Castles, Canyons, and Dunes of Oman
January 18 – 25, 2027
3 Spots Left
Northern Vietnam
3 Spots Left
At a Glance
Location
Northern Vietnam
Tuition
$13,995
Dates
September 14 – 27, 2026
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 6 Guests
Collections
- Journey
- Signature Collection
Northern Vietnam Photography Workshop
Beautiful Landscapes, Stunning Geology, and Unique Local Culture
September 14 – 27, 2026
- Golden rice terraces create stunning layered landscapes
- Hmong and Tay people harvesting and working in local villages
- Rugged limestone karsts in UNESCO Geopark Dong Van Plateau
In Northern Vietnam, the mountains rise in serrated layers and valleys unfold in terraces of rice that shimmer like scales in the evening light. Mist drifts through limestone towers at dawn, and village footpaths wind past wooden homes, tea fields, and rivers that have shaped the land for centuries. Markets burst into life at first light, while quiet hillsides tell stories of harvest and tradition. This is a landscape defined by texture, rhythm, and human connection.
Throughout our journey, we’ll photograph the region’s remarkable blend of scenery and culture—from the golden rice terraces of the highlands to the deep karst valleys and graceful waterfalls of the north. We’ll spend time among the Hmong, Tay, and Nung An people, making portraits when invited, and observing the beauty of daily life as it unfolds naturally. Expect moments with families harvesting rice by hand, artisans weaving linen or making incense, and children walking home along narrow paths carved into the hills.
The land here is a collaboration between people and nature. Over generations, the mountains have been carved into graceful terraces that follow the shape of the hills, catching the sky and reflecting the seasons. Rivers trace the valleys, waterfalls tumble through limestone cliffs, and every curve of the land feels intentional—shaped by both time and touch. It’s a place where natural and human beauty are inseparable, each enhancing the other. As the light shifts through the day, these patterns reveal new textures and moods, offering endless inspiration for the camera and the eye.
Learning is woven into every day. You’ll refine your skills in exposure and composition, street and portrait photography, and the art of storytelling through images. We’ll guide you in seeing beyond the obvious—finding rhythm, geometry, and emotion in both sweeping vistas and intimate details. And through thoughtful image reviews, you’ll leave with a stronger eye, a cohesive body of work, and a deeper connection to your craft.
Cultural sensitivity is at the heart of this experience. We move slowly, ask permission, and say thank you. What you’ll take home is more than a set of photographs—it’s a genuine exchange with the people and landscapes of northern Vietnam, and a sense of having truly experienced this extraordinary place through your lens.
Your Pro
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
This workshop covers a lot of ground in remote, mountainous areas by car on roads that wind through the mountain passes. While we break up the driving with photo shoots from viewpoints or in the homes of the local tribes, there is a significant amount of time spent driving.
September 14, 2026: Arrive in Hanoi, Explore the Old Quarter, Welcome Dinner
Arrive in Hanoi (HAN) at any time today. A driver will greet you to take you to our hotel in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Check into the hotel and relax. Enjoy a massage in the spa, explore the narrow, winding streets, or enjoy the open space of nearby Hoàn Kiếm Lake. This evening, we’ll have a group dinner to kick off our Vietnam workshop experience.
September 15, 2026: Photograph Duong Lam Village, Explore Soy Sauce Factory, Dinner in Hanoi
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. We’ll head out this morning to photograph the Duong Lam ancient village. We’ll focus on capturing the historic architecture dating as far back as the 17th century, picturesque alleyways, and the rural life of this historic landmark. After a break for lunch, we’ll photograph a soy sauce factory. Our day ends with dinner at a local restaurant in Hanoi.
September 16, 2026: Travel to Mu Cang Chai, Sustainable Luxury Resort, Scenic Photography Stops
After breakfast, we will transfer to Mu Cang Chai (7 hours). Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch and also take a break to photograph from a viewpoint in the Khau Pha pass. Our accommodation in Mu Cang Chai is a contemporary luxury resort featuring sustainable bamboo architecture and stunning views of the surrounding rice terraces.
September 17–18, 2026: Sunrise and Sunset Photography, Explore Local Villages, Image Review in Mu Cang Chai
We’ll have two full days to photograph the stunning terraced rice fields and the local villages in Mù Cang Chải, ensuring we have time to take in all the area has to offer. We’ll photograph local Hmong in their traditional dress at the stunning Raspberry rice terraces. This fantastic location is worth visiting at both sunrise and sunset, and we’ll do both! We will also photograph the rice terraces at Kim Noi and Lao Chải. Access to the rice terraces is via motorbike taxi.
In the villages, we will photograph the local people who will welcome us into their homes, where we will use our mobile studio lights to capture their way of life in traditional dress.
During these days, we will also have one of our signature image reviews through lunch at our hotel. This provides an opportunity to review your work for technical issues and to view it through the eyes of others, enabling you to refine your compositions and techniques to suit your personal taste.
September 19, 2026: Last Photographs in Mu Cang Chai, Transfer to Bac Ha, Homestay Experience
This morning is our last opportunity to photograph in Mu Cang Chai. After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel for transfer to Bac Ha (6.5 hours) with a stop for lunch along the way.
Our accommodation in Bac Ha is an intimate homestay in a natural setting offering cozy, comfortable, and home-like accommodations.
September 20, 2026: Experience Bac Ha’s Vibrant Minority Market, Photograph Corn Whiskey Production
This morning, we leave early to experience the vibrant weekly minority market. Numerous ethnic minority groups (primarily Hmong) gather to sell handmade crafts, fresh produce, livestock, and more. It’s a bustling spectacle of traditional clothing, unique food items, and diverse cultural exchanges. It’s a significant cultural event and a prime location to experience the region’s rich heritage. Bring cash for purchasing souvenirs!
After breakfast, we’ll have some time to rest, and after lunch, we’ll photograph a traditional Hmong home where they make corn whiskey.
September 21, 2026: Travel to Ha Giang, Visit Tay Village
Today we leave early to transfer to Ha Giang, and in the afternoon we will visit a village of the Tay people, a significant ethnic minority known for their unique stilt houses. You can photograph the peaceful village, and we will also arrange a session in one of their homes, where they will be dressed in traditional attire. Our accommodations in Ha Giang are in a comfortable 4-star hotel.
September 22, 2026: Scenic Drive to Dong Van, Visit Lung Tam Weaving Village, Explore Phố Cáo
After breakfast, we’ll check out and depart for the scenic Ha Giang loop drive to Dong Van (5 hours), with stops along the way at Quang Ba to see the “Fairy Bosom” mountain viewpoint, and the winding road view at Thẩm Ma Slope. Our last stop of the morning will be the Lung Tam Weaving Village, a cooperative founded in 1999 to preserve the art of hand-weaving linen. Photograph these craftspeople at work and browse their gift shop for handmade goods. After lunch, we’ll visit Phố Cáo, a village in the Dong Van Rocky Highlands, Vietnam, famous for its ancient walled houses and majestic mountains. The village boasts a rich Hmong culture, with its people wearing vibrant traditional costumes.
September 23, 2026: Explore Dong Van, Sunrise at Ma Pi Leng Pass, Visit Remote Lao Xa Village
We’ll be up early for sunrise at Ma Pi Leng Pass and visit Lao Xa, one of the most remote villages in the Dong Van Plateau—a beautiful place where time stands still. We will hike (1.25 miles, 700 ft elevation gain) to the Great White Cliff viewpoint. We’ll visit the Hmong King Palace and head back to Tham Ma Slope for sunset photography. We will also schedule another image review, where you will receive feedback on your images and suggestions for improving their processing.
September 24, 2026: Transfer to Cao Bang, God’s Eye Mountain
After breakfast, we will transfer to Cao Bang (7 hours), with several stops along the way, including the Coc Cha Pass and God’s Eye Mountain, a geological marvel characterized by a valley that transforms into a lake during the rainy season and a grassy plain in the dry season. The mountain features a large circular hole in the peak, which resembles an eye.
We will arrive in Cao Bang in the late afternoon, check in, and get a little downtime before dinner.
September 25, 2026: Special Visit to Phia Thap Incense Village, Fisherman at Dawn
This morning, we depart early for the Phong Nam valley, where the mountains reflect in the Quay Son River as the sun rises. We’ll photograph a fisherman on the river on his traditional bamboo raft with a handmade net.
After breakfast, we’ll have a special visit to Phia Thap, an ethnic minority (Nùng) village renowned for its centuries-old incense-making tradition. The village preserves this cultural tradition by using natural materials, such as bamboo and sawdust, to create incense, which is then dried in the sun. After lunch and a little downtime at the hotel, we return to photograph the fishermen in a different setting along the river. Our day ends at our next hotel in Cao Bang for dinner and time to review your images.
September 26, 2026: Return to Hanoi, Relax in Hotel Day Room, Optional Last Night Stay
Today we return to Hanoi (7 hours) with a stop for lunch along the way. Flights home can be as early as 8:00 PM this evening, but everyone will have a hotel room for this night, so you can use it as a day room before your departure, or book your flight for the following day, and enjoy one last night in Hanoi before heading home.
September 27, 2026: Depart from Hanoi, Enjoy a Relaxing Morning, Breakfast Included
If you haven’t departed yesterday evening, you can book your flight home anytime today. Breakfast is included today.
Activities
While this workshop does not include long or strenuous hikes, there are several challenges that you need to be prepared for and capable of participating in safely.
- Access to many of our locations is only available via motorbike. You will sit on the back as a local driver takes you on the trails to these locations. The trails are mostly paved, but some sections are dirt trails.
- Getting to specific viewpoints in the rice paddies will often require walking along the retaining wall for several hundred feet. Think of it as walking on a balance beam. Trekking poles are of little use since there will be a significant drop-off on one side and mud on the other. This requires adequate balance and slow, careful walking.
- Nothing is built to code in Vietnam. Stairs are steep, narrow, uneven, and often without handrails. Ramps are steep and often slippery.
Driving
We cover a lot of ground in the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam. There are few highways, and most of the roads are smaller mountain roads. We have designed the itinerary to break up the driving as much as possible, but some days will have long drives.
Fitness
Moderate: Moderate walks on uneven ground. See “Activities” for more details.
Flights
Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), Hanoi (Soc Son) anytime on September 14, 2026. Flights out can be made after 8:00 PM on September 26, 2026. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $1,300 supplement.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- English-speaking local guide throughout the workshop.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from Joseph Roybal.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!.
Not Included
- Travel to and from Hanoi, Vietnam.
- Unscheduled airport transfers.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic Beverages.
- Medical Evacuation Insurance (required).
- Travel Medical (required).
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming available for $1,300 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $4,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further payment of $5,000 is due by February 1, 2026.
- The balance is due not later than June 1, 2026.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
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