VIETNAM

March 3rd-13th 2023

Includes:

Accommodation in a beautiful 4-star hotel in Hanoi
Accommodation in gorgeous local home stays
Street food tour, local guides
Local photographer walk and additional tours
Transport and local trips
All meals
Artist-led approach to photography
Small group 4 – 8 people
Pre-workshop 1-2-1 with Anthony

Travel, Street, People and Landscape Photography

VIETNAM Hanoi, Ha Giang, Dong Van

Vietnam won my heart, my spirit and my eyes! It’s an incredible country and the 11 day workshop I did there in 2019 blew our collective minds.

The warm and friendly people, the delicious food, the out of this world landscapes, the fascinating history and culture – and of course the colours and beautiful light.

All of this is embedded in my spirit now, and I can’t wait to return.

I will make this a once-in-a-lifetime-adventure.

We will make incredible photos, discover wonderful places and have a tremendous amount of fun together.

There is nothing more gratifying for me than hanging out with other passionate photographers – sharing ideas, tips and of course our photos!

We will start by capturing the street life and atmosphere of Hanoi – from the early morning markets, to creating street portraits and reportage, as well as capturing the atmosphere of this energetic city.

We’ll wander through the original streets of the Old Quarter, capture the fast-paced awakening modernity of Hanoi, check out the evolving arts scene and of course meet people and experience the city in all of its vibrancy.

We’ll then head north to Ha Giang province, in northern Vietnam, to explore villages and the breath-taking natural beauty of one of the more remote and un-touristy parts of the country.

Ha Giang is home to amazing mountain ranges, almost otherworldly in their formations.

I’ll show you how to create beautiful landscapes of the many epic vistas around the Dong Van Rocky Plateau and the mystical landscapes of Quan Ba.

We will capture sunrise at the awe-inspiring Ma Pi Leng Pass and the islands of the shimmering Thac Ba Lake.

The province is home to many minority villages, with diverse cultures which we will explore. We’ll stop by some busy markets and stay in some wonderful locally run eco-lodges.

November is one of the best times to visit this region – with cool, dry weather and an average temperature of 24 degrees. It’s an excellent time for photography in the region.

We will also create photo stories of the people and journey we are making.

We’ll do a mix of iconic sights and off the beaten track. You’ll get to capture world famous sights – and I’ll show you how to capture them in interesting and unique ways; there is always a new angle.

I will be working with each individual in achieving your individual visual voice. Helping you come away with images that are personal to you.

And if you know me, you’ll know we’ll also be seeing the places and meeting people that I have sought out to bring the ‘unexpected and unique’ into our workshops.

I want to show you how I discover a new place, how I dig into the local culture, history and community to create my photos.

But most importantly – this workshop is about you. It’s about your photo journey – about you growing in skill, technique and conscience. It’s about your creativity and learning how to keep improving your art.

I am so excited to be doing this – and I hope you will join me for this incredible adventure.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Ha Noi
Day 2 - Ha Noi

We meet our guide in the morning and we’ll photograph the sunrise at Long Bien Bridge and market. We’ll check out ‘banana island’, a village community on an island in the middle of the Red River.

In the afternoon we will explore all the wonderful flavours of the city with a Hanoi street food tour. The evening will be capturing the vibrant street life in the bustling streets.
Day 3 - Ha Noi
Day 4 - Ha Noi
Day 5 - Ha Noi - Na Giang

We head out early by private minibus for Ha Giang. Travel time approx. 5-6 hours.

During our first day we will see a big change in scenery when driving into the mountains before the town of Tam Son. Our first stop will be Thon Tha village – an ancient and traditional village, where the Tay minority people live. We will spend roughly two hours trekking in the village, surrounded by incredible mountains and rice fields. After that we will go to the Lung Khuy Cave. The short walk leading to the cave will show you some beautiful views of the countryside. Finally we will stop at Nam Dam village, where we will spend our first night. It is a charming and peaceful place surrounded by mountains. We will get the chance to discover the Dao ethnical culture and try some delicious local food.
Day 6 - Nam Dam village – Yên Minh – H’mong King Palace – Dong Van Town

On the second day the road takes us through the Karst Geopark. The Dong Van Karst Plateau is a major geoheritage sight in Vietnam.
We will see a lot of rice fields, thousands of limestone rocks and magnificent views. There you will be able to catch a glimpse of life in the countryside. The driver can also take us to the Chinese border and the famous northernmost viewpoint in Vietnam. Our last stop will be Dong Van.
Day 7 - Dong Van Town –Ma Pi Leng Pass- Sky Path – Meo Vac – Du Gia Village

To start this third day in Ha Giang you will stop at the famous Ma Pi Leng pass and will get the chance to trek to the breathtaking Sky Path to admire the scenery of the whole valley and Nho Que river.
Back on the road you will go through many different villages such as Lung Ho, Mau Due and Meo Vac. Finally, you will finish your day in Du Gia village, where you will spend a night in a homestay located in the middle of dreamly green rice fields.
Day 8 - Du Già Village – Lùng Tám village – Ha Giang City

Today we will stop at Lùng Tám village where Mong ethnicities live. The village has a traditional craft of brocade weaving. During this tour you will meet many different minorities, and learn more about their traditional lifestyle. You will be impressed along the way by all aspects of the trip, the stunning views, fascinating country life and beautiful cultures. The whole trip is an immensely rewarding experience and will give you life-long memories.
Day 9 - Thac Ba Lake
Day 10 - Return Hanoi
Day 11 - Hanoi

Group Size

4 – 8 Participants

Experience | Difficulty

Beginner, amateur, hobbiest and semi-pro photographers
DSLR, mirrorless, compact or smartphone cameras
Busy schedule
Some free time allotted
Lots of walking, slight elevation changes

Workshop includes

Travel, cityscape, seascape, street, architecture, and people photography
Accommodation in a beautiful 4 star hotel in Hanoi
Accommodation in gorgeous local home stays
Street food tour, local guides
Walks with a local photographer walk and a street food tour
Transport and local trips
All meals
Artist-led approach to photography

Workshop excludes

Travel to Vietnam, travel insurance, meals/excursions not mentioned, and alcholic drinks.

Arrival & Departure Airports:

Hanoi airport is the most convenient airport and is linked internationally. If you want to make this part of a winder trip to see more of Vietnam contact us for assistance.

Accommodation

In Hanoi we will be staying in a beautiful 4 star hotel. On our trip to Ha Giang Province we will be staying at Homestays: places run by local families with an integration into their environment. All are excellent places to stay and eat – and also have the opportunity to meet and connect with locals.

Workshop timings

The workshop starts at 2pm on the first day and finishes at 2pm on the last day.

Questions?

Please do get in touch with any questions, big or small. We can help with anything such as what kit to bring, travel arrangements, staying additional nights etc.

Contact Diana on info@anthonyepes.com /+44 7711 866 795

We will adhere to all local government recommendations and rules regarding Covid-19.