Vietnam is a photographers paradise. I was there as a Marine in 1969 and returned several years ago as a tourist. I started in Saigon and ended up in Hanoi. My favorite places for photography were Hue, Danang and Hanoi. I visited many of the small villages and everywhere were picture opportunities. There were some previous negative comments about the dangers in this country and that the people were not friendly. I found the opposite. I have never visited a more friendly country. You may be mobbed by young children wanting to try their English language skills and vend their products, but everyone was very friendly. We did not have a problem with crime, but I was more watchful in Saigon than in other parts of the country, due to rumors of pickpockets and purse/camera snatching. The warning about drinking the water does have some merit. We only drank sealed bottled water and avoided lettuce etc that would have been washed in contaminated water. Our group hiked 18 miles into the DMZ and were warned repeatedly of the possibility of unexploded ordinance, but did not have a problem. As for the friendliness of the Vietnamese, on this trek, we met an old man that may not have seen an American since the war. He told us his entire family was killed by American bombs in 1969, he then invited us into his house/shack for a meal. That is true forgiveness. You can also gets some great pictures in the Hmong villages. We did not have a problem with mosquitos, but did take malaria prophylaxis. Several of my group were taking Lariam and did have some strange yet known side effects (vivid nightmares, and near psychoic episodes). These side affects were not a result of my war experience there. I personally would never take that drug again.

In December 2011, after a year working in Singapore, I took the opportunity of its proximity to visit Vietnam - a 40-year wait to see a country that ever since June 8th 1972 had left a deep impression upon me. I was armed with plenty of advice before going, regarding the usual things - taxis, beggars, money for photos, sensitivities - I had 16 days in total visiting HCMC; Vung Tau; Hoi An; Hanoi; by train to Sa Pa; Halong Bay; Bat Trang.

I deliberately avoided touristy attractions, because I wanted to be amongst its people, in the alleys, down by the river, in the byways...all places where, IMO, the real hearbeat is.

My trip gave me enough insight to want to go back and see more, including the museums and 'attractions'. Everywhere I went I found the people, with very few exceptions, to be wonderfully friendly and receptive. The standard of food was quite variable, but it takes a little while to 'tune-in' and know what you like and what to ask for.

As a westerner, I knew I could always [afford to]dive into a 5-star hotel for a coupe or three nights if things got desperate, but never found the need to.

VN used to have a slogan 'Viet Nam is its people' - that was my experience. Photo opportunities abound.

Have a great time!

You are right. My husband was in the Marines from 60-68. On his second tour to Viet Nam, Tet just started. He was sent home for rehab and a discharge. In fact, I met him his first day out of rehab. He was sent home August 68 he was in rehab until the second week of Jan.69. I was in a bar and restaurant called PJ Clarks with friends from work. It was a Friday night we were going to have a drink and head out to do some dancing. This guy walks up to me and introduces himself. We were married in June of 69 and still are. I know....totaly off topic. When it comes to that country I am always reminded what happened to him. Besides, I do have a tendency to ramble.

Agree regarding the negative comments. I'm a vet who spent a year flying helicopters there in 1971-72 and pretty much saw the country from end to end during my tour. I have also traveled back there each of the last three years and will go back again this winter for a month or so. I've never felt unsafe and will eat locally when I know what I'm eating. It seems everybody is totally enamored with Hoi An but on my two visits it seems mostly like a tourist trap. Of all the countries in SE Asia, I don't think VN is the most photogenic (Myanmar and Cambodia take that prize) but does have the most vibrant population. Everybody is very friendly and holds no animosity towards Americans. As a veteran, I have tried to avoid the wartime museums as most are propaganda factories. As mentioned in another response, Ha Long Bay is a must see but the weather in February-March usually sucks as it was on both of my visits. If you want a true culture dip, stay in a hotel in District 1 in Saigon and the old part of downtown Hanoi where you can walk most everywhere in those areas.

Forget all the negative comments. Vietnam is interesting and safe.

The only ripoffs are taxi drivers. The food is fantastic.

By far - the most photogenic place in the country is Hoi An. a 45 minute taxi ride from the Danang airport. Unfortunately - the trains in VN are still in the dark ages - it takes forever to get anywhere. Saigon to Danang by train is 17 hours. By air - a bit over 1 hour. You will have to fly everywhere.

You will love the place - and the prices are still like US prices from 40 years ago.

PS - take a cooking class in Hoi An. Famous for cooking schools - many offer half day classes. It was a fantastic experience - and you will cook yourself a great meal.

Vietnam is not that big of a country but it's still pretty big (the size of California). Where do you plan to be? Hanoi, Saigon, Hue? There are tours that will take you to all of these places but they are generally not photography-friendly (not able to do dawn and dusk). There are also photography tours but I haven't been on one...I guess you can look it up on the internet.

In Hanoi, Hoan Kiem lake and Hanoi Hilton are "must photograph" places. A few hours from Hanoi, there's the famous Ha Long bay that one should not miss. In central Vietnam, you have the citadel city of Hue, made famous by the movie "Full Metal Jacket"...visiting the citadel, you can still see pockmarks made by the bullets made in the 1968 fighting depicted in that movie. Hoi An and Danang are fairly touristy but offers many photography opportunities. At the beach resort town of Mui Ne, giant sand dunes offer quite a bit of photographic possibilities. When you are in Saigon, you must get a taxi across the river and take a night shot of the Saigon skyline...it's pretty cool. Here are a few that I took a few years back...

When you are in Saigon, called Ho Chi Minh City today, definitely take a cyclo individual Driver driven bicycle tour. Any hotel can arrange it for you. It's amazing to be in the middle of traffic there where there are over 8 million small motorcycles and absolutely no discernible rules of the road. You can get amazing shots that way! Don't be afraid. Just never hesitate when you are walking across the street and certainly never take a step backward when you're crossing streets and you will be fine.
The other thing I would suggest, is to make a study of boats. There are literally hundreds of different sizes shapes colors and sizes of boats in Vietnam. Many are old wooden boats with interesting designs of dragons and crocodile eyes. I saw basket boats and very long extremely narrow boats, boats that people live on and you trade from. Definitely take a Mekon River cruise out of Saigon if this interests you. I was there last March. The weather was wonderful. Not a single mosquito in the cities along the coast from Saigon to Hanoi.

In addition to the risk of Malaria (mostly in the countryside) there is the risk of mosquito borne Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika fever, more a risk in cities and from mosquitoes that bite in daytime, not early AM and evening like the ones that carry Malaria. Read up on this problem before you go and plan to take precautions. This applies not only to Vietnam but to every tropical place in the world with the usual exception of Hawaii. I say usual because even the Big Island of Hawaii has had a problem with Dengue in some recent years.

My wife is a mosquito magnet and refuses to put on Deet so we skip such places.