Hanoi Explorer Photo Tour
Description
With so much to see and do in Hanoi, it can feel overwhelming to capture it all on camera in a short time. Our Hanoi Explorer half-day photography tour provides an insider’s look at the Vietnamese capital while you venture through the Old Quarter and several vibrant markets with your guide. You'll start with a visit to the lesser-known 'train street', just in time to catch the Reunification Express squeezing between houses on its way south. Next stop is century-old Long Bien Bridge, already busy with commuters. In the market below, we'll have a chance to mingle with the locals as they do a fast trade in fruit, fresh meat and other necessities. We then head across the dyke road and into the Old Quarter, navigating ancient trading streets busy with commerce. We end in the heart of the Old Quarter with a review of images from the morning. The tour is suitable for both beginner and serious photographers, and we will tailor the photography program to your interests.
Tour Options
Itinerary
On our Hanoi Explorer tour you’ll be guided through some of the capital’s most exciting markets and backstreets. Our professional photographer guides will provide technical and composition insights, helping you to develop your camera skills. While we recommend joining the tour in the early morning, from 5:30-9:30am, we can tailor the timing to your schedule. Expect to come away with plenty of fantastic pictures capturing the ‘real Hanoi’ for your portfolio.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
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Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- No Health Restrictions
Reviews(41)
If you are interested in learning more about photography, this is the tour for you. Cannot recommend highly enough. I learnt so much. I’m not very technical but feel like I have developed some more skills. The places we visited were varied and I and away with some fabulous shots.
I joined the Hanoi Explorer photo tour this morning and absolutely loved it! We started by photographing the passing train, then explored the Long Biên Market and another lively local market – all amazing places full of color and atmosphere. The breakfast and coffee stops were also lovely local spots I never would have found on my own. Both Linh and Gandaft were incredibly kind, helpful, and professional, and made the whole experience really enjoyable. A wonderful memory from my time in Vietnam – highly recommended!
As a photographer, this was my first street photography workshop — and it turned out to be an eye-opening experience. The energy of Vietnam’s streets, the constant rhythm of movement, and the everyday stories unfolding around each corner offered a refreshing perspective on capturing life through the lens. It was fast-paced, different, and truly exciting to step out of my usual rhythm. Huge thanks to Photographers Brian and Tung Phan for their guidance and thoughtful insights throughout the sessions. I also joined the Golden Harvest Workshop, where we journeyed into the mountains to photograph the ethnic minority villages. The experience was both humbling and inspiring — the warmth and authenticity of the people made every frame meaningful. A big thank you to Photographer Tung Vu, whose guidance was invaluable. His genuine connection with the locals reminded me that photography is as much about human connection as it is about composition. And to our driver Tiep, whose calm and skillful driving along the winding mountain roads kept us safe and comfortable throughout. Both workshops left me with not only beautiful images, but also a renewed sense of purpose — to see and tell stories with more heart and awareness.
Amazing experience. Gandaft was my guide and he went well above and beyond. Not only is he a fantastic photographer, but an even better human being. Thank you forna wonderful experience and hope to do more soon.
It was really worth the early start on my last day in Hanoi to do this photo tour! Brian was an excellent guide who not only showed me all sorts of places I would never have found myself but also gave great tips on settings and composition. The tour was relaxed with plenty of time to shoot at my own pace and have a good look around me. The Hanoi people seem happy to be photographed going about their daily lives and Brian is really good at getting you to look for a subject rather than just a scene. He also has great and interesting local knowledge Highly recommended 😊
Fantastic way to get to see some places in Hanoi we would never have found ourselves. Tung was a superb tutor/guide with perfect English who was able to teach us new techniques and skills. I'd thoroughly recommend this tour.
Fantastic experience - well worth the 0515 starting time. Tung was an exceptionally helpful and engaging guide. I learnt a lot and got some great shots.
Yesterday my husband and I did the Hanoi Explorer private tour with Vietnam in Focus, it has been the highlight of our time in Hanoi. Originally we were booked to do the Quang Phu Cau tour but due to Tet, we were advised that the factory would be not be working at its full capacity so would we consider another tour. We are so pleased that we did as the Hanoi Explorer did not disappoint. It was an early start, but totally worth it. Guided by Brian we were in awe of the places we explored and the people we met. They were so generous to allow us to photograph them at close range and at one stage, they were photographing us, it became a culturally immersive experience 😁 As an enthusiastic amateur photographer, Brian showed me how to navigate functions on my camera I had not yet explored and was so patient when I stumbled. My husband was photographing with his iPhone and Brian gave him composition tips. Consequently we have some great photos. Qudos also has to go to Hải Yen Nguyen and the team at Vietnam in Focus who handled our booking so professionally, answering emails in a timely manner, setting up a WhatsApp link when we arrived in Hanoi and checking in on us after our experience. Based on all of the above, we have booked another tour with Vietnam in Focus in Hoi An.
The best tour i’ve ever done!! i learnt so much about my camera, the streets of hanoi, the food, photography ideas. it was so brilliant i can’t recommend it more. my teacher brian was incredible and i so loved the morning it was the highlight of my holiday.
I landed in Hanoi and was instantly overwhelmed. I did not know where to land my lens, neither how to get where I wanted to be. Going out early with Brian was lovely. I got a feel for the local community and how to calm my focus in all the bustle.
