Australian tourist seeks to recreate 22-year-old photo spot

An Australian tourist is returning to Vietnam after 20 years, hoping to find the exact location where he took a photo 22 years ago.

Joel Carpio, 54, a Filipino-Australian, was part of the Thanh Tri bridge construction team and lived in Vietnam from 2003 to 2006. In 2004, Joel and his friends took a cruise in Ha Long Bay, where they snapped a photo in front of a restaurant. This coming February, he will visit Vietnam with his family, hoping to find that old spot to recreate the 22-year-old picture.

In the surviving photo, Joel wears a blue, white, and red striped jacket, posing with three compatriots like a poster for the Filipino band The Eraserheads. The restaurant's entrance features a tiled roof and a sign with calligraphic Vietnamese script that reads "Am thuc Viet Nam" (Vietnamese Cuisine). The Australian tourist posted in several Vietnamese travel groups but received no answers due to limited information.

Joel (second from right) with his friends. *Photo: NVCC*

Joel is not 100% certain if the photo was taken in Ha Long or Hanoi, but he leans towards Ha Long. Among the few remaining photos from his time in Vietnam, Joel found another picture of himself wearing a similar jacket while on a wooden boat named Au Lac 04.

The Australian tourist once thought he would never return to Vietnam, but his family's travel plans have given him a chance to revisit old memories. "I would be very disappointed if I don't find this place. Of course, I love Vietnam and want to visit other places, but this spot holds special meaning," Joel said. He added that he only remains in contact with one friend from the photo, who also does not clearly remember the decades-old picture.

The tourist looks forward to returning to Vietnam. In his memory, Vietnam is a country with beautiful scenery, delicious food, and is "extremely safe."

Minh Hoang, owner of a restaurant in Ha Long, stated that the photo lacks significant identifying information. The architectural style, with tiled roofs, temple-like features, and calligraphic script, is common among many restaurants in the northern region, making it difficult to confirm the photo was taken in Ha Long. After more than 20 years, many restaurants may have closed or changed their design beyond recognition, making the search challenging.

Around the world, many people enjoy recreating old photos at the same location decades later. A notable case involves three British sisters in their 60s: Pamela Cook, Tracey Waygood, and Elaine McCartney. In January 2025, they recreated a photo on Castle Beach in Cornwall, England. To do this, all three spent significant time preparing items similar to those in the old photo, such as swimsuits, towels, and snack packs.