He asked for 10,000 VND, roughly 0.51 USD/0.37 EUR. A bargain not worth bargaining over.

Patiently waiting in the shade near the entrance to the Dihn Tien Hoang Temple at Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s first capital, the gentleman quickly stood as I approached with my camera. He straightened his hat, fluffed the flowers on the buffalo’s horns, grabbed his bouquet and mounted. The buffalo seemed a bit jaded to the drill.