Life Along Cuu An River 🇻🇳 Street Photography in Hue, Vietnam

How often do you have all your most optimistic expectations about something come true? I'll answer for you, dear reader: not often. 😁 That's how it is with me too. 😏 This is why I still can't get over the euphoria about Hue: my moderately pessimistic ideas were dispelled by this wonderful city. I've already spent here ten or so days but this feeling hasn't gone away.

I mean it's not only about an abundance of historic places and buildings, nice people, cheap tasty food, plenty of affordable accommodation... It's about lovely details, like, they have kingfishers (birds) living at the river that I can see from the hostel's windows or the hostel has bicycles free to use for guests. So many locations are awaiting me! 😎

But let's start with the neighborhood of my hostel; I had a walk along Cuu An River recently on September 20, 2024. Sharing images.

Hue railway station.

Main city railway stations are top priorities for those who love street photography, and there is a reason for that. (But tell your hotel you are heading to photograph the railway station vicinity, and they'll think you are strange).

These are Grab app motorbike taxis, and two ladies with a child, talking to each other on the road, wearing typical garments:

I spotted this group near Hue railway station and hurried to sneak a picture. But at the moment I almost clicked the button, someone parked a motorbike right in the frame, and I groaned in disappointment. The driver turned out to be an attentive person who, having realized what had happened, immediately drove away to clear the view for me (thanks to him for that!) This awkward situation unveiled my intention to some of the people in the frame. But it looks like it made the scene better.

Another shot:

Fewer people in the image but the colors are in harmony, and what sky!

The front view of the station:

Founded in 1913, a French-built one, a charm in simplicity.

Meanwhile, at the nearest corner:

That's a cozy "nest" of a parking guard, usually, a man around 45-55 years old who accepts fees for parking, and looks after the bikes. They often have the weirdest trash-looking chairs.

Around the corner:

Vietnamese ladies sit on the sidewalk and sell fish.

I couldn't help taking a close-up. The lady thought the foreigner wanted fish but no. 😀

Crossing a bridge over the Cuu An River:

Washing bowls for selling fish and frogs:

French influence or just a common habit between the two nations?

Ben Ngu Market, love the tilted awnings, very Vietnamese style.

But I don't buy fruits from vendors: attempts to get a fair price consume time and energy. Easier to shop at the nearest hypermarket Go! - cheaper and faster.

But if I had a kitchen, I wouldn't mind buying a couple of these scaled beauties 🐟🐟

Keep walking along the river

Crossing the bridge to discover another great location for street photography.

Once, I'll come here to stand with a camera for an hour or so. So much potential! Not a masterpiece but it showcases what I mean:

A lively crossroads with a street going up a gentle slope - that angle means an opportunity. I should come back with a telephoto lens.

Much space for street photography in Hue! And I will have time to take maximum from that. 😎

More stories from Southeast Asia are ahead! Check out my previous posts on my personal Travelfeed or Worldmappin map.

I took these images with a Nikkor 50mm on a full-frame DSLR Nikon D750 on September 20, 2024, in Hue, Vietnam.