A French photographer has already spent 8 years documenting the many ethnic groups in Vietnam, and his photos make you want to meet them!
Most travellers to Vietnam visit only some famous cities and regions of the country, such as Halong Bay , but the French photographer Rehahn wants to show them all the wealth they don’t see. With more than 56 official ethnic groups, each with different traditions and dialects, Vietnam is a shining country of diversity, and a certain obsession to document it has developed in Réhahn.
For his photo project, Réhahn has already sailed Vietnam for eight years and has met over 40 different ethnic groups. If he had already made us discover the village of Hoi An or even the looks he has seen during his journeys, he goes this time further with the release of a second opus in his series Vietnam, Mosaic of Contrasts . We don't get tired of discovering his new photos:
Photo credit: Rehahn
Photo credit: Rehahn
Interviewed with us, Réhahn described his project a little more:
- Why do you focus your photos on Vietnam in particular? “Because for 4 years, I’ve been living in this fabulous country and I’ve been looking forward to travelling on a North-South motorcycle. I discovered many hidden faces of the country. Beyond the 5 or 6 tourist cities, Vietnam is full of treasure both at the landscape and cultural level. 56 ethnic groups share the country. »
- You met about forty ethnic groups, what did you learn? “That modernization is gradually eradicating their culture. Some ethnic groups are only 600 and 5 people in the village still speak dialect. Everyone is over 70 years old. These are future dead languages. And their suits disappear as well. I am trying to document the last images of these endangered cultures. »
Photo credit: Rehahn
Children of the ethnic group Co Tu – Photo credit: Rehahn
- You still have to meet, and it seems to take time, theoretically about ten years. Why? “In fact, 10 years is total time” (necessary to complete his photo project). "Some ethnic groups live in really remote corners and it takes time to get them. I do a lot of exhibition and I have two photo galleries to take care more of the promotion of my first two books. Finally, these last ethnic groups do not live next to each other, I have to plan a trip for each of them. Time doesn’t play in my favor but I intend to end well within two years. »
– What place(s) will you advise travellers to visit? "Around every known large city, there are ethnic villages. Sometimes 100 km, sometimes only 50 km away. At two o’clock in Hoi An (where I live), there are the Co Tu. They still wear and make their clothes. No one knows, but they love to meet people and share their culture. Near Hue, 70 km away, there are the Ta Oi, near Nha Trang, the Chams... I have one Facebook page very active (more than 300,000 fans) where I post new photos every day. I personally respond to all the messages if people want a bit of information, I am happy to share. »
An old lady Lahu – Photo credit: Rehahn
Women of the ethnic group Cham – Photo credit: Rehahn
- What will the readers of Toolito find in your book? “160 photos on Vietnam’s diversity, divided into 4 categories: Children, the elderly, life scenes and landscapes. This book is volume 2 of the series Vietnam, Mosaic of Contrasts . For a book is not enough to present all the facets of this country. I already know that there will be a third volume because I still have many things to show... I have 60,000 photos! »
The cover of the second book by Réhahn photography on his series « Vietnam, Mosaic of Contrasts »
Photo credit: Rehahn
Photo credit: Rehahn
Réhahn always takes the opportunity to take pictures of the sublime landscapes of Vietnam. You can find more. on his website :
Lake Lak – Photo credit: Rehahn
A sunset on Lake Lak – Photo credit: Rehahn
The Tra Su Forest – Photo credit: Rehahn
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