Bucket Ruffles in Viet Nam

[Comanche]

Okay, folks - this is not serious PJ work here. This is a fun piece, and my wife wrote the commentary. I shot all the photos with the exception of the next to the last shot which she took with her P&S. This may not belong in the PJ section, so if the moderators deem it necessary, feel free to move it.

There were rumors of it happening last November when we were in Viet Nam, and now it is official. People must wear a helmet when riding a motorbike in Viet Nam. Nearly everyone in Hûe is complying; we were surprised at that. Known as ‘rice cookers,’ helmets in this heat are really uncomfortable, and not at all stylish.

Men’s ‘brain buckets’ vary from soldier camouflage to construction worker. Yawn…. Our friend and Doug’s photography bud, Phan Cu, sports advertising on his, but it’s the same old helmet




Chic Vietnamese women have given this ‘necessary evil’ their own stylish twist by adding a brim, or as we have been calling it, a ‘bucket ruffle.’



A random, three minute survey the other night over ca phe sin to’s indicated 5 out of every 30 Hûe women prefer a bucket ruffle to a plain helmet.




Purchased separately from the helmet and in a coordinating color, these have caused a public flurry, including questions concerning adequate peripheral vision.




Doug is concerned about the style which provides cloth in the hole of the ruffle which covers the entire helmet dome. Despite the wide, black rubber chin strap, he feels this style will lead the police to believe the disguised helmet is an ordinary hat, and pretty girls will be pulled right and left. Yeah, like cops detaining pretty girls for no reason ever happens!





But I’m all for fashion and function, and I definitely think these lovely accessories civilize motoring in Việt Nam. What do you think??

[Hanky]

Great series!
May I inquire about the dust mask?
I'm aware that in Japan the people are courtious enough to cover their face when they have a cold and am curious about Vietnam.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by Hanky

Great series!
May I inquire about the dust mask?
I'm aware that in Japan the people are courtious enough to cover their face when they have a cold and am curious about Vietnam.

Happy to answer!

Only women wear the mask, and then, it it is primarily younger women. There are two reasons for wearing it.

First, it is supposed to filter out some of the pollution. In the two large cities of Hanoi and Saigon, the pollution is very bad, and the masks will filter out the heavier stuff such as soot. There really isn't all that much pollution here in the smaller city of Hue, but there may be an element of wanting to do what the girls in the big city do.

Secondly, pale skin is fasionable. The hotter the weather, the more clothes Vietnamese young women put on. On a really hot day, all you will see are eyes. Notice some are wearing long gloves - that is to keep the sun off the arms. Most of the shots were taken on a cloudy day, hence you can see more than eyes.

Vietnamese girls (and I am not being sexist - they consider themselves "girls" until marriage - I know a 30 year old physician who calls herself a girl becuase she is single) are quite amused when I tell them American Caucasian girls lay out in the sun to get a tan. You can buy "whitening cream" in the stores, and the TV commercials are filled with very pale female role models.

Thanx for asking.

[barP]

very cool! there is a book that i currently cannot recall the title of that is a photographic essay about how the vietnamese use motorcycles and scooters to carry all manner of things. it's amazing, and this work is in the same spirit!

wp.

[KeithnFW]

I love this series. . . I hope you post more. I'd love to visit Vietnam someday.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by barP

very cool! there is a book that i currently cannot recall the title of that is a photographic essay about how the vietnamese use motorcycles and scooters to carry all manner of things. it's amazing, and this work is in the same spirit!

wp.

The title is "Beasts of Burden."

I published a small book through Blurb titled "Views of Viet Nam" and it has a few pics in a similar idea only the shots are of xich lo drivers (a three wheeled pedicab). The xich lo (say sick low) is but gone in Saigon and Hanoi, but still common in Hue. You can see some of the pages at Views of Viet Nam.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by KeithnFW

I love this series. . . I hope you post more. I'd love to visit Vietnam someday.

Well come, on Keith! Let's put together a TPF photography tour. Better buy a lot of extra memory cards!