How to plan your elopement in Viet Nam
Are you planning to elope in Viet Nam? Well Viet Nam is one of the most popular elopement hotspots in the world and it’s not hard to see why! A stone’s throw away from the city is some of the most, raw, rugged and romantic landscape you can find.
If you’re thinking about planning your Viet Nam elopement or would like some new ideas, I’ve assembled a comprehensive guide on how to elope in Viet Nam in 2023 and 2024.
STEP 1: Choose a location for your Viet Nam elopement
From epic mountains, to wild rivers, to luscious forests and quiet lochs, Viet Nam really has it all!
I’ve helped a lot of my couples plan their elopements over the years so if you’re still not sure where you’d like to have your wedding I’m more than happy to chip in any way I can!
STEP 2: Pick a season to elope in Viet Nam
Probably the No.1 asked question and there isn’t really 1 correct answer because pretty much any time of the year is ideal to elope in Viet Nam!
Over the last 10 years I’ve photographed elopements all throughout the year in Viet Nam and every month has it’s own visual characteristics and qualities that it brings with it.
Spring (March, April, May)
A great time of the year to elope in South Viet Nam with beautiful, cool weather and clear blue sky. The days begin to get longer but you can still catch same beautiful golden light and colour in the afternoon.
You can view a small wedding from March here.
Summer (June, July, August)
Warm and long days! A great time of the year to elope in the highlands and beach however one important thing to keep in mind at this time of the year is the light. It’s generally a lot brighter and sunsets are much later in the evening so when deciding on a ceremony time (and portrait shoot time) it pays off to take this into account so there is a better chance of capturing some of that beautiful evening light for your elopement portrait shoot.
A beautiful story from summer here.
Fall (September, October, November)
The Vietnamese landscape transforms into a beautiful mixture of earthy tones (green, yellow, orange, brown) and if there’s one word I would use to describe this time of the year in Viet Nam it would be ‘painterly’. The sun sets earlier in the day so some of the nicest light can be caught early in the afternoon if it’s a clear day. I would probably bring layers (a shawl, cardigan, coat) just in case!
You can see an elopement in Viet Nam in Fall here.
Winter (December, January, February)
If you fancy some cosy winter vibes while eloping in North of Viet Nam then winter might be the time of the year for your elopement wedding. Warm layers are a must at this time of the year and light is limited so a ceremony at noon or in the early afternoon is certainly the best way to go.
A beautiful elopement wedding from winter here.
STEP 3: Find wedding suppliers and accommodation
The best advice is this… the earlier you can secure your celebrant, photographer, videographer, florist, hair / makeup artist and accommodation, the better!
Definitely prioritize mid-week dates when eloping too as you’ll have much better luck with supplier availability and it’s usually quieter.
I have a great little network of suppliers and artists that I’ve collaborated with over the years and I’d be happy to recommend them to you if it helps!
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STEP 4: Decide what to wear
One of the exciting things about eloping in Vietnam is you never know what you’re going to get when it comes to the weather! No matter what time of the year it is I’m constantly being surprised and the weather can completely transform the mood of the landscape.
I always say to my couples that the best thing to do to really enjoy the experience is embrace everything on your elopement day, including the weather.
For Spring, Fall and Winter (especially winter) I always suggest bringing an extra layer of clothing and if you’re eloping in the rugged Vietnam highlands some leather boots for walking are a must as well.
One thing to take into consideration is while North Face raincoats are practical they don’t translate well visually in photos so I suggest looking for a shawl with earthy tones or perhaps a cardigan or fashionable (but warm) coat.
I’ve photographed in all kinds of weather of the years so I’m ready to roll with anything.
I hope this guide has given you some ideas about eloping in Vietnam and answered a few questions about planning a Vietnamese elopement. If you’re searching for a wedding photographer to document your elopement adventure in Vietnam, I’d love to find out about your plans so feel free to shoot a message below!