Street photography in Vietnam
Feb 19, 2017 06:33:45 #
I had no problem taking photos of people in viet Nam in Ho Chi Mihn City, Danag, to Hanoi.
Crossing the streets is tricky as most of the vehicles are scooters and there are a lot of them. Here is what I was told to do and it worked. Just start walking slowly and NEVER stop and NEVER go backwards. They are accustomed to anticipating that movement and steer around you.
Crossing the streets is tricky as most of the vehicles are scooters and there are a lot of them. Here is what I was told to do and it worked. Just start walking slowly and NEVER stop and NEVER go backwards. They are accustomed to anticipating that movement and steer around you.
Feb 19, 2017 07:07:02 #
There is really no need to offer money to photograph these lovely people. How would you react if l offered you money to take your picture?
Feb 19, 2017 08:04:15 #
TriX wrote:
Sarge, those were some long tours! By choice? (Me - Army, An Khe, DaNang 68-69)
By Choice TriX
I was young and duty with Advisory Teams wasn't rough. All tours in the Mekong delta. Wounded in Bac Lieu in 1965 by Viet Cong bomb that killed 13 Vietnamese. Not all that bad but tolerable.
Thanks for the thought
Sarge69
Feb 19, 2017 08:22:06 #
Feb 19, 2017 08:24:25 #
breck
Loc: Derbyshire UK
happy friendly people 3 years ago scenery spectacular you must visit Halong bay and Sapa for the rice fields choose time of year carefully or you could hit constant raain or like we did very high humidity .
We felt perfectly safe unless crossing a road in Hanoi not my favorite city.
No one objected to me taking photos (I did ask) and I felt safe lugging around a nikon d800 and 24-70 2.8 lens a noticeable set up.
We felt perfectly safe unless crossing a road in Hanoi not my favorite city.
No one objected to me taking photos (I did ask) and I felt safe lugging around a nikon d800 and 24-70 2.8 lens a noticeable set up.
Feb 19, 2017 08:27:25 #
TriX wrote:
It's been many years since I was in Vietnam, so th... (show quote)
Very good advice - malaria is carried by mosquitoes that bite at night. However, problems like Dengue are carried by mosquitoes that bite in the daytime. I like to carry the little DEET wipes - I can open one up and apply it only if needed if I am aware of mosquitoes, and the contents is not greasy.
Also - it would be a very good idea to get the Hepatitis A vaccine before you go. Hep A is very common in the tropics - but not a big deal for the locals, because almost everyone gets it when very young - toddlers may be a little sick, have a little diarrhea for a while - and then they are immune for life. However, mom takes care of her child, then goes to work at the café, handles your food -and as an adult with no previous exposure, you are sick for months! This is not the Hep B that is mandatory for school kids now. Hep A is generally just given to travelers (your family doc might get it for you or the local health department can give it to you) - it SHOULD be a requirement of every food service worker in this country, but no one wants to propose that I guess.
Feb 19, 2017 08:50:34 #
Definetly contact 'Infectious Disease Doctor' in your area before going to SE Asia. I had 2 shots and pills to take when traveling to Viet Nam.
Sarge69
Sarge69
Feb 19, 2017 09:01:24 #
breck
Loc: Derbyshire UK
Atchy wrote:
There is really no need to offer money to photograph these lovely people. How would you react if l offered you money to take your picture?
Hear Hear, no one asked me for money I just wiggled the camera at them and smiled they smiled back, The best country in the far east for not having to bribe people they do not expect tips either, safe, friendly and fun
Feb 19, 2017 09:24:08 #
My wife and I were in Vietnam a year ago to date. I found Hanoi's street photography exceptional. I was fascinated by the sheer number of scooters. I'd stand on the corner of my hotel watching the non-stop parade of scooters, sometime 5 people to a scooter. What one puts on a scooter is only limited by his/her imagination, e.g. chickens, dogs, trees, building supplies, etc. Absolutely amazing. Walking the streets can be an issue. Traffic lights are meaningless. Take a moment and see how the locals cross the street. One recommendation is to take a bicycle rickshaw ride. You can sit back and take photos of street scenes to your heart's content. Enjoy.
Feb 19, 2017 09:49:24 #
Visited a couple years ago and found it cheap compared to Australia, no problem with street photography, pay attention to all remarks about crossing streets no matter what the light says. We were there (Hanoi plus) during their Chinese New Year Holiday with throngs of people everywhere. At a crowded Temple a guy bumped into me a couple times and I was suspicious but had my camera in my hand and on strap and nothing in my pockets worthy of theft. Later I noticed my belt pack a little open and sure enough a filter was gone, the only thing in there worth anything. Pretty skilled guy so beware being close in crowds. Otherwise loved VN, no evidence of anti American feeling anywhere we were.
Feb 19, 2017 09:53:02 #
I was there for three weeks. Street photography is a awesome. Children love to be photographed. Keep you camera visible, act like you belong, put a smile on your face. Be polite.
Vietnam Vet.
Vietnam Vet.
Feb 19, 2017 09:56:12 #
My wife & I just returned from a 10 day trip to Saigon, Hoi An, Danang & Hanoi. We had no problem with street photography/photographing people. As mentioned in other responses, the people are very friendly and there is quite a lot to see. Crossing the street can be a challenge due to the constant and somewhat chaotic traffic, but hold your hand out to request passage and move forward with authority and caution. Check with the hotel concierge or front desk as to the reliable taxi companies to use. We were taken for a ride on one occasion and ended up paying around $11 for a ride that would normally cost $3 or $4. But that was just one time and we had no problems on the other numerous taxi trips we made.
We enjoyed our trip very much and I am sure you will too. Good Luck.
We enjoyed our trip very much and I am sure you will too. Good Luck.
Feb 19, 2017 10:14:34 #
BarryUP
Loc: NEW YORK CITY
People friendly, loved to be photographed. BEWARE of crossing streets, you have to do it in traffic. Very safe environment though many persistent hawkers.
Feb 19, 2017 10:19:43 #
klattimer wrote:
Street photography in Vietnam
I will be traveling to Vietnam in March. I have navigated the etiquette of street photography in a number of countries and I'm wondering who has experience with this in Vietnam. How do people react in general and different context such as on the street, in parks, in markets etc. What about photographing people's children?
I will be traveling to Vietnam in March. I have navigated the etiquette of street photography in a number of countries and I'm wondering who has experience with this in Vietnam. How do people react in general and different context such as on the street, in parks, in markets etc. What about photographing people's children?
I spent a year enjoying Vietnam's hospitality (1969-70). Long ago, so things may have changed, but possibly not old culture.
I was a military adviser so the Army put me through language school before going over. One thing that we were taught was that Vietnamese people were superstitious about showing the palms of their hands and soles of their feet—that their souls were visible through those surfaces.
The attached photo was taken in class while our teacher explained that superstition. Then, she demonstrated that she—an educated person—could also make fun of it.
On the other hand, I took many pictures of Vietnamese children—some taken with their parents present—and never had any resistance to the camera lens.
And yes, I'd love to go back, but I stopped flying in 2001.
--
Feb 19, 2017 10:34:18 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.