Temporary Model in Hanoi — Hannah

If I had to explain why my impression of Hanoi is so positive, I’d honestly say that 70% of it is because of this girl — Hannah. I met her just a few hours after arriving in Hanoi, right by Hoàn Kiếm Lake. She became my unexpected model and a new friend.

• A Rare English Speaker in Hanoi

In general, English proficiency in Vietnam is quite low. It’s hard to find locals who can hold a conversation in English — but Hannah was the exception. She had just graduated from Hanoi University and was working as an English instructor at an IELTS training center. She spoke fluent English and was extremely comfortable talking with foreigners, likely because she had worked closely with foreign teachers for years. Communicating with her was effortless.

She told me a lot about life in Hanoi — how it’s a safe city, how you can leave your camera or bag nearby without worrying. Unless you forget it entirely, no one will steal it. She mentioned that Vietnamese people are generally friendly to foreigners and even joked that if you argue with a local, the police might side with you. It sounded a little too "foreigner-friendly" to me, but it reflected her genuine friendliness and optimism.

• My Wish: Ao Dai

Not only did Hannah become my spontaneous portrait subject, she also took me to try various Vietnamese street foods and even showed me around Hanoi’s nightlife. At one point, she asked,

"Is there anything you really want to do during your trip here?" Without hesitation, I said:"I want to photograph Ao Dai."

The Ao Dai is Vietnam’s traditional dress, similar in cultural status to China’s qipao. I especially love the pure white Ao Dai — minimal in design, no patterns, no colors, yet incredibly elegant and graceful. It has a beauty that’s hard to describe. She immediately agreed to help me fulfill that wish.

• Exploring Hanoi Together

The next day, Hannah took me to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and another memorial whose name I unfortunately can’t recall. We ate more street snacks, walked a lot, and laughed even more.

In fact, I handed my entire wallet to her and said:"Go ahead — tickets, food, taxis, whatever we need."

She became like my personal assistant. The truth is, Vietnamese currency has way too many zeros and I could barely tell the difference between notes!

(Quick tip for travelers): You don’t need to exchange money at a bank in Hanoi. Almost every small travel agency along the streets will exchange USD or SGD, and the rates are quite good. So it’s smarter to bring USD and only exchange what you need during your trip.

• Healing Moments

Later, when I sincerely thanked her for her kindness, she surprised me by saying:

“I should thank you. When you met me that day, I had just gone through a breakup. I was heartbroken and wandering alone. But then a random foreign photographer showed up and completely disrupted my sadness. For the first time in days, I laughed.” She told me it was also her first real portrait session, and she never thought she could look that beautiful in photos. That meant a lot to me.

• Her Dreams and Her Honesty

Hannah said her biggest dream was to go to Western Europe — especially Italy, Spain, and France. She had already applied for a student visa to Italy. As of today, while writing this, I found out she’s now in France. I see her updates on Facebook and genuinely feel happy for her.

Interestingly, she said the one place she really disliked was Singapore.

“It’s too expensive. The city has no soul. Everyone just works and chases money. It’s like people there are slaves to their salaries.”

Her words stung a little, but I couldn’t deny her insight. She was sharp, thoughtful, and sincere. And honestly, how many Singaporeans have ever reflected on that?

• Not the End

I don’t think Hannah’s story ends here. I hope it doesn’t. I hope one day I’ll get to meet her again — to hear what she’s been through, and to take more pictures of her radiant, unfiltered self.

📸 To see more portraits of Hannah, visit the Portrait Photography section of my gallery.