Postcards from Vietnam

I’m someone who’s endlessly curious, and there’s nothing more thrilling than stepping into a new country for the very first time. 🌏✨

Last year I went to this beautiful country of Vietnam also called the land of ascending dragons 🐉. I am sure the dragons did ascend, for it had stunning landscapes, vibrant colors, the most delicious food, and the kindest people I have ever met.

As I was being submerged in all senses, I tried to take back some of it in my camera roll📸. And like any of my friends would expect, I would not just keep my first international trip in phone gallery. I had to create something of my own from those photos and experiences I carried in my heart. ❤️

So let’s see without any judgement how my design journey went about:

I was indeed super excited. So excited that I wanted to make all sorts of things that make you an accomplished graphic designer. First was the turn of Zines🗺️✍️. I started by scribbling a map of Vietnam, adding all the places I visited and mapping out my itinerary, and midway felt it was too big of a commitment.

Next big idea was (very different from zines) to create realistic posters. For that, I started with the place that influenced me the most. It was the magical night of Ninh Binh with boats, lanterns, and mountains 🏞️. So far, so good, but soon I stopped vibing with that idea as well. The infamous phrase ‘artist’s roadblock’ was seemingly approaching me at a vigorous pace.

My moodboard

I was thoroughly disappointed.

On a different day, when I could gather the courage to go at it again, I thought to myself, why don’t I list all those memorable experiences from Vietnam that have left a mark on me. As I was writing, I started scribbling about coffee, dragon motifs, Saigon beer 🍻, and puppet shows. And suddenly, like Edison’s light bulb moment, it really clicked!!!

My light bulb idea was to use the iconic elements: conical hat, eating stools, silent boat as containers filled with the essence and intricate details of each city I visited.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City — A Toast to Saigon

My adventure began in Ho Chi Minh City, a place that felt like two cities in one. By day, the city was full of cultural and patriotic experiences as I explored the Cu Chi Tunnels, war museum, the post office, and the Mekong Delta🇻🇳🌾. But by night, it transformed into Saigon — Vietnam’s own mini Las Vegas, brimming with food, drinks, and loud music🍜🍹🎶. For this city, I chose the Bia Saigon beer can 🍺as the shape of my illustration. To fill this can, I took inspiration from the lively Bui Vien Walking Street, with its bright neon lights, palm trees, and festive atmosphere. The dragon of Bia Saigon logo amusingly resembled my energy in the city, as I added it to my illustration, making it complete.

Detailing

Hoi An

As I reached the second city in my itinerary, I realized that I had stepped into a postcard of the ancient silk route. It becomes even more dreamy at night as it glows with colorful lanterns 🏮and passing boats (all the Instagram reels were worth it). I thought, what better to represent Hoi An than to use the pointy elliptical outline of the boat itself?

Hoi An — Lanterns on the River

As I floated down the Thu Bon River on a magical ride, I tried to blend the landscape of the iconic Japanese covered bridge and weathered pagodas🏯. The color palette for this illustration was inspired by the soft, warm hues of the lanterns to create a dreamy reflection of the water and the floating lotuses🪷. The final visual gave a feeling as if the boat was gently flowing across the page.

Da Nang — Street Food and Bridges

Da Nang

Mid-tour’s definition is lethargy, a result of me racing from city to city. Da Nang was the perfect place that embraced me and my laziness with open arms. As a beach lover, it came with the added bonus of endless seafood🦞. And nothing was better than experiencing seafood at street food stalls, sitting on the cute colourful stools. I illustrated Da Nang inside the shape of a stool, featuring the Dragon Bridge, a highlight of Da Nang. Also used a bright color palette of red, yellow, and blues to represent the bustling food scene. With the illustration, I wanted to depict the art of slowing down and savoring the moment.

Ninh Binh — A Dream in Motion

Ninh Binh

I have been seeing multiple Chinese paintings🎨, with brushstrokes depicting calm landscapes, sharp mountains, and serene rivers. It became an absolute reality in my fourth destination, Ninh Binh. While most travelers left after a Trang An boat ride, I stayed a night in the city. On that quaint night as I was strolling around, I accidentally came across a very enchanted area. There were no crowds, no foreign faces (except myself😅), and locals were enjoying the beautiful area of their hometown. I used a cool color scheme of soft blues, greens, and purples to represent the calm and beauty of the landscape. The Chua Bai Dinh temple became the focus of my illustration. The mountainous texture flowed across the background, with a Chinese cloud pattern floating across the canvas. I tried to capture the quiet, reflective side of Vietnam, in all its stillness.

Hanoi — Hats Off to Heritage

Hanoi

Hanoi was my final stop, and with it came the bittersweet realization that my trip was ending. I couldn’t do anything about it (I really wanted to cancel my return tickets) but soak it all in one last time🥹. The city was loaded with energy — trains zipped past diners in train streets🚆, never-stopping traffic, and people having a blast everywhere you looked. But what stole my heart was the traditional water puppet show bringing Vietnam’s mythical stories to life. For Hanoi, I chose the iconic non la hat to frame this piece. Inside the hat, the puppets danced on the water as dragons breathed fire🐲. The palette for this illustration was inspired by the puppets’ costumes of reds and yellows. Hanoi’s happy vibe and rich heritage came together, capturing the magic of the capital city.

Creating these pieces was my way of keeping the essence of Vietnam. Each shape was carefully chosen to represent the spirit of the city it housed. The details — vibrant colors, iconic landmarks, and cultural motifs — tell the stories I collected along the way.

As I book my next tickets, I am more excited to see what I can illustrate from the places to come. Until next time.✈️🎨

Cảm ơn, Vietnam! Hẹn gặp lại! 😉🇻🇳