Hanoi has to be the best city in Vietnam for treet photography. The old quarter, Hoa Kiem lake, and the streets around them are great starting points. I tend to find a good scene and just wait for life to pass in front of it.
The famous prison where John McCain was kept during the American War (Vietnamese don’t call it the Vietnam War). Not the cheeriest of places so I try to go with it and shoot some “darker” subjects.
Some lesser known photography spots.
The Thang Long Citadel is a Unesco World Heritage site. Built by the Ly Viet Dynasty to mark the independence of the Dai Viet from China.
Phan Thiet is at its heart a fishing port. With one of the larger fleets in the area there are lots of photo opportunities. Along the river in the morning you will see fisherman and their wives repairing the nets. On the south side of the river is the commercial fish market that is best to visit before 08:00am. Another interesting stop is the Whale…
North of Hue City you will find this spectacular coastal cemetery where one family seems to try to outdo the other with extravagant tombs for their lost relatives. The area is quite large with many ornate tombs. It’s a good stop if heading up the coast for Dong Hoi and Phong Nha.
Song Cau beach in Tuy Hoa is a quiet crescent shaped beach with lots of local color. I like to stay at Timothe Beach Bungalow right on the beach and enjoy the sunrise and sunset directly.
The Cam Lap peninsula juts into Cam Ranh bay on the southern side. Not well travelled there are some beautiful vistas and local fishing villages.The morning light is often very striking in the Bin Lap area. There is just a single road circling the area with a short branch to Bin Lap.
Cam Ranh Bay is an often overlooked part of the South Central coast. It is a bit overshadowed by Nha Trang which is just to the north. In fact if you fly to Nha Trang you will be coming to Cam Ranh airport so try to spend a night.
The Ban Gioc waterfalls are 1/2 in Vietnam and 1/2 in China. They are the highlight of most peoples visit to Cao Bang. Though you can easily make a round trip from Cao Bang city spending the night and taking your time to explore the falls, the temple on the hill and nearby caves is worth the effort.