Three old men at the enchanting pagoda in Hoi An by Silva Wischeropp

I discovered the male portrait of these three elderly Vietnamese men during my three-month photo trip through the magical country of Vietnam in the magical, heavily Chinese-influenced coastal town of Hoi An. Dressed in flip-flops and wearing hats to protect them from the strong sunlight, the men are squatting in front of the pagoda, which is ornately decorated with dragon motifs. Buddhism is one of the most widely practised religions in Vietnam.
The analogue image was taken with a slide film and the FE2 camera.

This picturesque image was taken during my 3-month photo trip through Vietnam in the enchanting old town of Hoi An. Due to the open harbour and trade from ancient times, the Chinese influence is also visible in the architecture.
Many of these houses are under UNESCO protection and may not be rebuilt or modernised in order to preserve the old cultural heritage.
Probably the most picturesque and charming town in Vietnam is Hoi An.
It is well protected at the mouth of the Song Thu Bon River about 30 kilometres inland on the China Sea. The city was once the largest harbour in Southeast Asia, mainly due to its location on the Silk Road. The first traces of settlement in Hoi An date back to the 4th century. During the 16th century, the harbour was further expanded under the Nguyen rulers, making it an attractive international trading centre. More and more Chinese and Japanese traders settled here and the city grew steadily.
Hoi An's old town was the only one to remain unscathed during the Vietnam War. This picturesque ensemble of historically valuable buildings has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
This fairy-tale view of the city is perfect for hanging in a wide variety of living and working spaces and creates a graceful, Asian, meditative atmosphere.