Pay full price now or €250 deposit with the balance payable 8 weeks before workshop start date.
06 – 20 September 2025
Places still available
Max 5
15 days
Low to Medium
Various 4 star hotels
Arrivals hall in Hanoi airport
Join me for a fabulous photography tour and workshop in Vietnam in early September 2023. The photo tour 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; Hoi An; Ninh Binh and the rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai.
During the early part of September, the photo opportunities in Vietnam are bountiful. The rice terraces turn a golden yellow and are transformed into a stunning backdrop to the hillsides and deep valleys. But it’s not just rice terraces that await us. The bustling streets of Hanoi with its famous Train Street; Mu Cang Chai with its stunning rice terraces and also the bustling port town of Hoi An. The latter is a town I know exceptionally well having spent the best part of two months there in 2019.
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, from breathtaking landscapes and vineyards to lifestyle and close-up photography.
Our stay is based in a mixture of hotels and homestays. Homestays are the Vietnamese equivalent of a bed and breakfast and these will be used in and around Mu Cang Chai. Double rooms are provided with breakfasts.
Day 1
Upon arrival into Hanoi airport you’ll be greeted and taken to the hotel. As guests are likely to be arriving at various times during the day we’ll look to have a welcome dinner in the evening at a local restaurant.
Day 2
Our first day of photography begins with a walk around the Old Quarter. We’ll get to see the capital city wake up and explore the streets and the characters who love and work around them.
We’ll head back for breakfast before going to the Temple of Literature. A beautiful series of temples in Hanoi.
A view over the famous Long Bien bridge and a visit to the Tran Quoc pagoda rounds off our first day.
Day 3
After breakfast we’ll head off to the famous incense village south of Hanoi. Here there is ample opportunity to capture the sea of incense that the workers are preparing to send out to the various temples.
After lunch we then start our drive north-west to the stunning tea terraces of Long Coc. The otherworldly landscapes that unfolds here has to be seen. Beautiful rounded hills of tea are suitable either for long lens or wide angle shots.
Day 4
We’ll be up early to capture the morning light across the tea terraces of Long Coc. If we’re lucky we’ll also get some mist in the morning shrouding the rounded hills. Out viewpoint gives us a stunning panorama of the landscapes of Long Coc.
Next up our drives takes us further north to Mu Cang Chai. An area that is famous for its incredible terraced rice paddies.In addition, there are also opportunities to photograph the H’Mong people who reside here and take care of the rice terraces.
Day 5
Mu Cang Chai exploration day
Day 6
Another sunrise in Mu Cang Chai before heading up to Sa Pa and it’s stunning mountain scenery.
Day 7
We say goodbye to Sa Pa and drive back to Hanoi. Boarding a flight, we fly to the Imperial City of Hue.
Day 8
Our day begins with a model shoot in the old imperial city. As a travel photographer I believe that you should have a rounded perspective on what it takes to get the images that portray a country so although you may not be used to shooting with a professional model the experience and the images you’ll get from it will be worth it.
We take a rest after our shoot then in the early afternoon head off to Chuon Lagoon to capture this charming location on the coastline and hopefully a colourful sunset too.
Day 9
An early start takes us to the Emperor’s Tomb. At opening time it is quiet and we’ll again be shooting with our model dressed in the tradtional Ao Dai. The morning light that plays through the buildings here offers ample opportunity to capture some stunning images.
Saying goodbye to our model and the tomb we then head to Hoi An.
Hoi An is a beautiful coastal city that has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An Ancient trading port, the protected part of the city has three main streets with ample opportunity for street photography and architecture.
Day 10
We need to be up very early so we can take advantage of a local fisherman raising his nets. The scene you’ll be presented with is going to enthrall you as the fisherman lifts his nets to see what he’s caught overnight.
After a well-deserved rest we’ll head into a small village to capture the locals repairing the nets that are used out at sea.
Sunset takes places over the rooftops of Hoi An.
Day 11
Another early start is required for us to be in position to see the fishermen landing their catch at the coastal beach market. Locals greet the fishermen and then proceed to sell on the catch of the day.
Breakfast back at the hotel is followed by a flight down to the financial capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city.
Days 12 – 15
Our final days of the north to south Vietnam photo tour will see us exploring the Mekong Delta as well as time in Ho Chi Minh city itself.
We will all meet at the arrivals hall in Hanoi airport on 26 August 2023.
Departure will be from Ho Chi Minh airport on 9 September 2023.
In early September temperatures can reach the early 30s. In addition, you will have to factor in the humidity too but if you keep yourself hydrated there you will have no issues at all.
Vietnam is known for its hot and humid weather during August and September so bring some lightweight clothing made of breathable materials such as cotton or linen. In Sapa and Mu Cang Chai it can be chilly in the mornings as we’ll be up in the mountains but do be aware that the temperatures go back up again during the daytime.
A rain jacket or poncho as unexpected showers can and do happen.
Make sure you bring good quality footwear that is waterproof as well as comfortable shoes for areas such as Hanoi and Hoi An. In Sapa and Mu Cang Chai, we will be in the mountains in the rice terraces so walking boots are a must.
A wide-angle lens (16-35mm) and medium zoom (24-70mm) are the lenses we’ll be using the most. A longer zoom (70-300) 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, so make sure this focal length is covered.
Although not essential, it’s a great idea to bring a laptop computer with you so you can discuss imagery with me.
I try and make a point of helping those that need it in digital photography. If inclement weather or tiredness takes hold it can really help to have a computer session to assess our progress.
What’s included in the tour?
Photo tuition from Julian Elliott
Double room single occupancy accommodation with ensuite bathrooms
Breakfasts
Transport during the tour
Airport transfers
Internal flights
What’s not included
Meals not mentioned
Insurance
Tips for guides and drivers
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
