Vietnam: On Location with Joe McNally

Our workshop is going to focus on Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Hoi An. We will meet in Hanoi and spend several days exploring the city. We'll shoot the tangled streets of Old Quarter, the elegant boulevards of the French Quarter, the Hoan Siem Lake and the Temple of Literature. We will then head north to Ha Long Bay. I've rented exclusive use of the luxurious Dragon Legend, a traditional Vietnamese Junk. Our trip will end in the UNESCO town of Hoi An, known for it's magical lanterns.

More than 1000 years old, Hanoi, the vibrant capital city of Vietnam, is a melting pot of history, culture, and innovation. With a rich heritage that dates back over a thousand years, Hanoi is a city where century-old traditions blend seamlessly with modernity. From its bustling Old Quarter to its elegant French colonial architecture, Hanoi offers a fascinating insight into the country’s past and present. Divided into 12 districts, this city has over 600 temples and pagodas.

Photography Workshop

DATES | 9 DAYS: Group 1: March 2 - 10, 2025 1 SPOT AVAILABLE

Group 2: March 14 - 22, 2025 1 SPOT AVAILABLE
PRICE: Participant Rate: $6875 per person

Companion Fee: $3795 (staying in the same room)
WHAT'S INCLUDED?: Accommodations for 8 nights in luxury 5 star properties

On location classes, demos, and assistance in the field

5 Classes/edit & critique sessions

4 Dinners

3 Lunches

All Breakfasts

Private 3 day boat charter through Hai Long Bay

Visit to local market and cooking class with social enterprise KOTO

Internal flight from Hanoi to Danang Airport

All internal transportation

Travel, landscape, architecture, waterscape, and people photography
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?: Round trip airfare to and from Vietnam

Transportation to and from airport

Additional nights before or after the start and finish of the Workshop

Travel Insurance
OUR LOCATIONS: Hanoi's Old Quarter, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, Ho Hoan Kiem Lake

KOTO Cooking School, a social enterprise & the Temple of Literature

Private charter boat in Halong Bay

Hoi An's ancient town, a UNESCO site, and the lantern festivals

Early morning visit to a local fishing visit, the organic gardens of Tra Que
OUR HOTELS: While in Hanoi, we will be staying at Hotel De L'Opera a 5 star jewel located in the heart of the city.

In Hoi An, our home will be the 5 star luxury resort, The Hotel Royal Hoi An.

We have also arranged for a private charter for the Dragon Legend for our time in Ha Long Bay.
WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP RIGHT FOR?: Amateur, enthusiast, and semi-pro photographers looking to build their portfolio

Photographers who love travel and learning about other cultures

Photographers interested in working with people and capturing street life

DSLR, mirrorless, compact camera users

*Please note this workshop will have a fair amount of walking on old cobblestone streets.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: We strongly suggest you purchase travel insurance for your trip.Aside from medical care, travel insurance can protect you in the case of lost or stolen luggage, equipment, and personal effects, trip cancellation, personal liability, funeral expenses (we don't mean to sound morbid, but dying overseas can be very, very expensive), emergency dental treatment and evacuation back to your country of residence. All that being said, please read the policy carefully (especially the exclusions) to make sure that it covers what you will need, especially trip cancellation.
HOW DO I REGISTER?: We provide personalized service and you can sign up for a workshop by emailing us directly at liza@lizapoliti.com

About Joe McNally

Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning photographer whose prolific career includes assignments in 70 countries. McNally won the first Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Journalistic Impact for a LIFE coverage titled, “The Panorama of War.” He has been honored numerous times by Communication Arts, PDN, Graphis, American Photo, POY, and The World Press Photo Foundation. A contributor to National Geographic magazine for more than two decades, Joe has published numerous cover stories, including "The Future of Flying" (December 2003). His assignments have taken him from the heart of India's Diwali celebrations to the deserts of the Middle East to China's Great Wall. He regularly writes a popular, occasionally irreverent blog (joemcnally.com/blog) about the travails, tribulations, oddities and high moments of being a photographer. On social media: @joemcnallyphoto.

Additional Info

WEATHER | SUNRISE/SUNSET: March: Temps 60-82/50-70 F

Sunrise 6:00am | Sunset 6:10pm
TRAVEL INFO: *Please note this workshop starts in Hanoi and ends in Hoi An. Please book flights accordingly.

Airport Hanoi: Nội Bài International Airport (HAN)

Transport to the city center via taxi is about 30 minutes.

Closest airport to Hoi An: Da Nang (DAD)

Transport from Da Nang to Hoi An is about 45 minutes.
FUN FACTS: With a population of almost 93,000,000, Vietnam is the 14 largest country in the world and after Brazil, Vietnam is the world's second largest coffee producing country, producing 16% of the world’s total coffee (Brazil’s is 40%).

The houses in Hanoi are built in close proximity because people want to save some money on property taxes. Property tax was once calculated based on a building’s width. So, the wider the house, the higher the taxes. To avoid this French tax regulation, which was introduced in the 1800's, the population began building narrow houses. While the tax law no longer applies, the tradition is still going due to limited space.

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel designed the Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi. Hanoi means "City of Lakes".

An estimated five million motorcycles are racing across the streets of Hanoi today and over 70% of the population uses one to get around the city.

Approximately 1600 people live in four floating fishing villages: Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Tau and Vung Vieng – this means that the majority of the 2000 islands that make up Halong Bay are uninhabited.

Hoi An has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1999. It also has the world’s 3rd oldest Chinatown: Originating in the 1600s, the Chinese trading port began when silk and leather traders from Fujian Province arrived in Hoi An.

Because of visiting missionaries, Hoi An was the first place in Vietnam to be exposed to Christianity.

MORE INFORMATION & FAQs