Shopping in Saigon

Despite living in one of SE Asia’s purported meccas of shopping its not usually one of my favourite pastimes, nor how I would usually choose to spend my day off.

Only once before have had I had fun in a shop in Saigon, and that was buying kit for a hiking trip to Phong Nha province.  This time I needed a few bits for my camera for a trip to Son Doong.  The largest cave in the world.  A five day hike where there will be no chance to charge batteries, or clear off my photos on to my laptop.  And with low light a tripod will be needed.

Tripod supporting my X-T1 plus new battery and card

I don’t usually write about kit I buy but searching for recommended places to buy this stuff, most blogs warned of expensive prices and rip off goods and the sites/blog posts I found were a year or two old.

In the area around Le Loi and Le Than Ton east of Nam Ky Khoi Nghia,  there are a plethora of small shops.  Most items are priced, I didn’t try and bargain as I was happy with the deals.

Lunch lady

I bought two batteries.  The  more expensive only £15, and it does have print on very similar to my genuine ones supplied with my XT1.  The 23g memory card is in sealed Toshiba packaging so I am as safe as I can be with that.

Litter?

The ultra light tripod is Weifeng 3110A.  Chinese, cheap and cheerful.  But at only £5.70 (I read Argos sell at £15).  It will not last a Yorkshire Dales Gale but should cope with a windless cave.

So, if your looking for accessories in Saigon, you should be able to find them.  I took my camera with me and all the shop keepers were happy for me to test batteries and tripods.  The truth will be in the eating in the middle of April.  I’ll let you know.

No day in Saigon would be complete without delicious food! That I found as well, at Khanh Cassa Gardens, and naturally, my camera came too.  Just to record a few things littered around the place.