Saigon Photography Tours

Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City or HCM, is a city of contrasts, where modern urban life mixes with enduring traditions. Gleaming skyscrapers look out over ancient temples in varying architectures, while street food stalls and luxury restaurants attract locals and foreigners alike. Though now officially named Ho Chi Minh City, the historic name of Saigon persists in popular usage.

The city is made up of vibrant districts, each with its own unique character. District 1 is the heart of metropolitan Saigon, where high-rise buildings rub shoulders with historic landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Just across the river is District 5, Saigon's Chinatown, Cholon is home to many ethnic Chinese and known for its bustling markets and hidden alleys.

In District 3, you'll find the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace, reminders of the country's difficult past. Trendy District 2 features upscale apartment buildings and shopping malls catering to expats and Vietnam's growing middle class. Nearby in District 7, backpackers mingle alongside businessmen at the city's only pedestrian zone on Bui Vien Street. And throughout the city, hidden alleyways open onto leafy courtyards representing traditional Vietnamese living.

Walking the streets, you may encounter a monk in flowing robes, a vendor balancing baskets at a market, or a family on a motorbike. Saigon moves quickly, but pockets remain where daily rituals have stayed the same for generations. With an eclectic mix of influences from French colonialism to traditional Vietnamese and Chinese cultures, intriguing surprises await around every corner.

Arnaud Foucard is a travel and street photographer who calls Saigon home. Originally from France, he first set down roots in Vietnam back in 2000, working as an executive for a major tour company.

In 2014, following his lifelong passion for travel photography, he founded Vietnam Photo Adventures. His goal was to create premier photo tours enabling photographers to imprive there craft amidst the fantastic and dynamic urban playground of Ho Chi Minh City.

From the hidden alleys of Cholon and the terraced rice paddies of Northern Vietnam, to the lush Mekong Delta, Arnaud guides with an insider’s eye. He strives to reveal the best his adoptive home has to offer for passionate photographers, whether beginners or professionals. As teacher and mentor, he provides tips while leading you to vantage points. Join Arnaud to discover inspiration and capture the true spirit of Vietnam.

Our photo tours prioritize enthusiasm, camaraderie, and smiles. Here are below few key reasons to book your Saigon photography tour:

🚶‍♂️+🥾 Go Beyond the Tourist Trail: Unveiling rarely seen rooftops, alleys, and hidden corners, Arnaud unlocks the city's untold stories and breathtaking backdrops. Capture unique perspectives that no guidebook can offer.

⬆️ Elevate Your Photography Skills: Discover the art of reading light, composing shots, and telling visual storiesdirectly from Arnaud, transforming your travel photos. Receive personalized feedback and hands-on practice to boost your photographic skills.

🌏 Connect with the Local Culture: Immerse yourself in the city's soul, uncovering the stories behind the sights. Your camera becomes a bridge, facilitating genuine interactions and capturing powerful unscripted moments. Forge deeper bonds with the culture through your lens.

✨ Unleash Your Creativity: Overcome shyness and explore street photography with confidence under expert guidance. Discover new perspectives and push your creative boundaries with positive encouragement and support.

💖 Create Lasting Memories: This journey goes beyond stunning photos. You'll slow down, truly see the city, form meaningful connections, and return home with memories that will last a lifetime.

Awesome photo tour of Cho Lon!

I first did the Cho Lon backstreets tour with Arnaud four years ago, and I learned so much back then. I realized I was lacking in my photographic creativity recently, so I decided to book another tour. Arnaud instantly helped me see the street life in a new and fresh way, and gave amazing advice throughout the entire tour. We connected with the locals and got a look into local life in a little-known part of town. Arnaud is a great teacher/guide and I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to improve their photography skills or simply anyone who wants to see another side of Saigon that most don't see.

Ian S.

  Four hours that dramatically changed my perspective as a photographer!

I have made several trips to Ho Chi Minh City over the years, always for business. This time I decided to enlist some help to visit unique places for street photography. A private session at sunrise with Arnaud in Cholon's market was extraordinary. Of course the introduction to backstreet life was worth the price, but I was impacted more by learning about Arnaud's philosophy and approach to chasing light. He took the time to meet me where I am as a photographer and tailor his professional advice for me. And I don't mind saying I appreciated how he was direct in his feedback, encouraging me to try, try again to get a meaningful, emotional shot. And I think I walked away with 3-4 that set a new bar for me to strive for. Arnaud is simply a spectacular gateway to a better understanding of Saigon and better storytelling!

Jason F.

Street Photography extraordinaire! Solo Session...

Wow! Arnaud is an incredible photography and teacher. He starts the tour by getting to know what your interests are, your level of photographic experience and understanding what your goals for the morning are. If you happen to have some photos from your trip so far for him to critique at this point- I would highly recommend doing this as his feedback is spot on and gives you truly memorable tips for future photography. (Mind the background!!) Then into the field. Arnaud as a wonderful open relaxed, yet brilliant way of approaching life and photography. My preference was for street photography- so out into the street we went- Cholon- where Arnaud encouraged and cajoled and instructed me to engage with the life and the people in real life. His lessons extended far beyond the camera lens- engaging with life and people in an open relaxed way which connects you to them and allows for very personal photos of people you have never met (keep your eyes open and use the foreground- and mind the background!) By the time we finished I had one of the better photos I have taken... more confidence in myself and in my photography and a keen understanding of what I needed to do to grow as a photographer. That's pretty amazing for a brief 5 hours tour. If you are interested in photography and want a unique and highly educational experience in people and photography- please take a tour with Arnaud!!

Judy U.

Fantastic Solo Day Session!

I can't speak highly enough of this tour with Arnaud! I did a solo session with him that took us through Cholon, an older neighborhood of Saigon. As others mentioned Arnaud gives some great tips and assists with camera settings and functions. But more importantly what stands out is his feedback and knowledge of the area. As you take photos he actively provides suggestions and feedback which ensure that the next photo you take will be better and more thought out. Also, if you're like me and deathly shy of approaching strangers (especially when you know like 3 phrases in Vietnamese), Arnaud really pushes you to try and do it. Did I suck at it? Definitely. But I feel a little more confident after spending time with Arnaud. He knows the locals and seems to be able to break the ice effortlessly to create some amazing shots and opportunities, something I can only hope to do in the future. Anyways, if you're in Saigon and interested in photographing and seeing some areas you probably wouldn't then I suggest you book this tour.

Vien G.

Choose Arnaud!

I traveled to Ho chi Minh alone with absolutely no agenda or a plan, but hoped to get a few good shots of my trip. I came across Arnaud's workshop by complete chance (through word of mouth), saw his work on his Instagram and signed up in a heartbeat. Probably the best thing I did my entire trip. Arnaud is a fantastic mentor and a passionate photographer and a cultural ambassador. He not only taught us so much about photography, but even about the local culture. It was a very rewarding experience, to say the least. No matter what level of a photographer you are, I highly recommend taking not one but multiple tours with Arnaud (which is what I did) as they're all superb locations and cover different facets of life in Vietnam. You will walk away with a wealth of knowledge, a plethora of fantastic images and of course nice memories of your trip!

Amal D.

Brilliant photo tours of the real Ho Chi Minh City

Arnaud is a fabulous photography teacher. He tells you exactly what you need to do with your camera to capture the best pictures and is constructively critical of your results. My husband and I are quite experienced photographers and I definitely learned a lot from our tours with Arnaud! We did the scoot 'n' shoot and the morning in the Chinese quarter tours. We visited areas of Ho Chi Minh City which tourists probably wouldn't normally visit. Arnaud knows where to go to take great photographs and knows lots of the locals too. He will definitely help you know which settings to use on your camera to achieve the best street photography results and will look at the pictures you have taken to tell you how to improve them. I am a pet photographer normally, so I think he was a little perplexed by my wanting to take pictures of the cats and dogs I saw! By the end of the tour, I think he knew why I was into pet photography too! Thank you Arnaud for your instruction and company for the day. I love the pictures I got from the tour and there were definitely more than 1 or 2 that were keepers!

Vicky H.