I have adopted Hoi An as my home for the last 17 years, and I have been taking photos in Hoi An for a long time. Even though I spend most of my time taking photos in the countryside around Hoi An, I still go and photograph Hoi An market very often. And it is always wonderful!
Why Hoi An Market is a Must-Visit for Photographers
Hoi An Old Town can be overwhelming with the number of tourists crowding the streets. This often deters photographers from exploring its beautiful alleys because the only subjects available are… tourists! However, Hoi An Market remains a fantastic place to photograph, and I highly recommend spending a couple of hours there on your next visit to Hoi An Old Town. Here’s why.
Visit Early Morning
The magic of Hoi An Market happens early in the morning. This is when vendors and trucks bring fresh goods, and local residents come to buy their groceries for the day. Most importantly, it’s the best time to capture stunning images before the influx of tourists.
I highly recommend photographing Hoi An Market before 9 am. By then, cooking class groups and souvenir shop visitors start to arrive. The market gets busy as early as 4:30 am, so feel free to get there as early as you can to capture the first light of the morning.
Early morning you will also be able to meet the men who are drinking coffee along the road. I recommend you sit with them and order a nice coffee to begin your day, and why not snap a few pictures on the way?
Interact with the People… or Not!
Hoi An Market is unique because of its exposure to mass tourism. You’ll encounter a mix of people: some will ignore you completely, while others might ask for money. This is the challenge of photographing a place affected by tourism; locals often see tourists as walking wallets.
My advice is to be discreet. Walk slowly, avoid getting in people’s way, and spend some time in one spot. Smile, say hello, and if you sense that the local sellers are uncomfortable with your presence, simply move on.
Don’t Stay in Their Way
Given how busy Hoi An Market can be in the morning, it’s crucial not to obstruct the flow of people. There are many quiet corners where you can hang out and wait for the perfect photo opportunity. You can take great photos of Hoi An market by simply standing behind the street sellers, and waiting for the action and decisive moments to happen.
Look for the Light
As you know from my other tutorials, always look for the best light. Markets in Asia can be overwhelming for photographers due to their bustling nature. Focusing on interesting light will help you eliminate clutter and simplify the scene, making you a more efficient photographer.
If you are wondering why we wake up so early on my central Vietnam photo tour, it is because we catch the best morning light and want to avoid shooting in the streets when it is 40+ degrees!
Clean Up Your Backgrounds
Asian markets can be chaotic, with hundreds of people, bright plastic bags, and a mix of colors everywhere. It’s not easy to take good photos in such a busy environment.
One effective technique is to clean up your background. Look for simple walls, textures, or darker backgrounds that contrast with your main subjects (use the technique of exposing for your highlights if it’s a sunny day). This will help isolate your subjects and create cleaner, more readable compositions.
Taking photos in Hoi An market: A Conical Hat Heaven!
Hoi An Market is renowned for its high concentration of conical hats. Because of the crowd, you can capture numerous layers of these hats. Again, it’s essential to clean up your background. Find an area where people are lit by sunlight while the background is shaded. This will help you isolate and highlight the hats and people.
Experience Hoi An Market During the Floods
If you’re lucky, you might visit Hoi An during the flooding season when the market relocates to another area. This gives you the chance to photograph a whole new market set in the heart of Hoi An Old Town.
We offer a fantastic morning photo walk through Hoi An Old Town. This will allow you to capture amazing images of Hoi An in the early morning, from its narrow streets to the bustling market. We’ll help you improve your photography skills, whether you need assistance with camera settings or composition, and help you see things in a more creative way. And of course, there are many other locations to photograph in and around Hoi An. If you’d like to explore, join one of our photography tours here and check out our list of the 10 best spots for photography in Hoi An.
