Vietnamese People and Photography

What is the Relationship Between Vietnamese People and Photography?

In general, Vietnamese people do not adopt an attitude of refusal toward photography. Young Vietnamese in particular are very open with foreign tourists. It is very common for a group of young schoolchildren or young students, as soon as they encounter a group of tourists, at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi for example, to ask to be photographed with them. However, most Vietnamese, especially women, are discreet, so it would be better to ask politely if a person agrees to be photographed. In cases where there are language difficulties, it will be necessary to make a small gesture, with your smile or with your camera as a sign of proposal. There are also some taboos to avoid. For example, if you intend to photograph a child, you would do better to ask the permission of their parents. Also, photographing a person without their knowledge is not appreciated. You should avoid photographing sad events such as a funeral… On the contrary, during weddings, wherever they are, people are generally very welcoming and generous toward photography. Most couples agree to be photographed if permission is asked. We also advise you to avoid photographing scenes or people in highly touristy or commercial places, especially merchants, because you risk being bothered by very unpleasant requests for money. The further you get from tourist areas, the less aggressive people are toward tourists. On the contrary, nothing will prevent you from photographing in the foreground in a discreet way. In many cases, the boundary between a concealed act and a discreet act is sometimes not well defined. But if you photograph things and human beings with a certain respect, it is always appreciated. Photographing faces too closely without asking permission, for example, is generally not a very nice gesture in the eyes of many people.

Where can I find photography materials or cameras in Vietnam?

You can obtain photography materials or cameras in the center of large cities like Hanoi or Saigon, for example around the Sword Lake in Hanoi, next to the Water Puppet Theater. If you want to find fairly good quality used cameras, it is on Vong Duc Street — a very short street, a few hundred meters from Sword Lake. All types of materials you might need for your trip to Vietnam are also sold there.

What are the places in Vietnam where you can take beautiful photos?

Upon your arrival in Vietnam, starting from the North for example, Hanoi is certainly a city of charm with many very contrasting scenes, both in its lively city center, in its spontaneous small markets, in its very ancient and fascinating temples and pagodas… Leaving the Vietnamese capital, there is Sapa with the grandeur and beauty of nature, Bac Ha with its mosaic of ethnic colors in the largest weekly gathering: the Bac Ha market, or Ha Giang with its stone highlands, its splendid passes, its terraced rice fields… All of Northern Vietnam has great potential for photography, thanks to its very varied topography, its rugged terrain, but also its very rich ethnic heritage… Ha Long certainly offers surprises that you will need to capture in your camera. The Central Vietnamese coastline, Hue, Hoi An — two heritage cities, a frantic Saigon and a peaceful Mekong Delta with its floating markets among the most original in the world… everything promises to give you among the most memorable images!

Finally, we would also like to remind you that the Vietnamese climate is characterized by high humidity, while waterways reign everywhere. So, it will be good to prepare the necessary materials to properly protect your camera!