Frequently Asked Questions

Is airfare covered?

Airfare is not included in our workshop package. If you are new to international travel, we can help you choose a flight. With heavy competition to Southeast Asian destinations, airfares are often less expensive than most people might expect.

What about getting to the hotel?

We will pre-arrange your transportation from the airport to the hotel. A driver will meet you at a specific location that is easy to find. (You can access WiFi at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, including outside in the pickup areas.)

What about our lodgings?

While in Hanoi, we will stay, single occupancy, in a comfortable hotel centrally located in the Old Quarter. Our hotel has proven to be a fabulous home base for our program over the past six years.

What about excursions into rural areas?

Having traveled all the way to Hanoi, we will take the extra effort to travel into rural Vietnam. Our overnight excursion will be more spartan than our stay in Hanoi, but also very rewarding.

What about cell/data?

Having full-time internet connectivity is extremely useful when traveling off the beaten path. It also affords more safety. Fortunately, this is cheap and easy in Vietnam.

If you are certain that your phone is both off-contract and unlocked, you can pick up a data-only local SIM card very cheaply (about USD$10) right across from the hotel. We can help you with that if you need. (Note: if your phone is locked for SIM swaps, we can arrange a pocket-sized WiFi hotspot that will give you WiFi-via-cell wherever you go in the country.)

While in Vietnam, we’ll communicate via WhatsApp, which gives us an easy way to stay in touch with each other, share photos, or talk. WhatsApp is compatible with both iOS and Android, and we’ll have our group chat set up and running before we leave for Vietnam.

Bonus: having full network access in Vietnam also gives us the ability to use online photo folders for individual and group editing.

What’s the food like?

In Vietnam, the food is definitely a high point. It is delicious, nutritious and inexpensive. You’re going to eat very well.

Traveling in developing countries in an exercise in learning to manage the risks in order to get the most out of your experience. This approach is especially relevant for food. You’ll learn several strategies to help to minimize any associated risks, both on this trip and on your future travels.

In Vietnam, vegetarian options are available but they are not ubiquitous. So you should be prepared to be a little more diligent and/or creative. Please feel free to reach out to us with any specific dietary questions.

Caveats aside, for people who visit Vietnam, the food is generally seen as an overwhelmingly positive aspect of the trip.

What photography skill level is required?

This is an appropriate workshop for intermediate and advanced photo enthusiasts. We will show you different ways to think about your role as a photographer. We’ll also help you to improve both your hard and soft photo skills to open new, unexplored possibilities for your photography.

You can learn more about our approach to teaching, here.

What kind of gear should I bring?

Gear selection is a personal decision and really depends on your personal style and what you hope to get out of the trip. The most important thing is to learn to travel light and shoot unencumbered by excess gear no matter what your chosen brand.

Is it safe?

Here is what Lonely Planet has to say about Hanoi specifically, and we tend to agree:

“Hanoi is generally a safe city to explore, and serious crimes against tourists are extremely rare, but it’s pertinent to exercise some caution. While it’s generally safe to walk around the streets of the Old Quarter at night, it’s best to avoid the darker lanes after around 10pm.”

That’s a fair synopsis, and applicable to most places. To that we would add that situational awareness, and how you act, goes a long way toward reducing the risks of walking around any city with a camera. We’ll talk about that more on the trip.

Much as with food, we also acknowledge the counterargument. You will incur risk from the moment you get into your car to drive to the airport to fly to Hanoi. Learning to intelligently balance and manage the risks and rewards of an experience is a core skill for any traveler.

How much physical activity does the trip involve? Is it strenuous?

Our trips are suitable for adults in good health. You should be comfortable walking 3-5 miles a day with your photo gear, as that will happen as often as not.

Many places in Vietnam are not physically accessible to western standards. Sidewalks, when present, are often uneven and frequently unlit at night.

There are English-speaking medical facilities in Hanoi. But on our rural excursion, we’ll be several hours away from any meaningful medical aid.

If you have any questions as to whether this trip is appropriate for you, please contact us before registering. We’ll be happy to help.

What will the weather be like?

You can expect mild, pleasant weather as the city transitions from the humid summer to the cool, dry winter season. Temperatures typically range from the mid-60s to low 80s °F (around 18–28°C), with lower humidity and fewer rain showers compared to earlier months. Occasional light rain or overcast skies are possible, but most days are comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor activities. It’s a great time to explore the city’s lakes, markets, and old streets without the intense heat of summer.