Craft Village Color

Hanoi's Traditional Craft Villages

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Hanoi’s traditional craft villages on our “Craft Village Colors” photography tour. This full-day experience is designed for photographers of all levels, offering an intimate look into the daily lives, skills, and traditions of these unique communities.

Photographer's Experience

Our journey begins in Quang Phu Cau vilage, famed for its vibrant incense production. We’ll venture into the busy workshops, capturing images from all stages of this visually fascinating process. In parts of the village, the sight of thousands of incense sticks drying in the sun creates a spectacular sea of colors. You’ll photograph workers arranging the sticks into beautiful patterns, offering a unique perspective on this colorful and aromatic craft. The interplay of light, color, and texture here will elevate your photography portfolio.

At midday, you’ll head to another nearby village, this one specializing in the manufacture of conical hats (nón lá). Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch with a local family. This is a perfect time to engage with the villagers and learn about their lives and work. We’ll also enjoy a demonstration of hat-making by our host, and hear about the process and history behind these icons of Vietnamese culture.

After lunch you’ll wander the quiet streets, photographing locals meticulously stitching palm leaves and bamboo to create these elegant, functional hats. The light filtering through rooftops and open doorways adds a beautiful dimension to your shots, enhancing the intricate details of the hat-making process.

Next we move to a knife-making community renowned for its skilled artisans. You’ll capture the intense focus and expert techniques of blacksmiths as they forge their high-quality blades. From the fiery forge to the rhythmic hammering, every moment offers a striking photo opportunity, highlighting the dedication and precision involved in this ancient craft.

We conclude our tour in the late afternoon, returning to Hanoi with a wealth of stunning photographs and unforgettable memories. On the way back, we’ll review our shots, share feedback, and discuss techniques to refine your skills further.

What to Expect

Prepare to capture a variety of incredible images on our “Craft Village Colors” tour. You’ll explore Hanoi’s charming craft villages, each with its own unique traditions and techniques. Expect to photograph everything from the intense forge of the knife-makers to the simple workshops producing conical hats, and the vibrant incense fields of Quang Phu Cau. This tour offers a rich, immersive experience, providing a diverse array of photo opportunities that reflect the heart and soul of Vietnam’s traditional craftsmanship.

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Tour Information

Recommended Equipment

DSLR Camera or Film Camera
Memory Card
Fully Charged Battery
Wide angle or Zoom lens

What's included

Hotel Pickup & Drop Off
Private car
Lunch and non-alcoholic drinks
Professional Photographer Guide

What's not included

Tips

Tour Length

Full Day ( 9:30 am – to 5:30 pm)
Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 minutes prior to this time

Level of Difficulty

Moderate Physical activity (Walking)

Tour HIghlights

Blacksmiths Village
Vietnamese conical hats Village
Vietnamese lunch with a local family
Incense Village

Photography Highlights

Camera Settings
Lens Options
Street Photography
Portraiture
Documentary Photography
Story Boarding
Context and Relationships
Low Light Photography

Photography teaching

On a photo tour with us, your experience, images and development as a photographer are the priority. Tips to improve your pictures will be provided by our professional photographer guides throughout the tour, and we’ll have regular reviews. While enjoying a rich variety of photographic opportunities on tour, you’ll gain valuable insights on how to get the best out of your images, and how to take your skills to the next level.

Tour FAQ's

What happens if it rains

In the event of forecasted heavy rain, we’ll contact you to reschedule or cancel the tour and give you a full refund. If it’s early morning and raining heavily, our guide will call you on the phone number you gave us to discuss options for postponement or cancellation. In the event of cancellation we’ll issue a full refund.

Can I rent a camera

Yes, you can. We have a Nikon DSLR available to rent for $30 per tour including free memory card. Please enquire on booking.

Do I need travel insurance

Yes, you do. Vietnam in Focus is not liable to pay any costs associated with injury etc on our tours.

Can my non-photographer partner and / or kids come along

Yes, they can. Costs (or free joining) depend on each tour, so please enquire on booking.

Can I join the tour using a film camera

Yes, you can. People often join our tours using film cameras. You may not be able to edit in camera, but the composition tips are still basically the same.

Can I join the tour using a smartphone camera

Yes, you can. Smartphone cameras are pretty amazing nowadays.

How can you help me develop my Photography

Training or guidance will be provided by our photographers throughout the tour. Our guides will tailor your learning experience depending on your interest, style and experience from amateurs to professionals we can provide simple techniques to improve your photography, gain further knowledge of your camera and lenses, as well as develop your photographic eye to capture that amazing shot.

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Vietnam in Focus Limited – License No: 0105989870 – 7th Floor, Hanoi Creative Building, no 1 Luong Yen street, Bach Dang, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Customize Your Photography Experience

Our unparalleled knowledge of travel and culture in Vietnam, and where and when to get the best shots, mean we are experts in designing tailormade photo tours. We have planned and run tours for everyone from professional photographers on a mission to amateurs who want to get to know their cameras better on an adventure. Each person and group is different, so once you’ve completed the few questions below, expect to answer a few more before we can create your ideal photographic adventure.