Overview
For a unique Hanoi photo adventure, visit bustling Long Bien Market before dawn, as thousands of deliveries from the provinces and farther-flung regions of Vietnam provide the traders with stock. King crab and tuna from the East Sea mingle with juicy apples and pumpkins from Dalat, and longans and lychees from the market gardens surrounding Hanoi. The early morning conditions allow you to focus on shooting in different lights, from night-time to sunrise, to after daybreak. The situation also offers a chance to work on portraiture in environments of hectic activity – a vital skill for travel photographers. From century-old Long Bien Bridge overlooking the market, look at taking those classic photo-journalistic establishing shots. Long Bien sunrise takes in: Tran Quang Khai Street, Long Bien Market, Long Bien Railway Station and Long Bien Bridge.
What you will be doing
The tour begins on Long Bien Bridge, where we have a briefing on the day’s shoot and an overview of Long Bien market. Introduction to camera and camera settings. Our focus now is on the context or establishing shot – how we introduce a picture story
In the busy market, where we are learning how to photograph people. The emphasis is on photographing relationships – between people, their work and the surrounding environment. We learn how to compose pictures quickly, choosing the point of focus, capturing movement.
We head back along Old Quarter streets to a comfortable Vietnamese Cafe. The streets of Hanoi are awake now, offering plenty of opportunities for colourful pictures of daily life. Over breakfast and coffee, it’s time to review the morning’s shoot and choose our 3-picture story.
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: We will pick you up from your hotel
🗺️ Instructions: We will pick you up from your hotel
Things to know
Accessibility:
Not wheelchair accessible
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
The tour runs from 4:30 – 8:30am, and begins under Long Bien Bridge, Yen Phu Street. Hotel pick-up starts at 4am
Bring your own camera, with a fully charged battery, wide-angle or zoom lenses
Inclusion ✅
Pick up and drop off transport
Tour guide
Exclusion ❌
Gratuities
About your host
Vietnam in FocusWe run acclaimed private and small-group photo tours throughout north, central and south Vietnam. Whether you are a beginner, serious amateur or professional photographer, we can help you to capture incredible shots, and enjoy an unforgettable, authentic experience of this fascinating country. Our photo tours have been recommended by Lonely Planet, The Guardian and Le Petit Fute, as well as holding a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor for over a decade. We are officially licensed by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to run tours and workshops, and have led groups from National Geographic and the Travel Channel. We also love to make a difference. We work with local NGOs like Peace House Shelter, Change, and the Centre for Women and Development to raise awareness about social and environmental challenges in Vietnam.
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.