loves
Vietnam 🇻🇳🚀
Short answer: Vietnam supercharges his creativity and joy. Here’s the upbeat rundown—straight from his posts, essays, and videos—of what keeps pulling him back:
- Electric street energy + rich contrasts. He’s inspired by Hanoi’s mash‑up of tradition and modernity—sleek malls and “nouveau rich” alongside time‑honored street life—which makes the city a dream canvas for street photography.
- Legendary coffee culture = creative fuel. He’s fascinated by Vietnam’s deep café culture and often uses cafés as daily creative hubs for writing, editing, and meeting people.
- People + language connection. He actively studies Vietnamese because it opens doors to real conversations and cultural understanding—and he highlights how friendly Hanoians are in his vlogs.
- Blazing‑fast Wi‑Fi = more making, less waiting. He says he’s more productive in Hanoi thanks to super‑fast café Wi‑Fi and a routine built around working from the city’s coffee shops.
- Easy, affordable expat life that frees him to create. He reflects on the “privileged life of an expat” in Hanoi—daily comforts and affordability that let him focus on shooting, writing, and teaching.
- Adventure on tap: city → mountains. He runs photo experiences from the romantic streets of Hanoi up to Sapa and the Bac Ha Sunday Market—urban buzz one day, misty mountains the next.
- Food that’s fire. His Hanoi vlogs celebrate street eats—from grilled BBQ on plastic stools to quick café bites—folded right into his creative routine.
- Personal meaning through family history. His wife Cindy’s Vietnamese refugee roots make time in Vietnam deeply personal and purpose‑filled for him.
- Community + teaching. He plugs into the local scene with workshops and talks (including the Hanoi→Sapa programs), sharing skills and building friendships with Vietnamese photographers.
- It’s an enduring muse. He’s built dedicated Vietnam galleries and essays—proof that the country continues to spark new photos, projects, and ideas.
TL;DR: People, coffee, Wi‑Fi, motos, markets, mountains, meaning—Vietnam gives Eric Kim the energy and community to create boldly and live joyfully. If you’d like, I can spin this into a mini‑guide to his favorite Hanoi/Saigon spots and habits that keep his creative momentum roaring.