Japan Town in Ho Chi Minh City, centered around Le Thanh Ton Street in District 1, offers photographers a unique blend of Japanese and Vietnamese urban culture. This compact neighborhood, spanning roughly 4-5 blocks, transforms from a lively business district during the day to a colorful nightlife zone after sunset.
The area’s narrow alleys, particularly between Le Thanh Ton and Thai Van Lung streets, provide intimate shooting opportunities of daily life, with Japanese restaurants, small shops, and local vendors creating a distinct atmospheric contrast to the rest of District 1. The constant stream of businesspeople, tourists, and locals makes for excellent candid photography, especially during the lunch rush between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM.
Prime Photography Locations:
Le Thanh Ton Street (Main Strip)
- Japanese restaurants with traditional lanterns and signage
- Street vendors selling Japanese snacks
- Salary workers during rush hours
- Atmospheric evening scenes with neon lights
- Restaurant entrances with waiting customers
Thai Van Lung Street
- Traditional Japanese architecture elements
- Small izakayas with characteristic sliding doors
- Street food vendors
- Cultural interactions between locals and Japanese expats
- Morning market activities
Alleyways between Le Thanh Ton and Thai Van Lung
- Intimate dining spaces
- Traditional decorations
- Hidden restaurants
- Local life scenes
- Atmospheric light conditions during golden hour
Best Times for Photography:
- Early morning (6:00-8:00 AM): Vendors setting up, morning routines
- Lunch rush (11:30 AM-1:30 PM): Peak activity, business crowds
- Golden hour (5:00-6:30 PM): Soft lighting, change period
- Evening (7:00-10:00 PM): Neon lights, nightlife scenes
Recommended Equipment:
- Fast prime lens (35mm or 50mm equivalent)
- Weather-sealed camera body
- External flash for evening shots
- Wide-angle lens for architectural shots
- Compact camera setup for discrete shooting
Best Street Photography Spots:
- Intersections with Ton Duc Thang
- Le Thanh Ton Street Corners
- Junction with Thai Van Lung
- Corner with Dong Du Street
Hidden Alleys
- Hem 15 Le Thanh Ton
- Hem 33 Thai Van Lung
- Connected pathways between main streets
The area is most photogenic during the change periods of day to night, when natural light mixes with artificial lighting, creating dynamic scenes rich in contrast and color. The combination of traditional Japanese elements with Vietnamese urban life provides unique storytelling opportunities through street photography.
Note:
Japan Town offers excellent cuisine and captivating entertainment. It becomes especially photogenic at night after a light rain, with the neon lights reflecting off the wet streets. There are many hostess bars and massage parlors with young girls outside to bring in Japanese and other tourists. These bars are not like the ones on Bui Vien. Here the girls are generally entertainers to pour drinks and compliment you not working gals. Keep an eye on your bill though as it adds up quickly with lady drinks and plenty of scams here. The girls generally don’t like photos so a high-end phone camera will get much more candid images than a pro camera. You will find signs in this area that say photography is not allowed. Though legally doubtful as Vietnam allows for photography in public places, In the end though best to not take photos of unwilling subjects and potentially doxing them.
