Saigon Street Photography Experience

Initially, I was concerned about which of the two Cafe Linh locations we would meet at, but the location was confirmed the day before. Although it was originally a group tour, I was asked if I'd prefer to proceed with the tour alone or join another group on a different day. Since I was short on time, I ended up doing the tour with just Fred, the photographer. The 3-hour tour was never boring. Fred is Canadian, but having lived in Vietnam for a long time, he provided very detailed explanations about its history and other relevant information. Although I spoke English with him, he seemed to be fluent in Korean as well, having had experiences in Korea. This was incredibly helpful for me, as I'm very interested in street photography. I received immediate, on-the-spot feedback on things like how to read the light, which greatly assisted my photography by addressing many of my questions about snap shooting. It was also wonderful to be able to access places that travelers typically can't easily visit. Throughout the 3 hours, we encountered many Vietnamese people, and Fred engaged every single one of them in small talk, making them completely unafraid to be in front of a stranger's camera. This made it incredibly comfortable for me as a photographer, and I was deeply touched by his consistent politeness and gratitude towards them. This session instilled in me the confidence that I wouldn't be afraid to take street photos on my own in the future. If you love photography and street snaps, I highly recommend this tour. If I get the chance to visit Ho Chi Minh City again, I would love to shoot with him again. It felt like I gained a wonderful photography mentor on this tour, which made it a very pleasant experience. Although it was a 3-hour tour, the time flew by, leaving me wishing it had been longer. If you're considering this tour, I truly believe it's a must-join!

If you love street photography or want to seriously improve your skills, this is a must-do experience. Trung is not only an amazing guide but a true professional photographer. Every shot he took throughout the tour was inspiring, and learning directly from someone at that level is something you rarely get access to. We explored buildings, hidden spots, narrow alleys, and beautiful temple that I had never seen mentioned on social medias and would have easily walked past on my own. This alone made the experience worth it. I walked away with several photos I genuinely love. Trung is also very well-liked by locals, which made it much easier to capture natural and authentic portraits along the way. That made a huge difference. I know this experience is available on other platforms as well, but it truly deserves more recognition on Klook. Easily one of the highlights of my trip.

An incredible experience. Very organic with a realism it would be hard to find anywhere else. Like walking into a photography book. The guide was easy going, teaching in subtle ways and lending an experienced eye. Super informative, felt like a guided tour of the side streets of Saigon. I learnt a lot and got some amazing photos. Would definitely recommend.

This is easily one of the best experiences I had. On the get go, Fred’s genuine intentions to personalise the experience is evident. I have no formal photography experience, but had shared my desire to capture my travels with more confidence. We started with him sharing about the camera (as a tool), breaking down the fundamental elements and even going through my settings. It’s always a heartwarming moment for a professional to invite you into their craft not just in a beginner-accessible manner, but a scaffolding that allows future exploration/growth. The session was a mix of technical, philosophical and cultural discussions which I think forms essence of street photography. It also helps that he knows the neighbourhood inside-out. His guiding principles were thoughtful and respectful, especially in photographing people, and I’m glad to have him as my first teacher in this aspect. 10/10 will engage him again for future up-skilling!

I really enjoyed this activity. Thanks to the photographer, Fred, for guiding us through Ho Chi Minh City and sharing many photography tips. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire photo shoot.

This is a great introduction course in street photography for starting photographers, rather than a tour of secret locations. But I had a great time and it helped me make (not take) better pictures.