ABOUT

Late in 1986, the Vietnamese Communist Party announced a period of change and innovation: Doi Moi. It is more than just a slogan; Doi Moi heralded a new chapter in the history of the Vietnamese people. This book gives an impression of the Vietnamese, with their doubts and dilemmas, their courage and vitality, on the threshold of a new era.

The world's second largest socialist country has fallen under the spell of the free market economy. Although the after-effects of the war against the United States are still in evidence, slowly but surely the Vietnamese have found themselves captivated by the cultural icons of their former enemy.

Jan Banning (1954) began his career as a free-lance photographer in 1981. His photographs have been published in newspapers, magazines and books. Doi Moi is the product of five trips to Vietnam in 1988/1989, 1990 and 1992. In 1993, two series from this book received prizes from The Silver Camera Foundation, which presents the most prestigious Dutch photojournalism awards.