy Tan food street, to sidestep the familiar. For him, food photography need not always “capture the soul of a culture”, but can simply “reflect personal experience”.
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Above Since Hanoi oi, Nicolas has remained immersed in creative work
Since Hanoi oi, Nicolas has remained immersed in creative work
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When the launch exhibition was held at Hanoi Studio Gallery, Nicolas invited Nguyen to co-curate. “I wanted a young voice from Hanoi to shape the narrative alongside mine, which comes from an outsider’s viewpoint. Together, that pairing opens new ways of seeing.”
In curating the book, Nicolas had in mind a broad readership: compelling visuals for international audiences, but also imagery that would resonate more deeply with Vietnamese readers. “I showed the manuscript to friends overseas. Although they had never been to Hanoi, they found the stories strikingly vivid. For locals, I believe the book feels more evocative than literal.”
The response from Hanoi’s community was also encouraging. “Hanoians tend to be very direct, so when they give a compliment, I know it’s sincere.
Since Hanoi oi, Nicolas has remained immersed in creative work. He is preparing to reissue his 2018 publication on Vietnamese pagodas and has begun a new photography project exploring Vietnamese culture and cuisine with Hanoi at its heart.
After nearly four decades of documenting this city, he still feels far from finished. Hanoi, he says, is where he truly belongs. “I know these streets better than some Grab drivers! I feel accepted here, and I treasure that. Wherever I go, a flavour, a scent, or a fleeting moment will take me straight back. Hanoi stays with me, wherever I am.”
Above The book Hanoi oi brings a renewed energy to the city’s familiar rhythms, documenting food, light, streets and contemporary life.
The book Hanoi oi brings a renewed energy to the city’s familiar rhythms, documenting food, light, streets and contemporary life.
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The book Hanoi oi gathers nine photographers from three generations, each contributing their own chapter in this visual ode to the capital. William E. Crawford, an American photographer who has lived in Hanoi since the 1980s, captures scenes filled with nostalgia. The mid-generation voices of Huu Bao, Hoai Linh and Nicolas Cornet offer depth, sensitivity and quiet romanticism in their portraits of the city and its people. Meanwhile, younger artists like Vu Khoi Nguyen, Dong Hieu, Ngo Lam Thanh and Le Xuan Phong bring a renewed energy to the city’s familiar rhythms, documenting food, light, streets and contemporary life. Though varied in background and style, they share a common purpose: to preserve what is fading, and to stir emotion through the ordinary.
Credits
Images: Được trích trực tiếp từ cuốn sách với sự cho phép của chủ biên Nicolas Cornet
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