Ben Horton, National Geographic Adventure Photographer, goes where others often don’t. His ability to take photos in hostile environments has been the foundation of his career, yielding remarkable adventure-inspired photography.

A picture paints a thousand words and when it comes to illustrating my tales of travel and adventure, there’s nothing better than a set of sharp, inspiring images that capture the essence of a destination.

I had some trepidation before I visited Vietnam, mostly in regard to how I would be treated as an American. However, my visit opened my eyes not only to this vibrant country, but also to how I viewed some of my personal history.