NZPhotographer Issue 59, September 2022

Bac (uncle) Ho as he was affectionately known, or Ho Chi Minh, was a Vietnamese revolutionary and the President of
Communist North Vietnam from 1945 to 1969 when he died. He did not see the victory of the North over the South and the
then unification of his country, but in his honour the name Saigon was changed to Ho Chi Minh City. Here his statue stands in
front of the French colonial City Hall building in the center of the city.
Canon 6D Mk1, Canon 16-35mm F/2.8L III USM lens @ F7.1, 1/250s, ISO100, 22mm
Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, whatever you choose to call
this Vietnamese city, has a vibrant and pulsating vibe
that personifies South East Asia, maybe more so than
any other city in the region. It’s modern and traditional,
chaotic yet somehow organised and believe me, a visit
here will have you longing to return time and again.
Luckily, I am now based here for at least the next
two years. If you’ve been following my articles, you’ll
know I have been based in Istanbul for the past
twelve months, but now I’ve made the jump halfway
around the world to settle in this great Asian city for an
extended period.
Now that the pandemic seems to finally be on the wane
and those of you who were locked down can once
again travel, I can honestly say that there’s no better
region to break the shackles than here. Asia, particularly
South East Asia, has everything the photographer and
traveler could want - lots of smiling faces, alluring culture,
intoxicating smells and tastes. Best of all, a trip here
won’t startle your bank manager!
When you touch down in this city of nine million, some
scarred by the war, but ready to forgive and somehow
forget, you’ll be greeted by many welcomes. Reply
with an equally warm smile of your own whilst saying
‘xin chao,’ meaning ‘hello’ and the good-natured
Vietnamese will have you forgetting your work life and
the stresses of home in no time at all.
DISTRICT ONE
District One is the downtown area, and it’s likely this
is where you’ll book your accommodation. It’s a
great place to get your bearings, with lots to see and
photograph, in particular the French colonial buildings
such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Saigon Post
Office and the City Hall, all of which are within easy
walking distance.
If you want to splash out on accommodation, the
5-star Caravelle Hotel on Lam Son Square is in the
centre of downtown, right next to the Opera House,
within a stone’s throw of everything District One
has to offer and was where the International war
correspondents stayed and reported the Vietnam
War. From the hotel’s scenic rooftop, you can
even see the iconic spot where the last American
helicopter made its final evacuation as they pulled
out of the country.
Insider Tip:
If staying at the Caravelle might break your budget,
be sure to visit for happy hour and have a drink on
the deck while shooting the city from above; there’s a
great leading line view straight down Dong Khoi Road
to Notre Dame Cathedral.