Some shots from a recent photo walk.

In my travels throughout Asia, I believe the Japanese are the most reserved and difficult to photograph.It has more to do with their aversion and somewhat xenophobic attitude towards foreigners. Difficult to live in the Japanese culture, let alone a foreigner trying to take a picture of them.

Most Asians do not mind being photographed by a discrete, respectful and friendly photographer.

Some pictures from a photo walk on Friday

I guess people see my friendly demeanor and personality and are relaxed when I take their picture.

Collection of pictures of people kind enough to pose for the friendly photographer.

Tall and narrow is the norm in Vietnam. Makes for some interesting photo ops.

Some pictures I took during a photo walk on Monday.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a large memorial in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is located in the centre of Ba Dinh Square, which is the place where leader Ho Chi Minh, Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 1951 until his death in 1969, read the Declaration of Independence on 2 September 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Having lived in China, Japan and now Vietnam wearing masks in the different countries means different things. In Japan it is both to protect yourself and to be respectful of other people and not to spread the germs. In China and Vietnam it is both to be respectful and also to protect from poor air quality. In Vietnam there are a lot more scooters that generally pollute more than cars do, so wearing masks is very common while walking around in the streets. Inside people do not wear them.

Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural (Hanoi Ceramic Road) is a ceramic mosaic mural on the wall of the dyke system of Hanoi, Vietnam.

With a length of about 4 km, the Ceramic Road is one of the major projects that were developed on the occasion of the Millennial Anniversary of Hanoi.

I was lucky that a girl walked by with a red bag that made for a nice picture.

Thanks for the compliment on the journalistic style. The style probably comes from my day time job as a teacher.

Yes, railroad track in the center.

There was a restoration project going on with men grinding and replacing pieces of steel. Had to walk over some 2 inch air hoses that I think were being used for sandblasting. I tried to get a picture of the workmen but they waved me off and did not want to be rude and take a "record shot".

I hope you enjoy the composition of the pictures I took of a historic bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam. I used a limited focus technique on the name plaque in the first few pictures but due to the difficult angle and not having a tripod, there is an obstruction in front of the plaque. I would of liked to have taken more pictures in S mode to show the constant stream of scooters going over the bridge but lack of tripod made this difficult.

Since this is a photography forum, please refrain from leaving non-photography related comments.

Long Biên Bridge is a historic cantilever bridge across the Red River that connects two districts, Hoan Kiem and Long Bien of the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. It is primarily a rail bridge with a small sidewalk area on the side that scooters and other two wheeled modes of transport use to cross the bridge.

The bridge was built in 1899-1902 by the architects Daydé & Pillé of Paris, and opened in 1903. Before North Vietnam's independence in 1954, it was called Paul-Doumer Bridge, named after Paul Doumer - The Governor-General of French Indochina and then French president.

At 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) in length, it was, at that time, one of the longest bridges in Asia. For the French colonial government, the construction was of strategic importance in securing control of northern Vietnam. From 1899 to 1902, more than 3,000 Vietnamese took part in the construction.

It was heavily bombarded during Vietnam War due to its critical position (the only bridge at that time across the Red River connecting Hanoi to the main port of Haiphong).

While in Hanoi, I agreed to accept an offer from a man outside the war museum to take me to see a shot down B-52 on the back of his scooter.

It was an adventure riding on the back of the scooter as the man sped through the streets and alleys of Hanoi until we arrived at the area of the old wreckage of the shot down B-52.

The last picture is the man who took me there for 50,000 vnd ($2.25).