Photographs of Hoi An taken in June 1997 by Dutch photographer Frank van den Berge delivered unexpected memories to local residents nearly 29 years later. When the photos were shared online, residents began recognizing the people in them as their own family members or neighbors.
Everyday life, not landmarks, was the subject
The photographs captured not only views of landmarks such as the Japanese Covered Bridge and Bạch Đằng Street, but also people handling fish by the riverside, workers on small boats, and street food vendors. Today Hoi An is known for its lanterns and World Heritage townscape, but the heart of these photographs is daily life before the town was shaped for tourism.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Frank van den Berge (Netherlands) |
| When photographed | June 1997 |
| Where photographed | Hoi An Old Town and the riverside |
| Response | Residents identified people in the photos as family members or acquaintances |
A personal photograph becomes a community record
A single shot taken while traveling may be a landscape to the photographer, but to those who live there it can become part of a family history. What makes this episode so striking is that it was not just an old townscape that came back as a record, but the lives of named individuals. While consideration for subjects is necessary when publishing images, the value of preserving the year and location of a photograph also becomes clear.
When walking through Hoi An today
When in Hoi An, look beyond searching for photogenic spots and turn your attention to the riverside market, old merchant houses, and the lanes where daily life continues. However, if you want to photograph someone up close, ask first, and take care not to disturb prayers or people at work. Even in a tourist destination, it remains someone's everyday space.
Summary
The 1997 photographs serve both as a document of Hoi An's transformation and as a small album that found its way back to a family. The next time you walk through this town, imagining not only the beauty of the buildings but also the time lived by the people who have called it home may change what you see, just a little.
Related reading:
・Thanh Ha Pottery Village
・Hoi An lantern craftspeople
・Food and culture in Da Nang
Source:VnExpress
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