Saigon Street Stories – Life Between Skyscrapers and Side Alleys

Authentic street scenes and daily moments from District 1, where modern Vietnam meets the soul of Saigon.

In this first section and look at Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, the focus is on street storytelling in District 1 – not directly in the modern downtown area, but around it, where the contrast between skyscrapers and street life becomes visible.

For me as a photographer, that’s what makes this part of the city so fascinating.
You find everyday moments of Vietnamese life, right next to glass towers and luxury buildings.
There are small street restaurants with those typical tiny plastic stools, narrow alleys framed by the city skyline, and bowls of noodle soup being cooked on makeshift kitchens right on the sidewalk.

The cityscape of Ho Chi Minh City is completely dominated by motorbikes — it’s said that nearly four million scooters are registered here and fill the streets every day.
A Vietnamese mechanic repairs a scooter directly on the pavement, while just two meters away an elderly woman sits on a small stool watching him work.

Behind them, there’s an aquarium shop, followed by a beauty salon where a group of men are busy styling a woman’s hair.

Nearby, a few ladies sit with their small fashion dogs, chatting and laughing, while a barber waits patiently for his next customer.

There’s so much to see in the streets of Saigon — moments full of energy, color, and everyday rhythm.
It’s pure joy to walk around with my camera, discovering and capturing these scenes that tell the story of real Vietnamese street life.

Saigon by Night – Lights, Architecture and Urban Contrasts

Night scenes from Ho Chi Minh City: skyline, bridges, river reflections, and modern architecture captured in vivid colors

The first photos shows the Marina Central Tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, illuminated at night.
This high-rise is known for its striking facade lighting and forms part of a modern business district right by the river.
Nearby are other prominent buildings such as the Le Méridien Saigon.
The tower is one of the most recognizable features of the Ho Chi Minh City skyline.

The Hilton Saigon Hotel is also part of this night series.
Its lighting emphasizes the modern architecture of the building.
Located in District 1, close to the Saigon River, it stands right in the heart of the city.

Another image captures the Ba Son Bridge, also known as the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge.
This modern cable-stayed bridge glows in bright purple light and stretches across the Saigon River.
On the water, a large illuminated ship named “Saigon Princess” passes by, while in the background the city skyline rises with its high-rise buildings — a scene that perfectly represents modern Vietnam.

All photos in this series were taken in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, showing the metropolis from my personal perspective as a photographer — architecturally modern, vibrant in color, and full of urban energy.

For these shots, I used my Sony Alpha 7 IV (ILCE-7M4).
As usual for my night photography, I set the ISO manually between 5000 and 6400,
with the aperture varying between f/2.8 and f/4.0, while keeping the exposure time under careful control to avoid motion blur and capture the light effects precisely

These night images are part of my ongoing Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) series and show the city as I experience it — dynamic, modern, and atmospheric, full of visual stories waiting to be told.

Cholon Market – The Beating Heart of Chinatown in Saigon
A vivid glimpse into authentic Vietnam: people, markets, and everyday energy from District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Cholon Market in Chinatown, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) literally means “Big Market.”
It’s one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, and unlike the polished District 1, this area feels raw, genuine, and full of texture.

Cholon feels like a time capsule.
While the rest of Saigon modernizes rapidly, here you still find family-run workshops that have existed for generations.

This section of my Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) series focuses on the incredible street activity inside and around the Cholon Market — a sensory overload of people, colors, smells, and movement.

A market woman sells durian, the infamous “stinky fruit.”
Two cheerful women sit on the ground, surrounded by mountains of shoes — and you can’t help but wonder, who will buy all of these

In another section, the roof leaks heavily during a tropical downpour, yet the trading continues as if nothing happened.
Dealers and buyers negotiate in the tightest of spaces, smiling and gesturing as they go.
Men carry heavy packages, somehow balancing them on their motorbikes, navigating through impossibly narrow paths.
A vendor sits surrounded by piles of colorful sweets, while another woman samples her own freshly cooked food.

Traditional Vietnamese noodle soup (Pho) is being cooked and served right in the market aisles. One narrow alley is lined entirely with handbag stalls, and visitors have to squeeze through carefully to avoid knocking anything over.

Coffee beans, food, and sweet snacks are sold everywhere, along with countless local beer brands you’ve probably never heard of.

An elderly couple who run a small shop inside take a quiet break — she sits cross-legged, both lost in thought, far from the noise around them

Despite the chaos, people here remain kind, open, and good-humored.
Many are happy to be photographed and always agree when I ask permission to include their street storytelling moments in my work.

The drive from District 1 to District 5 took about 30 minutes in the afternoon, but during rush hour, it stretched to nearly an hour and a half.
Even with the long ride back, it was a world-class photography experience — intense, authentic, and unforgettable.

For this shoot, I used my Sony Alpha 7 IV (ILCE-7M4), set to ISO 800 due to the lighting conditions.
My aperture was mostly between f/4.0 and f/5.6, and I shot primarily at 50 mm — a focal length that best represents the natural human perspective.