Farewell to Saigon: How Families Can Capture and Cherish Their Memories Before Relocating

As a photographer in Ho Chi Minh City, I’m often invited into people’s lives at pivotal moments. Recently, I had the privilege of documenting a family’s bittersweet farewell to the city they’ve called home for the last few years.

We began our session in the family’s apartment, a space that had become their sanctuary during years of change and celebration. Here, laughter echoed off the walls-remnants of festivals spent with friends, birthdays marked by smiles and hugs, and quiet evenings watching the sun go down. Each corner of their home told a story: the kitchen where new recipes were tried, the living room where games were played, and the balcony that offered a front-row seat to Saigon’s ever-flowing river. 

As the family prepares to move away, these photographs will serve as more than just memories-they are a visual diary of their Saigon chapter. For them, and for me as their photographer, these images are a reminder that home is not just a place, but a collection of moments, people, and feelings that stay with us long after we leave.

“Ho Chi Minh City has a way of transforming strangers into friends... I realised this wasn’t just a passing experience; this was home.” Leandra Farren Patrick

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Are you moving to a new city soon and looking for a photographer to capture your Saigon memories? Click here to contact Charu