If you’re planning a Vietnam photography tour, prepare to fill your memory card with striking, story-rich images. Vietnam is a land of contrasts—from mountain tribes to coastal fishing villages, ancient traditions to modern street scenes. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just looking to level up your travel shots, this guide covers 10 iconic photos you’ll want to capture on your journey.
Street vendors in Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Start your journey in the heart of Vietnam’s capital. The Old Quarter of Hanoi is alive with motion—women in conical hats balancing baskets, vendors selling tropical fruits, and locals weaving through narrow alleys on bicycles. A Hanoi photo tour gives you the chance to practice composition, color, and candid storytelling in this vibrant urban maze.
Hanoi’s train street
Few places scream “only in Vietnam” like Hanoi’s train track street. Twice a day, a roaring train squeezes through a narrow residential alley, just inches from doorways and coffee cups. Between train times, it’s a fantastic place for Vietnam street photography—capturing daily life, laundry lines, and curious tourists holding their breath.
Vietnamese women in traditional dress
Whether it’s a bride in a red áo dài or a grandmother in earth-toned linen with a nón lá (conical hat), Vietnamese women reflect grace and tradition. On our private photography tours, we time visits with cultural festivals or coordinate portraits in rice fields or old quarters for truly timeless images.
Rice Terraces in the Northwest Mountains
If you’re dreaming of golden light and sweeping landscapes, head north. The rice terraces of the NorthWest are a photographer’s dream—especially at harvest season. Join a guided Vietnam photo tour to reach remote viewpoints and meet ethnic minority farmers.
Weekly mountains markets
Weekly markets offer more than just colorful photos—they’re a cultural experience. Capture the vivid textiles of Hmong women, traditional herbal medicines, livestock trading, and a visual rhythm found nowhere else. These markets are essential to Northern Vietnam photography.
Floating markets in Mekong Delta
In the south, life flows with the water. The floating markets of Cái Răng provide dynamic compositions of boats packed with pineapples, vegetables, and locals in patterned pajamas. Best captured at dawn, this is a perfect scene for wide shots, detail frames, and reflections.
Morning in coastal villages in Central Vietnam
Wake up early for golden light and real life in fishing villages along the coastline. Watch fishermen mend nets, unload the catch, or haul coracles ashore. The mood is cinematic—fog, sea spray, and hard-earned smiles.
Fishing nets
Vietnamese fishing culture isn’t just functional—it’s visually poetic. In fishing villages, photographers can capture swirling green nets suspended above the water, casting shadows like abstract paintings. Drone shots? Even better.
Incense stick village
One of Vietnam’s most iconic scenes: fields of incense sticks laid out to dry like bursts of color on the ground. In Quảng Phú Cầu, villagers craft these by hand, offering you a chance to document both the craft and the composition. Think symmetry, saturation, and slow-paced portraits.
Hoi An Ancient Town
Wrap up your tour in the atmospheric streets of Hoi An. Lanterns glow along the river, traditional houses reflect in the water, and couples release paper boats into the night. Perfect for slow shutter work, intimate portraits, and storytelling scenes.
Every stop in Vietnam offers visual treasures waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re shooting bustling city life, remote mountain villages, or serene coastlines, these 10 scenes are what make a Vietnam photography tour unforgettable.
Book your private Hanoi photography tour or a multi-day adventure with a Vietnam local photographer, and let the country unfold through your lens—one iconic shot at a time.
XUAN PHUONG 