01 / THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Go beyond the view.
Vietnam is a captivating meeting place of cultures. From north to south, every city has its own character. A long coastline creates attractive seaside scenery, while unpretentious hospitality and an unhurried pace of life invite visitors to linger. Western-style buildings from the colonial period add another layer of character. Like a richly colored painting, Vietnam awaits exploration and discovery. The route covers many of Vietnam's finest and lesser-known landscapes, emphasizing its distinctive cultural life and aiming to present an authentic Vietnam.
Water lilies and áo dài portraits
Create portraits with water lilies, aquatic plants and áo dài clothing in Long An, with environmental fine-art nude sessions. Models and sessions are subject to confirmation.
Rural life and traditional crafts
Photograph fishing boats, nets, bridges, villages and traditional work around Buon Ma Thuot, Phu Yen, Hoi An and Hue.
Hanoi streets and crafts
Explore Hanoi and its surroundings for street scenes, sauce making, bamboo basket craft and incense village portraits.
The journey in pictures
Leading photographers: XAVI Zhuang →
Destination illustrations · select a photo to explore
02 / IN GOOD COMPANY
A different way of seeing.
Leading photographers
XAVI Zhuang · View photographer profile →
XAVI Zhuang
Graduated from the Photography Department of South China Normal University. Specializes in landscape, documentary, mobile and drone photography. He has provided photography lectures and training for the municipal library, the Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, the news agency of South China Normal University, the Senior Photographers Association, China Southern Power Grid, the Bao'an land bureau, UnionPay International, Standard Chartered, Ping An Bank, Bank of China, Industrial Bank, China Merchants Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Jiangsu, the coastal administration, the Capital Institute, SF Express and local community offices. Photography journeys He has led photography groups to Turkey, the Balkans, Japan, Eastern Europe, Semporna, Israel, Cuba, Iran, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Spain, Namibia, Bangladesh, Russia, Cambodia, Chiang Mai, Myanmar, Italy, Portugal and Morocco. Destinations in China include Longji, Weizhou Island, Yuanyang, Puzhehei, Bashang, Xuexiang, Beijing, Niubei Mountain, Guangwu Mountain, Huangshan, Wuyuan, Poyang Lake, Nanjing, Wuxi, Nyingchi, the Yellow River in Shaanxi, the Qiantang River, Hainan, Xiaodongjiang, Zhangjiajie, Zhongwei, Xiapu, Daocheng–Shangri-La and Ejina Banner. Selected awards and exhibitions 15th National Art Photography Competition; 2nd Shenzhen Photography Annual Exhibition; 10th PSAChina International Photography event; 2015 Toronto International TIPF Annual Excellence Award; multiple acceptances in the Austrian circuit, 2017–2019; exhibition at the 7th Dali International Photography Festival, 2018; silver award in the first Beautiful China Aerial Photography competition; second prize in the People category of the China division of the 2019 National Geographic Global Photography Contest.
03 / THE DAYS AHEAD
A rhythm shaped by light.
Shooting locations, accommodation and transport are subject to confirmation before departure and may change with the weather.
Note: itinerary timings above are for reference only. The photography leader may make suitable adjustments according to local weather, conditions and other factors to achieve the best photographic results.
Itinerary dates and text times without their own zone use: Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh。Exact times use your selected timezone; dates alone and descriptions such as “morning” are not converted.
DAY 01Nov 15 · Asia/Ho_Chi_MinhMeet in Ho Chi Minh City–Long An
Meet in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with airport pickup. Continue to Long An, the water-lily photography location, approximately 3 hours by road. Check in at the hotel on arrival.
Accommodation:Long An hotel
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 02Nov 16 · Asia/Ho_Chi_MinhLong An–Buon Ma Thuot
Photography highlights: Vietnamese áo dài portraits, distinctive water lilies, fine-art nude portraits of an international model among water lilies, and water-grass harvesting scenes. Participants with drones should be sure to bring them! Have lunch after photography, then transfer to the airport for a 1-hour flight to Buon Ma Thuot. Explore the distinctive Central Highlands, including celebrated coffee plantations, traditional ethnic cultures and dramatic elephant photography settings.
Accommodation:Buon Ma Thuot; hotel to confirm
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 03Nov 17 · Asia/Ho_Chi_MinhBuon Ma Thuot–Phu Yen
Photography highlights: elephants and a boatman at dawn, elephants with an áo dài model, environmental fine-art nude portraits of an international model with elephants, and traditional Vietnamese basket boats.
Accommodation:Phu Yen; hotel to confirm
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 04Nov 18 · Asia/Ho_Chi_MinhPhu Yen
Photography highlights: environmental portraits at the lighthouse at sunrise with áo dài and international fine-art nude models; aerial views of traditional purse-seine fishing; dyeing and drying sedge; and áo dài portraits at the lagoon at sunset.
Accommodation:Phu Yen; hotel to confirm
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 05Nov 19 · Asia/Ho_Chi_MinhPhu Yen–Hoi An
Photography highlights: aerial views of Vietnam's longest narrow wooden bridge, áo dài portraits on the bridge, and nighttime portraits in Hoi An's old town.
Accommodation:Hoi An; hotel to confirm
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 06Nov 20 · Asia/Ho_Chi_MinhHoi An–Hue
Photography highlights: fishermen at dawn, áo dài portraits in the old city, farmers returning from the fields, fishermen on the Nhu Y River, and áo dài models releasing floating lanterns.
Accommodation:Hue; hotel to confirm
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 07Nov 21 · Asia/Ho_Chi_MinhHue–Hanoi
Photography highlights: aerial sunrise over Quang Loi Lagoon, áo dài portraits in morning mist, fine-art nude portraits of an international model in morning mist, and cultural scenes on Hanoi Train Street at night.
Accommodation:Hanoi; hotel to confirm
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 08Nov 22 · Asia/Ho_Chi_MinhHanoi
Photography highlights: model portraits along Hanoi's ceramic road, traditional Vietnamese sauce-making, bamboo fish-trap weaving and model portraits at Quang Phu Cau incense village.
Accommodation:Hanoi; hotel to confirm
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefDAY 09Nov 23 · Asia/Ho_Chi_MinhHanoi portraits–departure
Morning fine-art nude portrait session with both the Vietnamese and European models. The group disperses in the afternoon; please book return flights departing after 16:00 that day.
Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure briefWhere we stay
Planned overnight locations; confirm hotels, room types and camps with the operator. Day 1: Long An hotel Day 2: Buon Ma Thuot; hotel to confirm Day 3: Phu Yen; hotel to confirm Day 4: Phu Yen; hotel to confirm Day 5: Hoi An; hotel to confirm Day 6: Hue; hotel to confirm Day 7: Hanoi; hotel to confirm Day 8: Hanoi; hotel to confirm
Getting there
Travel references depart from Shenzhen or Guangzhou for Ho Chi Minh City and return from Hanoi. Flight numbers and times conflict between the two options; confirm exact services and transfers before booking.
04 / A CLEAR PICTURE
Know what is included.
Platform service fee to be confirmed
Deposit USD 1,194.45 Original CNY 8,000 · Reference rates 2026-09-18 · Frankfurter / person
Included
Accommodation: selected comfortable twin rooms during the itinerary, two people per room;
Transport: all overland touring vehicle expenses;
Admission: main entrance tickets to attractions on the itinerary;
Travel accident insurance for each participant; confirm the insured amount and coverage.
Models: costumes, makeup, props and photography-session fees;
Professional tour leader, guide and photography instruction fees;
Daily drinking water, with no waste permitted.
Breakfast at the hotels.
Not included
Flights: all air tickets are excluded; booking assistance is available;
Visa and processing expenses; the applicable procedure and amount require confirmation with the operator.
Single supplements for solo occupancy or when room sharing is unavailable; the amount requires confirmation with the operator.
Lunches and dinners are paid separately and may be shared by agreement.
Voluntary tips in accordance with international practice and local customs;
All personal and incidental expenses, such as postcards and souvenirs;
Tips payable to people photographed independently;
In force majeure circumstances, such as natural disasters, war or strikes, or exceptional events including flight delays or cancellations and consular visa delays, the organizing team reserves the right to cancel or modify the itinerary. Additional expenses, including extended visas abroad, accommodation, meals, transport and national airfare adjustments, may be charged at expense. We will nevertheless try within our ability to minimize participants' losses;
Other additional expenses not listed under inclusions;
Invoice-related taxes are additional; confirm the applicable amount with the operator.
Service fees, supplements, taxes and the final total are subject to written confirmation.
05 / BEFORE YOU GO
Clarity before departure.
Availability and registration
Register your interest in this trip. Departure confirmation, availability, the final total and booking conditions require confirmation with the operator.
Cancellation and breach provisions
Before departure, participants and the organizing team may sign a written travel contract or give notice terminating the trip agreement. The contract is legally binding. If termination is requested more than 30 days before departure, excluding day 30, neither party is liable for breach. Days are calculated by subtracting the date the termination notice is received from the departure date; the same calculation applies below. If the organizing team terminates the agreement, all travel fees must be refunded without deducting visa or entry-permit fees. If a participant terminates after a visa or entry permit has been processed or a flight booked, the relevant visa, entry-permit and flight cancellation charges are deducted. The organizing team must refund the travel fees within 5 working days of receiving the termination notice. If either party terminates within 30 days of departure, including day 30, the terminating party bears liability for breach. [Liability of the organizing team] If the organizing team terminates the trip agreement within 30 days of departure, including day 30, it must refund all travel fees without deducting visa, entry-permit or similar charges, and pay compensation according to the following schedule: 30 to 15 days before departure: compensation of 2% of the total trip fee; 14 to 7 days before departure: compensation of 5% of the total trip fee; 6 to 4 days before departure: compensation of 10% of the total trip fee; 3 to 1 days before departure: compensation of 15% of the total trip fee; On the departure date: compensation of 20% of the total trip fee. If this compensation does not cover the participant's actual losses, the organizing team must compensate those actual losses. The organizing team must refund the full trip fee and pay compensation within 5 working days of receipt of the cancellation notice. [Participant liability] Participants terminating the agreement within 30 days of departure must pay the organizing team a business-loss charge according to the following schedule: 30 to 15 days before departure: 5% of the total trip fee; 14 to 7 days before departure: 15% of the total trip fee; 6 to 4 days before departure: 70% of the total trip fee; 3 to 1 days before departure: 85% of the total trip fee; On the departure date: 90% of the total trip fee; If these percentages do not cover the organizing team's actual losses, the participant must compensate the actual losses, up to the total trip fee. After deducting the business-loss charge, the organizing team must refund the remaining travel fees within 5 working days of receiving the participant's cancellation notice.
Trip information
[Registration] Registration for this trip is confirmed upon receipt of the deposit. [Transport] 1. Flights booked by the organizing team are economy-class group tickets. Once issued, they cannot be endorsed to another carrier or refunded. 2. Actual flight, driving and boat travel times on the day apply. 3. Airlines and flight schedules above are for reference only. Changes to flight times may require minor itinerary adjustments; the departure notice takes precedence. [Accommodation] The amount is based on 2 people sharing 1 room. We will try to pair solo participants with another participant of the same gender. Participants who do not wish to share, or cannot be matched, must pay the single supplement for a room of their own. [Group meals] We try to choose meals suited to Chinese tastes and ensure that every guest receives an adequate portion. [Photography] 1. Photography activities follow the itinerary. In exceptional circumstances, time spent photographing each location will depend on the actual conditions that day. 2. Please read this itinerary carefully and choose a photography trip suited to your circumstances. If you give up part of the itinerary for personal reasons, including health, or request to forgo accommodation or transport, this is considered voluntary withdrawal. expenses already incurred are non-refundable. You are responsible for your personal safety while not participating in the itinerary. 3. Participants may not leave the group without permission during group photography activities, except during free time. Leaving partway through the trip is considered a breach by the participant. Unused photography activities, meals, accommodation and vehicle services are non-refundable, and the organizing team is not responsible for accidents occurring while the participant is away from the group. 4. If force majeure events such as typhoons or blizzards prevent travel according to the agreed itinerary, additional or reduced expenses following changes will be settled according to the travel agency's actual group operating expenses. [amount adjustments] the organizing team reserves the right to adjust amount if major fluctuations in international oil amount cause substantial increases in fuel surcharges. If the increase is within what we can absorb, the trip fee will not be adjusted. [Departure notice] 1. The departure notice will be sent no later than 1 day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed earlier, we will notify you as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the departure notice, the departure notice takes precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from organizing or arranging optional activities at additional expense, guests wishing to join such activities should contact the service provider themselves for information, amount and participation. If language difficulties lead you to ask a guide or tour leader for additional assistance, any paid or unpaid help is provided solely in that person's individual capacity, not on behalf of the organizing team or the local receiving agency. the organizing team has no involvement in the expenses, transaction amount or service standards of free-time activities; guests bear the outcomes themselves.
Portrait sessions
The plan includes one Vietnamese áo dài model, one European fine-art nude model and one Vietnamese fine-art nude model, with the latter scheduled for one session. Confirm the final models, sessions, costumes and props.
Fitness, equipment and conditions
Equipment and fitness requirements will be provided by the operator.
