Southern Vietnam Photography Tour (12 Days)

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you’ll be met by our guide and driver and transferred to your hotel to drop off luggage and take a short rest. We then head out for a street photography session around the city.

In the late afternoon, we’ll set up for cityscape shooting during sunset and blue hour, using tripods to capture twilight scenes and motion blur along the Saigon River area. After the shoot, a generous Vietnamese welcome dinner awaits us at a local restaurant.

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin a street photography session in Chinatown and visit Thien Hau Pagoda, a Buddhist temple dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess. Inside, the pagoda features vibrant roof decorations depicting scenes of a nineteenth-century Chinese city. The most striking interior element, dominating the main altar, is the trio of statues honoring the “Lady of the Sea.”

We then continue to Long An Province in the Mekong Delta region, where we observe and photograph daily river life, including fishing activities and water transportation along the waterways.

This morning, we join residents in harvesting water lilies, capturing one of southern Vietnam’s most iconic scenes — workers and local women dressed in traditional "Áo Bà Ba", wearing conical hats and the black-and-white checked "khan ran" scarf.

We then return to Saigon for a short flight to the coastal city of Nha Trang, followed by a transfer to Doc Let. Upon arrival, we check in at the hotel and settle in for an early night, as the next day’s adventure calls for a pre-dawn start.

The salt ponds of Khanh Hoa are among the most photogenic landscapes in the world. Scenes of workers moving through shimmering salt fields and mirror-like pools create a surreal atmosphere, often compared to a tropical version of the Arctic. As the afternoon progresses toward Phan Rang, we encounter another striking subject: vast stretches of vivid green fishing nets spread out as locals mend them by hand.

Our photographic journey concludes at sunset with a pastoral scene of a shepherd guiding sheep back home. Set against Phan Rang’s distinctive landscape, this quiet moment bathed in warm evening light marks the perfect end to a full day of shooting as the sun slips below the horizon.

We begin before dawn, immersing ourselves in the rich cultural fabric of early Cham villages. As the day breaks, our cameras capture the colors, traditions, and daily rhythms of Cham life, framed by the dramatic landscape of sand dunes.

After a productive morning shoot, we return to the hotel for breakfast and time to relax.

Later, we pack our equipment and head up into the Central Highlands plateau, continuing our journey toward Da Lat, a city renowned for its natural charm. The day ends with a striking sunset photography session, where shifting light and shadow create a truly captivating scene.

Our photographic journey begins at dawn at the tranquil Tuyen Lam Lake, where still waters mirror the surrounding pine forests. In the calm of early morning, we photograph local fishermen at work, making this serene setting an ideal scene for a sunrise shoot.

After returning to the hotel, we enjoy a relaxed breakfast and check out before continuing on to Lak Lake. Upon arrival, we check in at our hotel and take time to rest and unwind. As evening approaches, we capture the Mnong ethnic minority during a sunset photography session, followed by dinner at the hotel.

As the first light of morning sets the stage, we begin a memorable photography session capturing majestic elephants alongside the Mnong ethnic minority, whose deep connection with these gentle giants spans more than a thousand years.

In Dak Lak Province, elephants are revered by the Mnong not simply as animals, but as treasured members of the community—cared for and respected with familial devotion. This enduring bond is powerfully reflected in the Mnong’s annual ceremony, a sincere ritual offering prayers for the health and well-being of their elephants.

After preserving these intimate moments through our lenses, we continue our journey toward Gia Lai, stopping along the way in Buon Ma Thuot for portrait photography sessions featuring the Ede ethnic minority.

Today in Pleiku, we delve into the captivating world of the gong—an instrument central to the cultural identity of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, spanning five provinces: Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong. In 2005, this unique gong culture was recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

The cultural significance of the gong extends across multiple provinces and unites seventeen Austro-Asiatic and Austronesian ethno-linguistic communities. Deeply embedded in daily life and seasonal rituals, the gong plays an essential role in a spiritual belief system that connects the human, divine, and supernatural worlds.

Over the next two days, we will conduct a series of photography sessions dedicated to documenting this rich ethnic heritage, with a strong focus on portraiture of the Jrai and Bahnar people.

Another full day is dedicated to photographing the ethnic minorities of Gia Lai Province, offering further opportunities to explore and capture their diverse traditions and cultural life through our lenses.

Our day begins with a sunrise photography session along the picturesque 100-year-old pine lane on the northern shore of T’Nung Lake (Bien Ho). After breakfast, we return to the hotel for some relaxation.

Following check-out, we travel north to Kon Tum, where we photograph the Bana ethnic people and their iconic communal stilt houses. The day concludes with a photography session capturing a traditional Bahnar “Xoan” performance around a communal fire.

We continue in Kon Tum, a province with 28 ethnic groups, including the Xo Dang, Ba Na, Gia Rai, Gie Trieng, Hre, Brau, and Ro Mam. Each ethnicity contributes to the area's rich culture. We will photograph ethnic minorities, particularly the Brau and Gie-Trieng tribes, to capture their beauty and expressions.

After this shoot, we'll pack and head to Pleiku airport for our short trip to Saigon. In Saigon, we'll gather together a farewell dinner.

Your final day in Saigon is at leisure. You may choose to explore the city’s bustling streets one last time, capturing its vibrant energy through your lens, or simply take the day to unwind and relax.