We set out at dawn and drive along the bay to the Hai Van Pass with some stops at a small local temple in the shape of a boat and a local beach to take photos of people doing their morning exercises. We’ll stop for breakfast at a local restaurant before driving up the winding roads of the Hai Van Pass. There are great scenic views all the way, and we’ll be looking at how to compose these kinds of pictures to bring out the best in the landscape. We’ll stop at certain points to take photos, the first being an abandoned hotel that provides plenty of photographic opportunities in close quarters.

Once we reach to the top we will break for coffee to enjoy the vast scenery then explore some ruins on top of the pass. These ruins date from different time periods and paint a good picture of the history of Vietnam. The remains of several war era bunkers and gun emplacements are now popular places for locals to have their wedding shots taken. These make for fascinating foreground features for our landscapes, and interesting subjects in their own right.

The next stop is the fishing town of Lang Co. Here, we can find a fantastic little fishing community on the edge of the lagoon, where the locals use traditionally hand-woven coracle boats to bring in their catch. Now we’re looking at how to shoot relationship shots, telling a story about the people in their working environment, in this case a stunning subtropical lagoon.

After exploring the lagoon, we’ll have some time to explore the beachside part of Lang Co with it’s small Church facing the sea.

Time to hit the road back up the Hai Van Pass. On the way up, we’ll capture magnificent landscapes overlooking Lang Co lagoon and beach. This must be one of the most spectacular coastal roads in the world and is worth enjoying it to the fullest.