THE WAR IN VIETNAM (1960-1975)

Although the Vietnam War is primarily discussed from the American perspective, the conflict was thoroughly documented by the other camp as well. One of the photographers who traveled with the North Vietnamese Army was Mai Nam. From 1960 to 1975 he photographed the actions of the Vietcong, often using an old camera and rolls of film that were long past their use-by date. He created a flash in the often dark underground corridors of the resistance by setting off the gunpowder from AK-47 machine gun bullets. With his work Mai Nam, reporting for the North Vietnamese newspaper Tien Phong, wanted to honor the young farmers, workers and students who voluntarily took up arms against the Americans. He usually left recording the battles themselves to fellow photographers. Mai Nam was interested in everyday life at the front, seeking out the cheerful moments. ‘My photos are a weapon in this bitter conflict,’ said the photographer. That was literally the case in 1967, when his photo of a crashed American bomber was distributed nationally with the text ‘Happy New Year!’