Byron Tan, Saigon’s Narrow Worlds (DOCO 2026)

Saigon’s residential hẻm — the narrow alleys that thread behind the city’s main streets — are more than passageways. They are living rooms, kitchens, playgrounds, and workplaces compressed into tight, improvised spaces. This series documents everyday life inside these hidden corridors, where families navigate limited space with resilience and quiet dignity. In the glow of dim lights and the clutter of shared routines, the hẻm reveals a community shaped by density, informality, and constant adaptation. These photographs observe the textures of this environment — the wet floors, tangled wires, stacked belongings, and intimate human gestures — to reflect both the warmth and the challenges of life in these urban micro‑worlds. Rather than portraying hardship alone, the work seeks to honour the people who make these alleys vibrant, functional, and profoundly human.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.