Cornet began the Vietnamese Temples project in 2016 and completed it three years later. The photographs were later compiled into a book of the same name, published in 2018.

Reflecting on the project, Cornet said that after nearly 40 years of living and working in Vietnam, he wanted to create a body of work dedicated to the country that had become his home. Drawn by Vietnam's history, traditional architecture and cultural heritage, he chose temples as his subject, aiming to document not only the buildings themselves but also the spiritual life intertwined with local communities.

During the project, he returned to one temple several years after his initial visit and was surprised to find that restoration work had significantly altered the site. The experience reinforced his determination to record these sacred spaces before further changes brought by renovation and development.

According to Cornet, his goal was not simply to capture beautiful architecture but also to portray the relationship between people and their spiritual surroundings. He hopes the collection will encourage greater appreciation of Vietnamese temples as an important part of the country's cultural heritage.

The Vietnamese Temples exhibition is currently being held at IDECAF.

Cornet noted that many of Vietnam's traditional temples were built primarily from natural materials such as wood, making them vulnerable to weather and the passage of time. He said conservation research carried out by Vietnamese and French experts over many years has helped preserve many original features, although restoration remains a long-term and resource-intensive process.

In his view, Vietnamese temples are not only places of religious practice but also centres of community life, where people gather to pray, meet and maintain long-standing social traditions.

Travelling throughout the country, Cornet observed striking regional diversity in Vietnam's Buddhist culture. Northern Vietnam is characterised by ancient village temples, central Vietnam - particularly Hue - is known for its long-established Buddhist traditions, while southern Vietnam reflects a blend of Vietnamese, Khmer and Chinese cultural influences.

These observations shaped the structure of his book, which is divided into five chapters: Ancient Temples, Monks and Kings, Buddhist Sacred Sites, Echoes of the South and The Golden Realm. In addition to Buddhist temples, the publication also features Mother Goddess temples, Khmer pagodas, Chinese community temples, caves and sacred mountains that serve as pilgrimage destinations.

To document religious life authentically, Cornet often stayed at each location for several days. He studied the lunar calendar, planned visits around festivals and ceremonies, and consulted local residents and monks to capture natural moments of worship and daily life.

One of his most memorable experiences took place at But Thap Pagoda in Bac Ninh Province. Heavy rain forced him to remain at the temple longer than planned, giving him extra time to explore the site. During that visit, he discovered a small Buddha statue that had previously escaped his attention. The photograph he took later became the cover image of the book.

In addition to taking photographs, Cornet personally wrote the accompanying texts, researched Vietnamese and French-language sources and consulted Buddhist scholars to complete the publication.

Today, many of the temples featured in the collection have already been altered by urban development or restoration work. Cornet believes the photographs therefore serve not only as works of art but also as a record of a period of transition in Vietnam's religious, cultural and architectural landscape.

Nguyen Hue - Tuan Hung