Group size
Max 5
Duration
13 days
Fitness Level
Low to Medium
Accommodation
Various 4 & 5 star hotels
Meeting place
Arrivals hall in Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN) airport
A thirteen-day photography tour and workshop of the stunning beauty of Vietnam
Join me for an unforgettable photographic journey through the stunning country of Vietnam in February 2026 with my photography tour and workshop. The thirteen day/ twelve night adventure will start in Hanoi where you will be picked up and transported to our centrally located hotel. The photo tour will take in several iconic places such as Hanoi and Ha Long Bay as well as going further south to the Mekong Delta.
During February, the photo opportunities in Vietnam are bountiful. The weather is pleasant and will allow us to photograph places such as the Old Quarter in Hanoi; the incense village to the south of Hanoi; the stunning Ha Long Bay where we’ll take an overnight cruise and then down to the Mekong Delta.
The tour is designed for photographers who are looking to enhance their travel photography skills with inspiring images to be had each day. With our local guide and my extensive experience of travel photography, you will learn how to capture stunning images using different techniques such as long exposure, portrait photography and landscape composition.
We will endeavour to make the very best of the morning and evening light during the photography tour. You will be taken to some of the very best photo locations and also lead you to explore lesser-known spots, so you can photograph a wide array of classic landscape imagery, as well as street photography, lifestyle and close-up photography.
Our stay is based in a mixture of 4 star hotels as well as an overnight cruise in the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. Double rooms are provided with breakfast. Dinner is provided on 3 nights of the tour (drinks excluded).
Photography techniques covered during the workshop
Out in the field
- Exposure and understanding of how to get the best out of the light
- Composition techniques to create balanced images
- Lens choice and focal length. Typically people head for the wide-angle in a landscape but up in the mountains telephoto lenses are also heavily used.
- Panoramic photography. How to best compose the beautiful panoramas that we’ll see during the photography tour
Processing
- Using Adobe Lightroom or Camera Raw to process our images
- Using luminosity masks in Adobe Photoshop
- Colour correction
- Stitching panoramic images
Vietnam Photo Tour 2024 – February Itinerary
Day 1
8 February 2026
We welcome you to Hanoi
Group dinner in the evening
Day 2
9 February 2026
Our 2nd day start with a trip from Hanoi to visit and photograph the famous Tam Huong Quang Phu Cau Incense Village.
In the afternoon we’ll be back in Hanoi for some street shooting around the Old Quarter then head to the train street. Sunset in Westlake or Twilight at a high angle vantage point.
Day 3
10 February 2026
Next up on the Vietnam photo tour is a cruise in Halong Bay. We have an overnight stay here too so you can fall asleep in the beautiful surroundings of the bay.
Day 4
11 February 2026
Sailing back to the port, we disembark and take a bus back to Hanoi (approximately 3 hours). Free-time in Hanoi. En route we’ll stop in Hung Yen to photograph soya sauce making.
Day 5
12 February 2026
We’ll explore the Old Quarter before breakfast then we say goodbye to Hanoi to catch a flight to Tuy Hoa.
After checking in at our hotel we’ll capture sunset at O Loan Estuary
Day 6
13 February 2026
An early start is required to capture sunrise views of Yen Islet, and Ghenh Ghenh Da Dia Volcanic Bee-Hive Stone Columns. In addition we’ll also do some shooting around the city.
In the afternoon we’ll transfer to Doc Let
Day 7
14 February 2026
Getting up early we’ll head to the salt fields of Hon Khoi to capture the workers at sunrise. Next up we’ll photograph the fishing nets being repaired in Vinh Hy.
Our sunset shoot will be the Cham tribe’s Shepherd.
Day 8
15 February 2026
Another early start will see us capturing sunrise at Nam Cuong sand dunes before going onto Hon Do. The final part of our day is a visit to the Bau Truc pottery village.
Day 9
16 February 2026
Waking up for another start, we’ll look to photograph the sunrise at Hang Rai before we transfer to Cam Ranh for a flight to Ho Chi Minh city/ Saigon at noon.
After checking-in to our hotel and a sumptuous lunch we’ll head out for some street photography at China town in district 5 of this sprawling metropolis.
Day 10
17 February 2026
In the morning we drive to Can Tho, stopping en route to photograph in Ben Tre then Vinh Long, also known as the brick kilns kingdom, or we will go to the flower village of Sa Dec.
Transferring to our hotel, you are free to explore Can Tho at your leisure. Dinner is served at our hotel in the evening.
Day 11
18 February 2026
Our photo tour of Vietnam continues with visits to Bac Lieu, and further exploration of the Mekong Delta. Our explorations will see us discover lush green rice paddies and coconut plantations, breath in the fresh air of the Mekong
Specifically, an early morning start is required for us to capture the famous floating market in Can Tho at its best. In the afternoon we head over to theBuddhist monastery at Soc Trang.
Day 12
19 February 2026
Our explorations of the Mekong Delta livelihood continue at dawn with a visit to nearby fishing villages and surroundings. We’ll join the local fisherman to catch some fish. Return back to hotel, check out and then depart for Ho Chi Minh.
In the evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 13
20 February 2026
After breakfast, you are free to leave at any time, as there are no activities planned today.
Departure airport is Ho Chi Minh (SGN)
Additional information
Where do I meet you?
We will all meet at the arrivals hall in Hanoi airport on the 18 February 2024.
Departure will be from Ho Chi Minh airport on 1 March 2024.
Is it hot in Vietnam in February?
In February temperatures can reach the mid 20s. In addition, you will have to factor in the humidity too but if you keep yourself hydrated there you will have no issues.
What clothing should I bring?
Make sure to bring comfortable clothing so shorts and t-shirts. As mentioned above, the temperature can easily be in the mid-20s as it hasn’t yet hit the heights of the summer. But do keep an eye on the weather before you leave.
Footwear?
Make sure you bring good quality footwear that is comfortable for areas such as Hanoi and the Mekong.
What camera kit should I bring?
A wide-angle lens (16-35mm) and medium zoom (24-70mm) are the lenses we’ll be using the most. A longer zoom (100-400) will be useful to cover most compositional eventualities that we may need to isolate. It’s likely the most used lens will be in the 24-70mm range as a super wide-angle can create the pancake effect on the mountainous landscape in the north, so make sure this focal length is covered.
Do I need a computer?
Although not essential, it’s a great idea to bring a laptop computer with you so you can discuss imagery with me.
What computer support do you give?
I try and make a point of helping those that need it in digital photography. If inclement weather or tiredness takes hold it can help to have a computer session to assess our progress.
What’s included in the tour?
Photo tuition from Julian Elliott
4 star hotel accommodationin double rooms with single occupancy accommodation and private ensuite bathrooms.
Home stays in remote locations. Home stays are the Vietnamese version of a bed and breakfast. Due to some of the locations not having the infrastructure of major cities these are basic but comofortable and allow us to be right where we should be.
All meals from dinner on day 1 through to breakfast on day 15
Airport transfers on arrival and departure
Vietnamese tour guide
Ground transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles for listed activities
3 standard meals and non-alcoholic beverages per day
Bottled water
Site entry fees (if applicable)
Model fees (if applicable)
Domestic flights on Vietnam Airlines
What’s not included
International flights to and from Vietnam
Airport taxes
Entry visa, if required, to Vietnam
Early/ late check in/ out service at hotels
Travel insurance and trip cancellation (highly advised)
Medical expenses
Alcoholic beverages, personal expenses such as telephone charges, laundry etc
Tips and gratuities for drivers, guides and hotel porters
Services and transportation are for listed activities only
Charges will be applied for any additional requests
All other services which are not mentioned in the Inclusion section
My tours fill up quickly but sometimes spots open up due to cancellations.
If the tour you are interested in is currently full and you would like to be added to the waiting list then please fill out this form