Saigon - Sundown in the Colony

Tucked away in District 3 is one of Saigon’s best-kept local secrets, a throwback to the Vietnam of thirty or forty years ago. Old school apartment blocks huddle together amidst the modern city, where a bustling community of markets and street traders thrives. We head out to this area, known as ‘the colony’ in late afternoon, just as the streets liven up for the evening’s action. We’ll start by shooting life in and around the apartment blocks, capturing daily activity amidst the fascinating retro architecture, and then move onto the local flower market, picturesquely sheltered overhead by hundreds of umbrellas. Our focus is on street photography, portraiture and of course low-light photography once the sun goes down. We’ll also have a chance to try out some of Saigon’s signature street food dishes in an area renowned for culinary excellence.

What to Expect

The tightly packed residential apartment blocks infused with the evening market and food stalls create an intense atmosphere. As the sun descends, the dark encroaching shadows flood the balconies of post war industrial architecture encouraging playfulness with light, shadows and compositions. Your photographs will be moody and atmospheric, capturing the essence of these marvelous tightly-knitted houses. At street level your lens will be full of colour and action, and street lights artificially illuminate the evening chaos that unfolds within the walls of the Colony. Portraits and street scenes will tell stories of the real heart of Saigon.

Tour Highlights	Photographic Highlights
The Colony Post War Architecture Ghetto State Housing Vibrant Night Market	Camera Settings Lens Options Long Exposure Low Light Compositions Panning Context and Relationships

Tour Length: Half Day – 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Level of Difficulty: Moderate Physical activity (Walking)

Training or guidance will be provided by our photographers throughout the tour. Our guides will tailor your learning experience depending on your interest, style and experience from amateurs to professionals we can provide simple techniques to improve your photography, gain further knowledge of your camera and lenses, as well as develop your photographic eye to capture that amazing composition.

What’s Included	What’s Excluded
Hotel Pickup Non-alcoholic beverages Professional Photographer Guide Hotel Drop off	Gratuities

Recommended Equipment

DSLR Camera / Film Camera

Memory Cards

Fully Charged Battery

Wide Angle or Standard Zoom Lens

Tripod

Reviews

I loved this tour and am so glad I did it at the beginning of my holiday as it meant that my photos from then on have improved. I learnt so much about getting the right shots and angles and even about using my own camera to better advantage. Highly recommend doing this tour. Juan Carlos was fantastic, very knowledgeable and a nice person who was happy to share what he knew. I would do it again.

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All photos are taken on tour by previous guests and tour guides

Tour FAQ's

What happens if it rains

In the event of forecasted heavy rain, we’ll contact you to reschedule or cancel the tour and give you a full refund. If it’s early morning and raining heavily, our guide will call you on the phone number you gave us to discuss options for postponement or cancellation. In the event of cancellation we’ll issue a full refund.

Can I rent a camera

Yes, you can. We have a Nikon DSLR available to rent for $30 per tour including free memory card. Please enquire on booking.

Do I need travel insurance

Yes, you do. Vietnam in Focus is not liable to pay any costs associated with injury etc on our tours.

Can my non-photographer partner and / or kids come along

Yes, they can. Costs (or free joining) depend on each tour, so please enquire on booking.

Can I join the tour using a film camera

Yes, you can. People often join our tours using film cameras. You may not be able to edit in camera, but the composition tips are still basically the same.

Can I join the tour using a smartphone camera

Yes, you can. Smartphone cameras are pretty amazing nowadays.

How can you help me develop my Photography

Training or guidance will be provided by our photographers throughout the tour. Our guides will tailor your learning experience depending on your interest, style and experience from amateurs to professionals we can provide simple techniques to improve your photography, gain further knowledge of your camera and lenses, as well as develop your photographic eye to capture that amazing shot.