Join this special edition of our North Vietnam photography tour and experience this spectacular region during the rice planting season! We’ll return to the iconic locations of our classic tour at a unique time of year, capturing vibrant local markets, daily life in mountain villages, and stunning rice terrace landscapes. This North Vietnam photo workshop blends people photography, storytelling, and unforgettable food and experiences.
May 17 - 28, 2026
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Exploring the most photogenic villages and markets of North Vietnam
Capturing authentic daily life during rice planting season
An itinerary far from the usual tourist routes
Enjoying delicious local cuisine in hand-picked village restaurants
Photographing dramatic reflections, terraced fields, and vibrant cultures
Learning photography with a hands-on immersive workshop approach
TOUR DETAILS
Duration: 12 days
Starting In: Hanoi
Ending In: Hanoi
Participants: 6
Includes: All hotels, meals, and transportation
Excludes: International flight, Visa, Insurance
DATES & TOUR LEADERS
May 17 - 28, 2026
Tour led by: Etienne Bossot
Single Supplement included
ITINERARY
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ITINERARY /
Day 1 – Arrival in Hanoi
On this day we will organize the airport pick up and bring you to the hotel. We will have an optional warm up session, shooting in the streets of Hanoi Old Quarter. Group welcome dinner.
Includes: airport pick-up, dinner, and hotel night.
Day 2 – First Light, First Village
Day 2 begins with a visit to the colourful Incense Village, where we’ll photograph candid scenes of artisans crafting and drying incense in vibrant alleys. After lunch, we’ll drive toward the mountains of Bac Ha, stopping along the way for scenic shots. We’ll settle in for the evening with dinner and rest in Bac Ha.
Day 3 – Ethnic Market and Valley reflections
Day 3 starts at sunrise in a bustling minority market near Bac Ha, capturing its rich colours and lively atmosphere. Later in the morning, we’ll walk through a nearby village and meet locals before heading to Muong Hum Valley in the afternoon to photograph rice planting and reflections in the paddies.
Day 4 – Market and remote villages
Day 4 takes us to Muong Hum’s traditional market at sunrise, where we’ll capture portraits and daily life scenes of Hani and Red Dzao communities. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Y Ty, visiting a remote Hani village along the way. If conditions are right, we’ll photograph sunset over the terraced mountains.
Day 5 – Photo review and remote villages
Day 5 begins with a visit to the local market, followed by a photo review at our hotel. After lunch, we’ll make our way toward an even more remote village in the valley of Y Ty, capturing the life of the Hani people.
Day 6 – Photo Review and Village Life
We will spend the morning capturing the winding roads going through the valley of Y Ty. We will then begin our drive to our next destination: Ta Giang Phin. We will stop for photos of people working in the rice fields on the way, before ending the day with a peaceful sunset shoot.
Day 7 – Hmong villages
On this day, we will explore the amazing valley of Ta Giang Phin: the Hmong villages life as well as the people working in the rice and corn fields.
Day 8 – Reaching the tea plantations
After breakfast and a visit to a Red Dzao village, we will head towards Tan Uyen and its stunning tea fields. We will capture local farmers picking up tea at sunset.
Day 9 – Tea Fields and Rice Terraces
Day 7 takes us deeper into the valleys near Tan Uyen to capture the tea harvest. We’ll spend time with Thai and Hmong communities, photographing weaving, farming, and other daily life activities, before arriving in Mu Cang Chai for sunset over the rice terraces.
Day 10 – Landscapes and rice field action
A full day around Mu Cang Chai, including visits to the local villages, viewpoints and rice field activities.
Day 11 – Driving back to the city and Photo Review
Day 11 marks the final leg of our journey as we leave Mu Cang Chai and drive back to Hanoi, stopping along the way to photograph valleys, rice terraces, and reflections. We’ll close the tour with a final image review and farewell dinner.
Day 12 – Saying goodbye
On this day, we will organize an optional morning shooting session in Hanoi old quarter. The tour includes airport drop offs on this day.
Testimonials
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"THE best tour Ive ever been on. Etienne has an energy, joy and passion for Vietnam that matches mine. He is a fabulous tour leader who held the group impeccably. We had fun, we played, we laughed, and we also did some seriously good photography. He took us to paces we would not go to by ourselves, and helped us to feel safe and comfortable, whilst still maintaining a sense of awe and excitement. This is absolutely a highly recommended company to do tours with by me. Can not fault it in any way,"
Anna - Australia
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![Vietnam Photography Tour]()
"This is my third dedicated photography trip but my first with Pics of Asia and Etienne Bossot. So with that reference point I was thrilled to finally discover a photographer who is passionate about teaching and sharing his creative skills with enthusiasm and good humor. Traveling with Pics of Asia to Bangladesh was a wonderful experience and I am already looking forward to booking my next trip with Etienne."
Melissa - Australia
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"Absolutely enjoyed my time with Etienne as we explored Central Vietnam and Hoi An. Apart from providing great photography tips and encouraging us to step out of our photography comfort zones, the experience was amazing, as we tasted local delicacies and visited places that are off the beaten path and where you can go when you speak Vietnamese. I also made a lot of friends in the short intense week of workshops. In short, I highly recommend the tour with Etienne."
Wei - Singapore
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"Pics of Asia is THE place to learn and progress in photography in Asia. Etienne and the other co-leaders are great photographers, skilled and very very very fun to hang with! This is why many photographers come multiple times to do most of the different countries proposed by Pics of Asia because they like it so much. I myself did few in Vietnam and they were a blast, as well as Iran which was mind-blowing. If you want to visit tourist free places in Asia, interact with the locals and take true travel and people photographies, this is the place to be!"
Adrien - France
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“Pics of Asia tours are like crack cocaine – in a good way! They’re amazing fun, you feel high during them and completely wrecked afterward. Oh, and they’re more than a bit addictive. Etienne and the other tutors will share their wisdom and take you to unbelievable locations – but getting that final shot is entirely up to you. Everything is completely real. If you want staged pictures, these are not the tours for you!”
Andy - UK
Pics of Asia Photography Tours and Workshops in Asia
Join the North Vietnam Reflections Photography Tour
TOUR SUMMARY
Location: Northern Vietnam
Dates: May 17 - 28, 2026
Starting in: Hanoi
Ending in: Hanoi
Price: USD 4650
How to book?
Simply fill the form below, and we will get back in touch with you with more details. Upon confirmation, we will need a 50% deposit to reserve your spot, with final payment being due 45 days before departure.