Adrien Jean is showing his photos to an old lady - PHOTOS: ADRIEN JEAN

Vietnam is a place where Adrien Jean, a Frenchman, gets out of his comfort zone and experiences things that he has not done before, including becoming a photographer

After more than six years in Vietnam, Adrien Jean considers the country as his second home. It is a twist of fate, so to speak. “The first time I visited Vietnam was in September 2014,” said Adrien Jean. “My family came here for holidays during the summer 2014, but I couldn’t manage to take leave from work then. Ironically and unexpectedly, I ended up in the same country a few months later.”

At that time, he got bored with his life and routine in Paris and was offered a job in Vietnam. A thought flashed through his mind that it was a great occasion to experience something new, he recalled.

Before his arrival in Vietnam, the only thing he knew about this far-away land was that the Vietnamese were among the most optimistic people in the world. He actually found in a study. And when he settled in Saigon—one of the biggest cities in Vietnam, Mr. Jean was totally impressed by the optimism and kindness of the Saigonese. “The more I explore the streets with my camera, the more I realize how welcoming the people of Vietnam are,” he said.

Adrien Jean is now a self-taught photographer