Over the last 5 months I’ve aimed to capture as much as possible of the diversity of people and places in Vietnam. It’s not nearly enough time to document the length and breadth of an entire country as teeming with culture and landscapes as Vietnam, but hopefully thus far I’ve captured at least a small fraction of its magnetism.

See the full gallery here.

A Hmong‬ woman I met in a village just outside of Dong Van in Ha Giang province. She had no problem with my camera and just wanted to know as much about me as I did her.

For more images from my travels in the deep north of Vietnam head to the gallery: http://www.annieoswald.com/vietnam

People from the Mekong Delta are known in Vietnam as the friendliest anywhere in the country. Their reputation of being warm, generous and hospitable precedes them. I experienced no different in my time there.

A woman preps vegetables near the Jade Emperor Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City.

Two men play Xiangqi, a traditional Chinese board game very popular here in Vietnam and in many places with large ethnic Chinese communities. Also known as “Chinese Chess.” You can’t walk around Saigon very long without seeing pairs of men playing this game out on the streets. ‪

Nap time on the streets of Saigon.

A woman selling the day’s catch at a local fish market on the Ho Tram Strip, Southeast Vietnam.

Contemplation at Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda in Saigon.

I’ve just made a video for The Pastoral Women’s Council and their girls sponsorship program in Tanzania.

The program is helping marginalised girls receive the education they deserve and provides a lifeline for girls to escape forced marriage.

It’s a very worthy cause and if you’ve ever thought of sponsoring, please consider this program.

See the video here.

As we hiked through the many miles of sun-drenched rice fields and became lost amongst the dense vegetation of Bali’s heartland, we happened upon a quiet village.

In the spirit of exploration we walked down a few empty roads and as we turned the corner we saw her – quietly sitting on her porch, illuminated by the evening sun, the strong scent of coffee beans from her stove wafting through the air.

Her welcoming demeanour told us we’d be invited for a cup. I’d never before turned down an offer for coffee, and I wasn’t about to now.

{To see more Bali encounters and the full image series head here.}