Vietnam Photo Tour Spectacular
My Luminous Vietnam Journey was far and away the best photo tour I have ever been on. It was more than a photo tour; it was an investment in myself as a keen photographer, and gave me the opportunity to engage with ordinary Vietnamese people and some extraordinary professional photographers... — Lindsay Earle, Zimbabwe
Welcome to our Vietnam photo tour spectacular! Vietnam is definitely on the ‘can’t miss’ list for anyone with a camera interested in the many splendors of travel photography. One of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant cultures offers spectacular scenery, stunning historical sites w/ marvelously rich interiors, 54 colorful ethnic groups, and a friendly populace that rank it among the great photographic destinations of the world.
The Luminous Vietnam photo tour is led by multi award winner, including the Grand Prize winner at the AFAR Photo Awards, Diep Van. Diep speaks fluent English and has worked this trip alongside David Lazar for over a decade. Nobody knows this itinerary or is more masterful at the logistics than Diep. He will have you in the right location with the best light for any particular photo shoot. Alongside Diep is the marvelous Khanh Pham, winner of multiple international competitions, including the Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA), and Sony World Photography Awards. Khanh is one of the most creative photographers you will ever meet, and a very charming and helpful trip leader. You will be in great hands with these two fine Vietnamese professionals.
“I was overwhelmed with the beauty and uniqueness of the locations chosen and delighted with the images I was fortunate enough to capture. None of this would have been possible without Luminous Journeys and the entire team that made Vietnam a truly remarkable and unforgettable experience. You really are “World Class” when it comes to photo tour adventures." - Frank Romano, Australia
There’s always a mix of free & street shooting, portraits & people, landscapes & landmarks, and providential surprises! There are also a number of arranged shoots in stunning settings, both with professional and impromptu local models. You’ll get the chance to photograph in places both on & off the beaten path, with unparalleled inside access and an extraordinary number of impact image making opportunities.
The itinerary for this Vietnam photo tour has been carefully selected and purposely scheduled to run in mid to late June. This offers the best photographic conditions in northern and central Vietnam within any two week period. The country has many micro-climates, and there is no “perfect” time. June is hot and there might be occasional and welcome tropical showers. They are usually brief and often provide dramatic light and color to the skies. June is rice planting season. By the time we arrive many mountain rice terraces will be lightly carpeted in ethereal green, while others will have farmers and their buffalo working them. (Please don’t go on a Dec - May Vietnam photo tour in the north. Winter is overcast and gloomy,. Spring has no rice growing until mid June).
We would be remiss not to point out that Diep and Khahn are more than just outstanding photographers. They are also outstanding people who care that you become a better photographer and have fun during your time with them. Rest assured that both adhere to the Luminous Prime Directive, always putting you and your photography first and foremost. There is no “leader hogging” here!
The combination of a remarkably image rich itinerary forged over a decade, along with attentive leadership, seamless logistics and insider expertise - plus the playful locals you will meet along the way - makes for a spectacular Vietnam photo tour indeed!
Hotels – 4 star, 5-star, with one charming Homestay in a remote tea plantation location
Tour Type – Small group Vietnam photo tour workshop, 5 person minimum, 10 person maximum.* See T&C
Physical Difficulty – Light to Moderate. There are no long treks. It is hot in June and we provide unlimited bottled water. Most hours of the day are spent in air conditioning, whether on the road or at the hotel. Access to a few remote shooting locations is by motorbike taxi. No traffic!
Transportation – 3 internal flights on modern jets, late model air conditioned vans and mini-buses w/ plenty of space for you and your gear. Cramping is not our style!
What’s Included?
Highlights - Luminous Vietnam Photo Tour
Seemingly endless Rice Terraces & colorful Tribal Peoples of the Northern Mountains
Professional Ao Dai Model Shoots at Hanoi’s Temple of Literature/Imperial City of Hue
The Rolling Tea Plantations of Loc Coc and its Tribal Workers
High Quality Cuisine Throughout
The absolutely stunning Salt Ponds and
Workers of Khanh Hoa Province
Exotic & Bustling old Hanoi Street Markets & Temples
Authentic Ethnic Tribal Villages
The Ever Photogenic UNESCO World Heritage site of Old Hoi An
The Ancient Dynasty of Champa – vanishing Cham Culture & vast Sand Dune Sunset
Itinerary Brief
Vietnam Photo Tour Workshop
Day 1 – Welcome to Vietnam! – Old Quarter, Hanoi
Our driver will pick you up at Noi Bai airport, drive you 40 km into Hanoi and help with hotel check-in. Free time before meeting in the lobby at 3:00 pm for orientation & slideshow with Diep. Around 4:00 pm we'll head out for an always intrguing street shoot in Hanoi's old quarter. After sunset we’ll position for high angle street scenes using tripods for twilight, blue hour ansd motion blur action. A sumptuous Vietnamese dinner with libations follows.
Day 2 – Tradition in Action - Incense Elegance, Soya & Bamboo – Hanoi This morning we venture to the incense making district, where locals work inside and outside to produce thousands of incense sticks, colored red and purple. We’ll have a high vantage point to best capture the scene. Also a great chance for drone users! Next up will be traditional bamboo fish traps being made. After lunch we'll photograph the age-old process of making soya sauce in large clay pots and once again have high angle access to shoot patterns here.
Day 3 – Of Ao Dai & Emperors - Hanoi – Hue Early flight to Hue, commonly known as the Imperial City. From the airport we head straight for our first shoot at the "paper flower village". Hotel check-in and lunch follows. The next big shoot for today is an arranged photoshoot with Ao Dai clad models at Minh Mang's tomb and large temple complex, during the afternoon. We’ll work together to shoot the models and feature the temple architecture, gardens and do some work in low light to create some artistic images, such as the one featured above.
Day 4 – Ancient City & Perfume Fishermen - Hue - Imperial City
This morning finds us at the glorious grounds of the Imperial City, agian with professional models to add elegant interest and pop to the beautiful architecture. The approach here on this incredible “set” is as if you’re on assignment for a travel or fashion magazine. If you have never worked with models before, trust us, you will love it! Late afternoon to the Perfume River for an exciting fishermen action shoot, nets a-flying! You will photograph the fishermen both from a bridge high angle, and from water level.
Day 5 – The High Coast Road into History – Hue - Hoi An After breakfast take the spectacular coastal drive to Hoi An. The once capital of the Champa Dynasty that dominated the South China Sea trade for nearly 1,000 years. Hoi An is another target rich environment for photographers, and our hotel is very close to the historic Old Quarter. First up, David and Diep will take you to a rural family home where ladies mend and endless sea of blue-green fishing nets. Return to Hoi An proper for hotel check-in, lunch and a rest. This afternoon explore and street shoot in and around Old Town.
Day 6 – Nothing but Nets! and Silvery Fish - Hoi An - Rural Life Today’s shooting begins before sunrise at a local fishing village on the Thu Bon river, where Chinese fishing nets wriggling in silvery fish glinting in the morning sun are raised from stilt platforms. On return to the Hoi An pier, we’ll photograph the local early morning fresh food market before returning to the hotel for breakfast and a rest. Free time and optional image review with Diep before returning to Old Town for more photography - including a special blue hour shoot - followed by a delicious dinner by the river.
Day 7 – Silhouettes & High Skies – Hoi An – Da Nang - Nha Trang - Doc Let Depart before sunrise to arrive at a beach-side fish market at the crack of dawn, when great activity is taking place. It’s an outstanding chance for documentary shooting and silhouettes of fishermen rowing in small round fishing boats against the sunrise. Breakfast and drive back to Da Nang for the flight to Nha Trang. Continue to Doc Let beach and check into the hotel. Free time to relax! You may choose to explore further north along the beautiful coast for seascape opportunities. Get to bed early, for tomorrow begins well before sunrise!
Day 8 – Sunrise Salt and the People of Cham – Doc Let - Phanrang
The salt harvesters normally start work at 3 or 4 am, finishing by 9. The very best shooting is right at sunrise, and you’ll be there for it (it’s only a short drive from the hotel). Of course, the scene continues to be excellent for another hour or so, and it’s hard to get enough! Breakfast and head south for Phanrang. This afternoon is an exciting, somewhat frantic but fun shoot involving hundreds of sheep being herded down a dusty rural path to a small Cham farm. We’ll also do some environmental portraits of the herders holding lambs. Then back to the hotel for a well earned dinner.
Day 9 – Sunrise Dunes & Endless Tea – Phanrang – Hanoi - Long Coc Photograph the sunrise dunes of Nam Cuong with Cham villagers and children, finishing by about 7:30am. Breakfast at the hotel, then fly/drive to Hanoi and the tea plantations of Long Coc. Enjoy a spectacular golden hour & sunset shoot of the semi-surreal landscapes, with local workers if you choose, to add interest and scale. We overnight in a charming, if rustic, Muong village homestay where the home cooking is both authentic and delicious. While this is a simple homestay, it’s the best option in the area and is very close to the shooting locations, which saves a lot of time driving to and from. Soak up the culture!
Day 10 – Landscapes & Landscapes! – Long Coc - Lim Mong - Mu Cang Chai
An early landscape shoot on and over the seemingly endless mounds of tea is followed by breakfast. Then we drive higher into the mountains toward the legendary rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai. We'll make a photo stop stop at Lim Mong rice terraces for a Vietnamese coffee and warm up shoot before heading over the pass. The new hotel in Mu Cang Chai is 5-star, and utterly stunning and unique. It's the first and only lux hotel in the region. Check-in and take a rest. This afternoon we hit our first Mu Cang Chai location for impressive landscapes before and during sunset. Awesome dinner back at the hotel.
Day 11 – Rice-Scapes, Bamboo Forest, Village Life - Mu Cang Chai Sunrise landscape shoot at a different rice terrace location, Kim Noi. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Free time to rest and/or enjoy the amazing hotel. After lunch continue to a Hmong village and bamboo forest for people and culture photography. Explore the village and visit local houses to photograph scenes of daily life. One scene is a house adorned with cobs of corn, which is interesting to shoot as the lady of the house works amonst this unique decor! Then we head back to the rice terraces of Lao Chai, to shoot until dusk. A wonderful dinner and perhaps an adult beverage or two follows.
Day 12 - La Pan Tan, Ethnic Tribes, Next Stop Sapa - Mu Cang Chai - Sapa
It’s a relatively short drive to the major rice-scape areas of Mu Cang Chai, Ba Nha & La Pan Tan. Here local tribal people will provide some scale to your images and we’ll explore a variety of locations in this area. Taking advantage of this fabulous hotel, we will have an optional 2-hour image review and editing session using a large TV screen. After lunch we take the very scenic mountain road to Sapa, with more excellent landscape opportunities. Sapa is the heart of the northern mountains, and it’s easy to see why with such a stunning location surrounded by myriad rice terraces and tribal villages.
Day 13 – Red Dzao Village , Rice Terraces, Town Square Color - Sapa
After a good night's sleep and breakfast at our gorgeous Sapa hotel, it's off to visit one or more of Vietnam's vanishing ethnic minorities, including the Red Dzao. Fantastic rice terraces abound around Sapa, so those will factor into your frames. After lunch we'll return to the hotel for a short break. In the late afternoon we'll hit the lively and colorful town square. This is an excellent chance for portraits of children from various tribal groups, many in traditional costume. You may also choose to wander and free shoot cultural scenes in the square or take to the lanes of the adjacent neighborhood.
Day 14 – Market Marvel, Road Tripping, Train Street – Sapa – Hanoi
Final morning shoot opportunity in Sapa, which will include a visit to the local Sapa market. Then, alas, is the long but very scenic drive back to Hanoi. It will be tough to leave, but we must! In Hanoi checkin and take a rest before a late afternoon excursion to the famous Train Street, one of Hanoi’s most iconic and visually striking locations. After Train Street walk to a nearby restaurant for a farewell dinner to remember, where we’ll reflect on our photographic journey together. It’s a warm and relaxed setting to share memories, exchange photos, and look forward to our next adventure.
Day 15 – But I Don’t Want to Go Yet! – Hanoi – Parts Unknown
We understand completely, we really do. Just a few more days? Yes, you feel great, warm and aglow. But underneath that glow is a tired puppy. Home is calling, and hopefully, some well-deserved rest. There’s a brand new portfolio of great images just waiting to make their world debut! No hurries no worries. We’ll pick you up at the appointed hour, bring you to the airport and bid you a fond farewell. With time to spare.
*NOTE: The above itinerary is a close sample only, subject to changes in flight and shooting schedules. A 30+ page detailed itinerary and information kit concerning traveling for photography in Vietnam will be sent to all participants approximately 100 days prior to tour start date. Image review, Photoshop and/or Lightroom tutorials are available on an ongoing basis by request, although we do have one formal image review and photo editing class scheduled on Day 12. Free time is essentially anytime you choose, as long as you don’t miss any travel day transport!
**Day 2 image by Frank Romano. All photographs by Luminous Journeys photographers. .
What’s Included in the Price of Your Vietnam Photo Tour?
Included:
Photographer fees and top English speaking guide
All accommodation
In-country flights, airport & ground transport
All meals Day 1 dinner to Day 15 breakfast. Lunches & Dinners include water, tea, or soft drink
Plenty of bottled water & refresh towels throughout
All entrance, zone and camera fees
Local model & village donations
Excluded:
International airfare
Extra dinks or alcohol @ lunches & dinners
Personal purchases
Trip cancellation or medical insurance
Medical expenses
Gratuities for hotel porters, drivers or local guide
Vietnam visa fee
End of trip gratuities for photographer tour leaders
Getting Cultural
More Knowledge – Better Pictures
Dressed for Elegance
The always lovely and elegant áo dài (long garment) is quintessentially Vietnamese, and came to prominence beginning in 1744 as the regal dress of choice styled by Nguyen Lords of Hue.
Basically the áo dài is a silk tunic worn over silk pants. It can be seen in many colors, but white is the original classic and symbol of purity. White is worn by high school girls as a school uniform, most commonly in the south and the central coast region around Hue and Da Nang. The conical hats shown in the photograph on the left at Emperor’s Lake in Hue, are called non la.
The modern, sexier version of the áo dài was redesigned in Saigon in the 1950’s to emphasize the female form, and considered somewhat provocative. “The áo dài covers everything but hides nothing,” said a designer of the time. The garment was very popular and commonly seen on Saigon streets in the 1960’s and 1970’s, but virtually disappeared after the northern communists took power upon the defeat of the Americans. Publicly the new government disapproved over reasons of indecency, but it was really more about the áo dài being such a popular symbol of the South.
The Lost Dynasty of Cham
Although unknown to most westerners, the once mighty Champa Kingdom was a dynasty that lasted more than 1500 years, longer than the Roman Empire! The Cham were a largely Hindu culture that controlled most of central Vietnam and parts of present day Cambodia. They even went as far as sacking Angkor in 1177, and killing the king. From their capitol port city of what is now the World Heritage site of Hoi An, they dominated the South China Sea trade for more than a millennia. In addition to the sea trade, the Cham maintained a highly sophisticated culture with exceptional artistic expression, particularly in the realms of architecture, pottery, bronze, silver and gold. Cham gold works are considered among the most unique and superbly crafted anywhere on earth.
The reasons for the Champa Dynasty being “lost” to history are largely due to the plights and deeds of Vietnam itself. First by numerous wars over centuries that ended with Emperor Minh Mang’s annexation of the last remaining Cham territory in 1832. Suppression and persecution followed, and then colonization and wars by western powers.
Today in Vietnam most Cham are Muslim, and are not averse to letting loose on a hot day, as David Lazar captured on the right.
