NZPhotographer Issue 59, September 2022

BINH THANH DISTRICT
This district has a mix of the very old Saigon and the
very new. It’s said to be the heart of Saigon and is
where I’m currently living. You’ll find the tallest building
in Vietnam here which is also the 2 nd tallest in all SE
Asia, Landmark 81. With 81 floors, you can get a great
360-degree view of the city. The SkyView here is
pricey, but for a cheaper (though still pricey option),
head to Nest by Aia on the 48 th floor for an expensive
café drink, but with all the open air views you could
hope for. Hand-held photography is fine here, but
with the glass wall and lack of space for a tripod,
long exposures just won’t work. Next to Landmark 81,
you’ll find the city’s most beautiful park with great
views of the skyline from ground level and a beautiful
Japanese garden complete with bonsai trees and a
gorgeous pond.
CHINATOWN (DISTRICT FIVE)
In this district known as Cholon to the locals you’ll
find several pagodas, a Chinese-influenced Catholic
church, and lots of birds in cages; the locals proudly sit
in outdoor coffee shops displaying their sweet singing
creatures. This area is where you are most likely to see
cyclos (local bikes with the passenger seated at the
front). There’s also Binh Tay Market, a sprawling mass
of cheap consumerism but always good for a photo
or two. Wander through the neighbourhood, and
don’t forgo walking the hems (side streets) as that’s
where you’re most likely to get your people shots and
a more classical Vietnam vibe. I often find it’s best
to shoot in shutter priority here with my ISO on auto.
Choose a shutter speed of around 1/160 or slower
if you’re quick with the camera and have a steady
hand, but whatever shutter speed you choose, ensure
you get sharp shots.
CONCLUSION
No matter where you choose to base yourself in this
city, you’ll find photo opportunities galore. It’s the
throbbing heart of Vietnam, and although it doesn’t
feel quite as traditional as Hanoi, it still has more than
enough on offer. You’ll soon realise that regardless
of how much time you plan to stay here, it won’t
be enough, so getting to those first-timer highlights
is important; you can delve deeper on extended or
repeated visits.
Hungry for more travel shots? Follow me on Instagram,
or better yet, watch my videos on YouTube to better
understand where I am and what I’m doing.
@phomadic
www.youtube.com/c/GirlsontheLoose1
82 September 2022 NZPhotographer