The final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the primary leader and force behind Vietnam's emergence as an independent nation, is an important pilgrimage site for many Vietnamese, especially from the north. His embalmed body has been on display since 1975. We were not allowed inside – we were told that the body of Ho Chi Minh was “visiting” Moscow for “rehabilitation.” But I can still tell a story through the men who guard the tomb, whether Ho Chi Minh is there or not. I moved my camera position so that this guard stands squarely in front of a tree. Its limbs are reaching diagonally towards the upper left hand corner of the image. Meanwhile, he thrusts his right leg forward creating a counter diagonal that runs from right to left. His body also leans slightly along the same diagonal line. This image features a compositional pattern created by the diagonal flow of that tree, the implied diagonal posture of the guard, and the repeating horizontal lines of the sculpted tree at right and the hedge that carries the eye across the entire image. It is all about order, rigidity, and duty.