Vietnam’s Independence Palace charges $19 per camera: What visitors need to know

Since August 1, Independence Palace has applied a new fee schedule for photography services at the special national heritage site, including a VND500,000 charge per film camera or equivalent device. 

The fee has raised concerns among visitors who regularly bring cameras to the palace to take personal photos.

Visitors feared being charged for bringing personal cameras

On Tuesday morning, a Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper reporter brought a professional camera to Independence Palace and entered as a visitor to observe how the new fee was enforced at the entrance.

The reporter passed through the ticket checkpoint as usual, with security staff not requesting any additional payment.

Inside the palace grounds, several young people were also seen carrying cameras and taking photos.

While photographing a young client, Nguyen Hoai Minh, a freelance photographer from Nhon Trach, Dong Nai City, said he was not charged any additional photography fee when he entered the palace that day.

"The security guards noticed my equipment when I came in. I also told them upfront that I do photography as a service, although I don't come to the palace regularly," Minh said.

"The client had asked me to take photos of her child here, so that's why I came. They still let me in without charging any additional fee."

Minh said he had been concerned when he heard that Independence Palace would impose a VND500,000 fee for cameras starting in early August.

"That's a lot of money for a freelance photographer, considering a typical photo session only brings in around VND1-2 million [$38-76]. If a client isn't willing to cover the additional fee, I would have to absorb part of the cost myself," Minh said.

"But after coming here today, I found the enforcement quite flexible and not as rigid as I had expected. That makes me feel more comfortable about continuing my work."

Nguyen Huu Nguyen, 17, a visitor from Nghe An Province, also carried a digital camera as he walked around the palace grounds.

"I'm just here to visit, and no one asked me to pay anything extra," Nguyen said.

Le Trong Nguyen, who lives in Ho Chi Minh City's Khanh Hoi Ward, also brought a camera to the palace. 

He said he had initially been hesitant and had even considered leaving his camera at home after reading about the new fee.

"On August 1, I read that bringing a camera into the palace could mean paying a VND500,000 fee. I was quite concerned because I was only planning to walk around and take a few photos as keepsakes, and it would have been a shame to incur an extra charge," Nguyen said.

"I brought my camera today and found the security guards quite flexible. They seemed able to distinguish between visitors taking personal photos and photography crews with professional equipment.

"The way the rule was handled on site seemed reasonable, so I feel more comfortable now."

Fees help curb disorder at historic site

Nguyen Anh Tuan, a freelance photographer in Ho Chi Minh City who specializes in graduation and ao dai photo shoots at Independence Palace, said he had purchased a photography-service ticket and received a blue wristband for identification.

He said he was neither surprised nor upset about paying the VND500,000 fee, as the palace's security staff already knew him well.

"Before the new rule took effect, I came to the palace four or five times a week to photograph clients. The security guards regularly drove around on electric carts to check the grounds, so they saw me often and knew me," Tuan said. 

"When I arrived at the entrance today, I simply told them I wanted a film-camera ticket. The process was quick and friendly. Everyone was still welcoming, and there was no tension at all."

Tuan now takes clients at the palace once or twice a week, down from before. 

Despite the reduced number of shoots, he said he supports the new fee imposed by the palace.

In Tuan's view, before August 1, the palace grounds were often crowded with photography crews and freelance photographers, creating problems with order and visitors' use of the space.

"It was genuinely crowded before. Some people did not follow the rules and brought all kinds of equipment into the palace to take photos, directly affecting the experience of other visitors," Tuan said.

"I think this rule will help rectify that situation and restore the site to what it is meant to be, a place for visitors. For photographers who work here regularly, I think it makes a lot of sense."

Fee notice to be revised for clarity

Tran Huu Phuoc, deputy director of the palace, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper earlier that regular visitors would continue to pay the standard admission fee and would not be charged extra for bringing personal cameras to take photos for their own memories.

He said the new rule was introduced to manage photographers and photography crews who regularly enter the palace to provide commercial services, sometimes two or three times a week or even daily.

Speaking again on Tuesday morning, Phuoc said the management had become aware of concerns among some visitors after the new fee was announced.

Phuoc said he had spoken with the security team, particularly staff working at the ticket checkpoints. 

He instructed them to enforce the rule flexibly and avoid applying it rigidly when visitors bring cameras to the palace for sightseeing and personal photos.

"The notice should specify that the fee applies to those who regularly provide photography services at the Independence Palace," he said.

"This would give visitors greater peace of mind when bringing cameras to the site for sightseeing and recreation."