Vietnam Through the Lens: Capturing Vietnam’s Beauty from the Sjourney Train
A few places do not need to be explained further, one glance at them would stir deep emotions. Vietnam is one of such places. It does not scream; it does not show off; it is just gentle, quiet, and unforgettable.
SJourney is more than just a luxury train. It is a visual experience filled with poetry, where every window becomes a frame, and every landscape is a living painting of nature, people, and Vietnamese culture. The railway is now running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. With a camera, or even a phone in hand, you’re not only capturing scenes. You are capturing the soul of a nation.
Wouldn’t it be worth talking about places like this in detail? Indeed there are places which serve a glance almost enough to stir deep emotions. Vietnam just happens to be one of these places. It is not loud, neither is it brightly adorned – just gentle, quiet, and unforgettable.
It is now running along the railway from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. More than a luxury train, SJourney is a visual experience steeped in poetry, where every window becomes a frame, and every landscape is an animated painting of nature, people, and culture in Vietnam. With a camera or even a phone in your hand, you’re capturing not only scenes. You’re capturing the soul of a nation.
1. A Vietnam that begins softly through the little things
Right from the moment SJourney leaves Hanoi in the early morning mist, the beauty of Vietnam begins to speak. It is not in skyscrapers or tourist hotspots. It is in the sight of a woman carrying goods along the dyke, a herd of buffalo walking across the fields, or a red-tiled roof hidden behind a bamboo grove. These simple details are what touch the heart the most.
The camera at that moment is not just a tool. It becomes a bridge between the observer and the still beauty of daily life. Taking a photo becomes more than just a technical act. It becomes a ritual of appreciation, when we stop long enough to truly see and feel.
2. Heritage through the lens: where past meets present
What makes the SJourney special is how it stops at places recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, including Trang An, Phong Nha Ke Bang, the ancient capital Hue, Hoi An Old Town, and the My Son Sanctuary. But more than the names of the places, it is how they appear through the lens that matters. They are not just famous tourist destinations. They are living cultural witnesses of a people who know how to protect and value their roots.
At Trang An, when morning light touches the river and the limestone mountains reflect perfectly on the water, the scene becomes surreal. At Phong Nha Ke Bang, you learn to photograph darkness. Inside the millions of years old caves, light is rare and precious. In Hue, you learn to photograph silence. Where ancient architecture and peaceful spirituality come together, your photos become visual poetry. In Hoi An, you learn to photograph color. With glowing lanterns, yellow walls and tiled rooftops, the whole town feels like it was made for the camera.
In each place, photography becomes a way to understand culture. Because a beautiful picture may be remembered, but a picture with cultural depth stays in the heart forever.
3. Tradition and modern life in the same frame
Vietnam is in transition, from one photo where you will see a young girl in an ao dai and beside a motobike, to another photo showing a child playing games on the phone under the old temple roof. Those contrasts create stories that are rich with words. They tell of moving forward while keeping the soul of the country.
From Da Nang to Nha Trang, from bustling morning markets to quiet corners along the coast, Vietnamese people will observe much liveliness and movement with simplicity, toughness, and humanity.
4. Vietnamese light – the hidden ingredient of good photography
This is something that many might not regard, but the quality of light is what sets every one of Vietnamese photographs apart. Soft and dreamy up north, the light sometimes gets filtered through mist. In the central region, golden rays turn fields and add depth to every shadow. Down south, the brightness becomes strong, contrasting perfectly well for vibrant and daring street scenes.
Under such light, everything comes to life: a gently swaying tree basking in the midday sun, the eerie long shadow cast by an old gate, and the smile in the eye of a passing stranger. Notably, Vietnam isn’t always glitzy; rather, it just envelops its charm. Hence, the truest photography is the most beautiful.
5. SJourney – where the train becomes a moving studio
They encapsulate ambience beyond elegance. Everything about SJourney is meant to inspire. Huge windows that open to nature, along with a classic dining car resplendent with timeless details; every corner of the train seems to be designed for someone to take pictures. More importantly, this train teaches you to take it slow. Not to rush, not to compete with anyone, not to flee from a crowd. Just sit beside a window, camera in hand, and wait for the moment to arrive. This journey is not just about taking pictures; it is about capturing the spirit of the moment.
6. In the end: Take photos not to keep, but to understand
What remains after a journey on SJourney is not only a beautiful photo collection. It is a shift in how you see the world. You learn to observe. To listen. To open your heart to the quiet beauty of a country that is changing, yet still deeply connected to its past.
Vietnam is not only something to photograph. It is something to feel. And if you bring a camera with you, remember this: it is not the type of lens that matters most, but the kind of vision behind it. Because the best photographs are always taken with the heart.
