Saigon River Photo Tour - Authentic Waterside Life
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The River’s Edge

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The River's Edge - Saigon Photo Tour

Explore life along Saigon's rivers & canals

As Ho Chi Minh City rapidly modernizes, one thing remains constant—life along the edges of the Saigon River. In the adjoining canals, riverboats still ply a route to and from the great Mekong, as they have for centuries. Join us in this bustling waterworld, where you’ll find photographic opportunities unlike anywhere else in the city. 

We start out with a canal-side wander to capture photos of working river life. Tugboats arrive here carrying coconuts and other goods from the Mekong, and we’ll document these classic scenes from the Saigonese riverside. The route then takes us past a Buddhist temple and onto a floating village, with rickety houseboats anchored along the path. The owners often come out for a chat, giving us a chance to take portraits and shots of them at work and play. We finish up with a dramatic view of Saigon’s 21st century skyline over the river, and a walk through a traditional market offering beautiful light for people photography.

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What to Expect

This walk offers a variety of shooting opportunities, including architecture, people photography and cityscapes. Along the way, you’ll develop a photographic story of life along the river’s edge, with tips on composition for different types of picture, use of various settings and creating and pacing a narrative with images.

What to Expect

Reviews

Excellent photographic tour in authentic areas of Saigon.
@Dallas
Excellent tour: our guide Paul Green was knowledgeable about Saigon and took my wife and me to interesting places away from the tourist tracks. He also made some helpful suggestions about my photography, and I am very pleased to have many nice images from the tour. Vietnam In Focus were great to deal with - efficient and excellent communications.

Tour Information

Recommended Equipment

  • DSLR Camera or Film Camera
  • Memory Card
  • Fully Charged Battery
  • Wide angle or Zoom lens

What's included

  • Hotel Pick up and Drop-off
  • Professional Photographer Guide

What's not included

  • Food or Drinks
  • Tips

Tour Length

4hrs ( 5:30 – to 9:30 am)
Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 minutes prior to this time

Level of Difficulty

Moderate Physical activity (Walking)

Tour HIghlights

  • Saigon Canals
  • Tugboats
  • Local River Life
  • Floating Village
  • Saigon Skyline

Photography Highlights

  • Camera Settings
  • Lens Options
  • Street Photography
  • Portraiture
  • Documentary Photography
  • People photography
  • Context and Relationships

Photography teaching

On a photo tour with us, your experience, images and development as a photographer are the priority. Tips to improve your pictures will be provided by our professional photographer guides throughout the tour, and we’ll have regular reviews. While enjoying a rich variety of photographic opportunities on tour, you’ll gain valuable insights on how to get the best out of your images, and how to take your skills to the next level.

Pricing
$169

Per person

$119

Per Person

$79

Per Person
Group/Family
3-5 People

  • This is a Private Experience
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Tour FAQ's

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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Customize Your Photography Experience

Our unparalleled knowledge of travel and culture in Vietnam, and where and when to get the best shots, mean we are experts in designing tailormade photo tours.  We have planned and run tours for everyone from professional photographers on a mission to amateurs who want to get to know their cameras better on an adventure.  Each person and group is different, so once you’ve completed the few questions below, expect to answer a few more before we can create your ideal photographic adventure.

The River’s Edge

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