Vinh Dao is an American visual artist based in both Bristol, England and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He started his photography career in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at the Cambodia Daily as a spot-news photographer in 2003, focusing on issues related to development. His focus shifted to commercial and editorial work upon his move to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. His interest in migration and its effects on resident communities was sparked by his own history as a member of the Vietnamese Diaspora following the Vietnam War as well as witnessing the contribution of migrant workers to the economic growth in Cambodia and Vietnam during the mid-2000s. His latest project Return to Country documents the lives of Filipino OFW (Overseas Foreign Workers) in England and Vietnam.
He received his MA in Photography from the University of West England, Bristol in 2019.
Commercial and editorial clients include airbnb, facebook, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, Monocle Magazine, The Huffington Post and Roads & Kingdoms.
Exhibitions
- Bodega / December 2009 / Psar Thmei / Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Group multidiscipline show.
- Buddhist Bug / July 2012 / Java Arts / Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Collaboration with Studio Revolt
- Return to Country / December 2017 and June 2019 / Martin Parr Foundation / Bristol, United Kingdom