Diep Photo Tours in Latin America

Diep Van - Vietnam

Diep began his journey into the travel world at university in 2006, studying in the Faculty of Tourism. He began his career working as a local guide and providing tourism logistics services across Vietnam, then Laos and Cambodia.

In 2015, during a photo tour research trip by Luminous Journeys in Vietnam, Diep officially joined LJ's team. Since then, he has evolved from a passionate hobbyist into an award-winning professional photographer and certified drone instructor.

Over the years, Diep has received numerous accolades at international photography competitions, including:

Grand Prize Winner of the AFAR Photo Awards, sponsored by United Airlines
The Independent Photographer
Miami Photo Fest
San Francisco Bay International Photo Awards
International Photography Awards (IPA)

Diep has a strong interest in travel and people photography. However, his portfolio also includes landscapes, astrophotography, birdlife & wildlife photography.

His work has been published in renowned newspapers and magazines such as: TIME, The Telegraph, NatGeo Traveller (China edition), and AFAR Travel Magazine.

At present, Diep is set to lead our 2027 Vietnam Photo Tour Spectacular, which he knows like the back of his hand. He also serves as a local fixer and leads private Luminous Journeys photo tours in Vietnam. He has led groups to many exotic destinations like West Papua (Indonesia), Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Argentina, Chile, and South Sudan... Yes, he really gets around!

What’s in Diep’s Bag?

Camera: Canon R5. Lenses: 15–35mm, 28–70mm, 100–500mm
Camera: Olympus OM-1. Lens: 7–14mm (primarily used for night sky photography)
Drone: From DJI Mavic 1 to 3 Pro; currently he's using the DJI Mavic 4 Pro

EXCELLENT

Based on 28 reviews

Stephanie Phillips

The Luminous Vietnam trip was wonderful. The days were action packed with several different photo shoots in a single day. David is a master at setting up the scenario with the models, the background, the angle of the lighting, and everything else. I greatly appreciated that David was not occupied with capturing his own images, but instead he stayed engaged with us to ensure we all had the opportunity to capture our best image. Vietnam is a beautiful and diverse country, and I am really glad I took this trip.

Andrew Clarke

I have taken two tours with Luminous Journeys and have been so impressed that I now have three more booked. Last year I joined David Lazar for two weeks in Vietnam. The quality of the photographic opportunities on this largely cultural tour was outstanding, with both the randomness of street photography and creative set-ups with professional models, each thoughtfully curated and perfectly executed, and yet always feeling natural and never looking forced or fake. David’s priority was the satisfaction of his tour guests, ensuring we were getting what we wanted from the trip, and keeping everything smooth and simple, even when faced with external issues (bad weather one day, the local guide falling seriously ill,etc). David is a great photographer and ready to help at all times, yet his modesty regarding his own talents is refreshing (especially compared to some other tours I have done with so-called professional photographers). I just completed two weeks in Japan with David and on a very different tour featuring landscapes and wildlife, as well as more cultural elements, I experienced the same levels of excellence as I did the first time. And now I’m looking forward to the next trip.

Kathy Redin

This was the most enjoyable photo trip I have ever been on. David and the local guides were so helpful and knowledgeable. The pace of the trip was perfect. Not too grueling, plenty of time for short rests to recharge our own batteries as well as our cameras. The restaurants and hotels were superb. David and crew knew exactly where to be to avoid the crowds. At the end of the trip, we were not worn down to the bone, but we each came home with a wonderful selection of our own photos. They knew how to bring out the photographer in us. I highly recommend Luminous Journeys as a photo tour operator.

Doug Vance

"These guys are the best, plain and simple. From leadership to logistics to amazing inside access, my already high expectations were surpassed, and then some! Highly recommended. ******

Fred Bierman

Shooting in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia with David Lazar and Luminous Journeys was truly memorable. David brings a rare mix of calm leadership, deep local knowledge, and genuine passion for photography that elevates the entire experience. Every stop on the itinerary offered something special, and photographing the dawn procession of monks with their alms bowls, receiving offerings from Lao villagers in Luang Prabang was quite moving. And the group members themselves made the trip even better — a great mix of personalities who shared ideas, laughter, and creative energy. It’s rare to feel connected with most every fellow traveler, and in fact months later we still keep in touch. Finally, LJ’s trip materials were equally impressive – thoughtful, detailed, and easy to follow from start to finish. They made preparing for and navigating the trip smooth and stress-free. I’m already looking at booking my next Luminous Journeys tour. They're really as good as photography travel gets.

marlies cools

We had a truly wonderfull time - a trip who was not only perfectly organized, but also exceeded all our expectations. David Lazar and the local guide's guidance, knowledge and care made all the difference. We are deeply grateful for everything and everyone who made the Vietnam tour a memorable experience.

Kathryn Dannay

I have just returned from my third Luminous Journeys Photo Tour with David Lazar. This trip was to Bhutan, and it was amazing. David is an excellent tour leader and a fabulous photographer. He is always coming up with creative ideas for capturing the culture and the people. He provides on target guidance throughout every shoot. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure you get the shot. I enjoy his humor and light heartedness and appreciate his patience. He seems to work well with everyone (all levels and all personalities). I have come to appreciate David's talent and leadership, so much so, that I will go just about anywhere as long as he is leading the trip. What I like about Luminous Journeys is the variety of photography opportunities provided on each tour. In Bhutan, we did street photography, portraits, festivals, dancers, landscapes and architecture. We also enjoyed stopping on the side of the road to seize the opportunity to capture a yak herder guiding his herd, fog moving through the trees, water prayer wheels and prayer flags amongst other things. Luminous Journeys also does their best to help you experience the local culture - from chatting with the locals to experiencing the festivals, to walking the streets and to enjoying a traditional meal at a homestay. In terms of logistics, everything is taken care of. The support team (drivers and local guides) work seamlessly with David Lazar. If you enjoy experiencing different cultures, travel and photography, Luminous Journeys can help you bring your photography to the next level.

Verified by Trustindex

Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

Diep Van - Vietnam

What’s in Diep’s Bag?

Vietnam Photo Spectacular (15 days)

Southeast Asia Unleashed! (13 days)

Luminous China (15 days)

Japan in Spectacular Winter (14 days)

Bhutan w/ David Lazar (14 days)

Day of the Dead - Mexico (10 days)

Hidden Bali + Java (13 Days)

Exotic Sri Lanka & South India (15 Days)

Mexico and the Last Mayans (12 days)

Cambodia - Private Tours

One Day Private Photo Tours

Private Photo Tours – Multi-Day

How to Crush Your Travel Photography in Crowded Places

Travel Photography: Beyond the Purity Pretense

Bad Weather Photography: Stop Waiting for Perfect Skies

Steve McCurry: Start to Unfinished

Mastering Natural Light Travel Photography 4

Mastering Natural Light Travel Photography 3

Get Luminous!

Client Reviews

SELECT COVER SHOTS - LUMINOUS JOURNEYS PHOTOGRAPHERS