My first stop on my seven month backpacking trip through Southeast Asia was Vietnam. It was the first country where I discovered my independence as a traveler and the learned the ability to communicate without words. I tried to experience the local cuisine as much as possible, eating only from street vendors and usually pointing at what I wanted. There were friendly people who helped me out, and there were those who only wanted to rip me off. It was all part of the journey, my journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

The first series of photographs highlights Vietnamese men. Men with passion, eagerness and anger. Men of words, music, and beer. Unique, everyday men.