September 27 - October 7 2026
The Colours of Vietnam 2026
Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Join Elliott on an eleven day photography expedition through Northern and Central Vietnam. From the stunning golden rice terraces to the releasing lanterns on a river, not only will you explore some of the most beautiful places on the planet, but you will learn from Elliott on location during this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A photography workshop/group trip like no other.
Travel, photography, good food, relaxing resorts, and beautiful sceneries…do I need to say more?! Join me and seven new friends on an unforgettable experience through Vietnam, where every day is an opportunity for a new story to be captured. You’ll learn photography directly from me in real-world conditions — not just theory, but how to think, compose, and edit like a professional. Whether you’re looking to elevate your portfolio, refine your technical skills, or simply rediscover your creative spark, this workshop blends mentorship, adventure, and culture into one breathtaking journey.
Explore the untouched corners of Vietnam.
Designed to take you beyond the ordinary, this workshop will bring you through some of the most unique and breathtaking locations across northern and central Vietnam. From terraced rice fields to ancient towns, every stop is carefully chosen to give you unforgettable shooting opportunities. Partnered with an incredible on-ground team, I’ve handle all the planning and logistics, so you can focus fully on capturing incredible moments and having a great time without the stress, hassle, and headaches of organizing it all yourself.
11 days. 7 new friends. One memory (and lots of photos) to last a lifetime.
Only 8 spots available.
To provide the best experience possible this workshop is limited to only eight participants on a first-come-first-served basis. This ensures that the workshop will be exclusive and in-depth, so Elliott can personally attend to each participant throughout the workshop.
Here’s what’s included:
Accommodations for 10 nights at 4 or 5 star hotels and resorts*
Welcome dinner, breakfast for 8 days, lunch for 7 days
Flight from Hanoi to Da Nang (excl. baggage)
Flight from Hue to Hanoi (excl. baggage)
Ground and boat transportation
English speaking tour guides and photo guide assistants
Entrance fees
Local model fees
Communal drone
Workshop sessions with Elliott
*Accommodations will be shared to reduce the cost for each person. Single occupancy rooms are available for a fee of $850 USD at check-out.
Starting at $5,700 USD
A $2,000 non-refundable deposit will be applied at check-out to secure your spot. Payment plans available for the remainder.
Be the first three to sign up using code “COLOUR500” to get $500 off!
Day one:
Arrival in Hanoi.
It’s day one! Settle into your hotel before meeting your new friends for the next eleven days. We’ll have dinner together, before heading back to the hotel for a welcome briefing session. Then the evening is yours to explore the old quarter streets, grab a massage, or get an early rest.
Day two:
Incense and fish trap makers.
We’re starting bright and early! Before the break of dawn, we will depart to a nearby village to photograph the incense making process. At the incense village, we will photograph the locals as they prepare the incense and weave baskets. Once everyone is satisfied with their shots, we’ll head out for lunch before driving to another village to photograph the locals that make fish traps. In the evening, Elliott will be hosting the first workshop session: the fundamentals of photography, composition, and colour theory.
Day three:
Soy sauce village and tea plantation.
It’s another early start to the day, as we travel to another village to photograph the traditional methods of making soy sauce. After lunch, we’ll head to a tea plantation in Thac Ba, a secret place that only a few locals know. We will shoot until dark, and head back to Hanoi for the evening.
Day four:
Travel day.
Pack your bags, we’re making our way west! Day four is a travel day as we make our way to the rice fields of Mu Cang Chai. On the way, we will stop by a few stops before arriving at Le Champs Tu le, a stunning resort where we will spend the afternoon and evening going through our second workshop session: intro to editing.
Day five - seven:
The golden rice terraces of MCC.
On day five, after a hearty breakfast and a quick dip in the pool, we’ll make our way to the next accommodation, a 5-star luxury resort called the Garrya. After checking in, We’ll start our third workshop session: advanced editing. In the afternoon, we will make our way into the rice terraces for sunset.
Days six and seven will be one of the major highlights of the trip. During these three days, we’ll have early wake-up calls to catch the first light hitting the terraces, and staying out for sunset until the last light disappears.
We will be visiting many unique spots to get a variety of shots, including a visit to a corn house. We will have local models at select spots for those that want to experiment with portrait photography.
In between sunrise and sunset, you will have the option to attend two more workshop sessions covering videography and business. You’ll also have time to relax and enjoy the hotel's amenities.
Day eight:
Travel day.
Day eight is a long travel day as we make our long way back to Hanoi. After checking in the hotel in the afternoon, the rest of the day is at your own leisure to explore the city.
Day nine:
Coastal fishing villages.
Day nine is an early morning as we will fly together as a group to Da Nang. After checking into the hotel and a quick lunch, we will make our way south to Hoi An in the afternoon to photograph the local village women mend fishing nets, before catching sunset nearby, photographing the fishermen. In the evening, we will stroll the canals of Hoi An and enjoy dinner there, before heading back to the hotel.
Day ten:
The floating lanterns of Hue.
After breakfast, we’ll check out of the hotel and make our way up to the city of Hue. Once we’ve checked in and dropped off our luggage, we’ll make our way to photograph the tossing of fish nets. For blue hour, we will have one of the most unique private opportunities to photograph lanterns being released into the river. After freshening up at the hotel, we will go out for dinner for one last hurrah!
Day eleven:
Departure.
It’s already the last day of the trip! Together we will fly to Hanoi to finish where we started. For those that are departing Vietnam that day, it is unfortunately goodbye. For those that are staying an extra night (at your own expense), Elliott will be hosting the fifth session in the afternoon, going through the images shot in Hoi An and Hue, as well as answering any questions you may have.
Meet your host: Elliott!
Elliott Chau is a photographer, producer, director, and social media influencer based in Toronto, Canada who has travelled to over 70 countries photographing the world. He is a Canon ambassador, and has worked with renowned brands such as Four Seasons, Adidas, Google, Adobe, Canon, Shopify, and many more. He shares his travel experiences to his community of 200,000+ followers on his Instagram page @LifewithElliott and though he loves travel and photography, his true joy is making new friends and teaching.
Real reviews from real workshop attendees.
“Getting the opportunity to attend Elliott’s first workshop was such a great experience. I learned all about editing, composition, workflow, and made some great new friends! I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher, especially if you’re looking to turn photography into a full time gig!”
“Talk about an experience!!! Joining Elliott’s workshop has broadly opened my horizons as a creative. The energy is absolutely unmatched being around a group of like minded individuals, bouncing ideas off one another to create something unique. Within the few days I spent with Elliott, I’ve definitely learned much more than I would’ve trying to learn on my own. When I get the chance to join another one of Elliott’s workshops, you can bet I’ll be there ASAP!”
“Joining the photography workshop with Elliott was an unforgettable experience. It combined incredible destinations, a supportive group atmosphere, and constant learning opportunities. I’ve never improved so much in such a short time – both technically and creatively. Elliott’s mentorship pushed me to see the world differently through my lens, and his influence has truly shaped my photographic style. I’m deeply grateful for the time we spent together.”
Frequent asked questions.
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The price of this workshop has been carefully set, based on a multitude of factors. With so much included and already planned out for you— 4–5 star hotels, domestic flights, ground transportation, guides, models, meals, and activities— the cost of the workshop covers all the logistics, so you can focus 100% on the experience. On top of that, you’ll receive direct mentorship, hands-on instruction, and the chance to grow alongside a supportive group of like-minded creatives. I’ve worked hard to keep the cost as low as possible while still delivering a truly premium, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Opportunities like this don’t come around often, and I don’t want you to miss out!
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Here’s what’s included:
All accommodations for 10 nights at 4 or 5 star hotels and resorts*
Welcome dinner, Breakfast for 8 days, lunch for 7 days
Domestic flight from Hanoi to Da Nang
Domestic flight from Hue to Hanoi
Ground and boat transportation
English speaking tour guides and photo guide assistants
Entrance fees
Local model fees
Communal drone
Workshop sessions with Elliott
*Accommodations will be shared to reduce the cost for each person. Single occupancy rooms are available for a fee of $850 USD at check-out.
Here’s what’s NOT included:
Dinners and meals not mentioned above
Photography equipment (if you’re missing something you can borrow pending availability)
Laptop and hard drives
Tips for locals (not necessary, but encouraged)
Cash for souvenirs
Any non-photography related experiences
Visa for Vietnam (assistance is available)
International flights to/from Hanoi
Baggage fees for domestic flights
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This workshop is catered to all levels of photographers!
Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro, this trip is for you. There will be workshop sessions that dives deep into the fundamentals of photography for those that are beginners, and for the veterans, the locations we’ve set up and prepared are ready for you to capture.
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The $2,000 deposit must be paid as a non-refundable one-time payment.
The remaining balance can either be paid monthly for a term of ten months, or made as a one-time-payment before August 27th, 2026.
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As this is a more luxurious workshop, we’ll be staying in 4-5 star hotels and resorts.
In order to make this workshop as affordable as possible all participants will be sharing rooms. A questionnaire will be sent out a few weeks prior to the workshop and based off the answers we will partner participants together.
If you do not wish to share a room and are willing to pay more for a single room, please select the single occupancy option at check-out. However, in order to get the best rate for you and to keep the workshop organized, the hotels and resorts have been pre-selected.
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While we would love to make this workshop as inclusive as possible, there are certain aspects that may not be for everyone. We would suggest avoiding this workshop if you are:
Prone to motion sickness in long car rides (3-6 hours)
Extremely picky with food/dietary restrictions (some options will be limited, so we cannot guarantee we’ll be able to honour dietary restrictions)
Afraid of riding on the back of motorcycles and/or mopeds
Unable to wake up early in the morning (4-5AM)
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For this workshop all participants should have the following equipment:
A DSLR or mirrorless camera
Lenses that cover a range of wide-angle to telelphoto
A tripod
A computer with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, and an external hard drive
ND filters and CPL filters
A drone (if you do not have one, we will have one to share)
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In the rice terraces, it’ll be quite comfortable, sitting around 20-30 degrees. However, in Hanoi, Hue, and Hoi An, it’s going to be hot. Temperatures will range between 25 degrees and 35 degrees, so please bring the proper attire and sunscreen. Water will be provided throughout the entire trip.
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While I have an itinerary set, I have no control over the weather. That means we will have to be flexible, and adjust the itinerary accordingly. There is a chance that some locations may not be accessible due to bad weather.
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The $2,000 USD deposit is non-refundable*. Any payment made after the deposit and a month before the workshop (before August 26th 2026) is refundable. The workshop is non-refundable if you are unable to secure a visa in time.
*If the workshop does not reach 50% capacity one month prior to the workshop, the workshop will be canceled, and the non-refundable deposit will be refundable.
No shows or cancelations within a month of the workshop is non-refundable.
