One-Day Hanoi Photo Workshop

We begin the day with convenient hotel pick-up early in the morning so we can reach the Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural right at sunrise. In the gentle early light and with almost no crowds, the entire 6-km artwork becomes a peaceful playground for wide compositions, reflections, and colorful tile details.

From there we drive to Quang Phu Cau incense village, the very place where one of my photographs was published in the June 2017 issue of National Geographic. You will have plenty of time to capture the vivid red and pink incense bundles laid out in perfect patterns, the swirling smoke, and the local artisans at work.

Next, we continue with a conceptual photography session featuring workers drying vibrant colored sedge mats, the traditional material used to weave Vietnamese sleeping mats. And worker sewing the fishing net on a factory on the outskirts of Hanoi.

After a relaxed local lunch, we continue to a traditional soy-sauce making village. Rows of giant clay fermentation pots, wooden vats, rising steam, and warm earthy tones create beautiful graphic and storytelling images. Then, we visit the famous bamboo-basket weaving village. The rhythmic movements of the craftsmen and the golden afternoon light streaming through the open workshops offer wonderful environmental portraits and texture studies.

Late afternoon takes us to the legendary Hanoi Train Street. We time the visit perfectly (and safely) to photograph the train slowly passing just inches from homes and cafés, one of the most iconic urban moments in Vietnam.

We return to central Hanoi just after sunset. The day ends with a friendly farewell dinner at a lovely local restaurant, the perfect moment to share favorite shots from the day and celebrate the experience together. After dinner, we drop everyone off safely back at their hotels.