Third place (noun): A space outside of one's home and workplace, where people meet and interact socially.
Where do we go to find a place that feels like home, but isn’t?
Not home, not the office — a third place is a space that stands apart from daily life, where one feel comfortable enough to connect with new people and form new relationships.
Sociologist Ray Oldenburg first coined the term “third place,” describing it as a cultural incubator where shared values take root. It’s a space where people can converse with others, express their individual identities, and find a sense of “belonging” through platonic and romantic bonding. The third place manifests in various forms, constantly evolving to fit the fabric of each society, whether it’s a neighborhood bar, a cozy used book store, or even a temple.
Saigon boasts more than 200 bridges.
In Vietnam’s major cities, rapid economic development and urbanization have led to the shrinking of public works and free communal spaces like parks, libraries, or playgrounds — the most natural and accessible third places for people from all walks of life. But human connection is resilient, and informal third places have emerged in the leftover cracks of urban infrastructure.
Workers resting under the Ba Son bridges.
In 2019, Russian photographer Nikolai Sokolov moved to Vietnam from Saint Petersburg. His work gradually shifted from abstract and landscape photography to street photography, drawn by “the people and the life here.” In the summer of 2024, he spent his time capturing everyday moments beneath Saigon’s many bridges.
“I’ve traveled all over Vietnam, and I often found myself sheltering under bridges to avoid the sun or rain. I started noticing that many people were sitting under these bridges, especially in the south. There was something special about them — each came with a different story. One day, a man asked me to take his picture, and from that moment, I knew I wanted to document the lives of these people. Each face, each gaze offered a story. And I wanted to share it.”
The first photo of the series.
Neglected and overlooked, bridges are far from anyone’s idea of a traditional third place, and the commuters who usually use them are passing through out of necessity. But in Nikolai Sokolov’s black-and-white photos, these anonymous bridges (though if you’re sharp, you might recognize them) come alive as tranquil yet vibrant sanctuaries. Beneath rigid concrete structures, rough patches of ground are transformed into playgrounds, gathering spots for friends and family, or simply a place to rest in the midst of the city’s constant motion.
Free-range ducklings, now available at your nearest bridge.
The sweet joy of swinging in the shade on a hot afternoon.
The first rule of cockfighting club is: you do not talk about cockfighting club.
Birds of a feather surely flock together.
“Dude, you cheating?”
Future stars of the national team?
Sisters and best friends.
Just middle-aged people casually flexing spines healthier than yours.
Dressed to impress.
“I already won. No point arguing now.”
Better safe than sorry.
Most definitely a good boy.
The bridge-side tango.
For some, this is the first place.
“What kind of school awards did you get this year?” “I barely passed, uncle!”
You can practically hear the squeak in this photo.
Cigarette smoke and dust.
Who’s coming in last this round?
Follow Nikolai Sokolov's work here.
This article was originally published in 2024.
