Tran Tuan Viet
National Geographic Photographer ยท Canon Master
Tran Tuan Viet is an award-winning Vietnamese photographer based in Hanoi, known for his photographs of Vietnam's people, landscapes, and cultural heritage. Since 2007, he has traveled extensively throughout the country, documenting its traditions and everyday life.
His work has appeared in National Geographic, international exhibitions, and major photography competitions, including two wins at the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest. He has also collaborated with Discovery, Google, Samsung, and Canon on international photography and cultural projects.
As the founder and CEO of Vietnam Photo Tours LLC, Viet brings nearly two decades of photographic experience and extensive local knowledge to the journeys he guides across Vietnam.
Bringing Vietnam to the World
Vietnamese media have described Viet as "the photographer bringing Vietnam's beauty to the world", recognizing his long-term work documenting the country and sharing its stories internationally.
200+ National Geographic Photos
Featured in magazines, photography books, newsletters, and digital publications.
1,000+ Google Arts & Culture Photos
Contributed to Wonders of Vietnam, a national cultural heritage project.
60+ Projects & Campaigns
International photography, cultural exhibitions, and creative collaborations.
Two Smithsonian Wins
Among his international photography awards and recognitions.
Tran Tuan Viet & National Geographic
Viet began contributing to National Geographic's Your Shot photography community in 2015 and became a contributing photographer in 2019. His work documenting Vietnamese culture, landscapes, and everyday life has since appeared across National Geographic publications and platforms.
Selected publications include Visions of Earth (2017), Spectacle: Rare and Astonishing Photographs (2018), Almanac 2020, and The 21st Century: Photographs From the Image Collection (2021). His photographs have also appeared in National Geographic Travel, History, and international editions.
International Photography Awards
Viet has received recognition from leading international photography competitions. Among his most notable achievements are two wins at the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest:
- 2018: Travel Category Winner for Making Incense.
- 2021: Readers' Choice Winner for Colorful Work.
Other honors include the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 Vietnam National Award, Wikimedia Commons Picture of the Year 2023, and recognition at Travel Photographer of the Year and Environmental Photographer of the Year.
Google Arts & Culture: Wonders of Vietnam
Viet contributed more than 1,000 photographs to Wonders of Vietnam, a digital cultural heritage project published by Google Arts & Culture in collaboration with the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.
The collection documents Vietnam's landscapes, historical sites, traditional crafts, and cultural heritage, making these stories accessible to audiences worldwide.
Explore Wonders of VietnamExhibitions & National Cultural Projects
In September 2024, Viet presented Destination Vietnam, a solo exhibition of 93 photographs in Hollywood, California, as part of a tourism and cinema promotion program organized by Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
His other exhibitions include Learning About Vietnam with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi (2018), My Vietnam at the Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah (2021), and Vietnam at the Lago Photo Festival in Italy (2025).
Viet has also collaborated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, and provincial tourism departments on destination promotion, exhibitions, and photography projects.
Tran Tuan Viet on Discovery Channel
Viet has appeared in international television and creative productions through collaborations with Warner Bros. Discovery, Shell, and Samsung Global.
Dare to Ride, Discovery & Shell
In 2022, Viet appeared in Episode 4 of Dare to Ride, taking three international visitors on a vintage motorcycle journey through Hanoi's history, food, and local culture. The episode premiered on Discovery Channel on July 16, 2022.
Life Refocused, Discovery & Samsung
In 2021, Viet was selected as one of three photographers featured in Life Refocused: Capture What Matters, a global collaboration between Discovery and Samsung exploring visual storytelling with the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
Canon Master & International Collaborations
Viet has been recognized as a Canon Master through Canon Vietnam's Brand Ambassador Program, representing the brand through photography projects, events, and creative campaigns.
His professional collaborations also include Apple, Google, Samsung, National Geographic, and Discovery, spanning editorial photography, cultural storytelling, destination promotion, and commercial productions.
In the Field with Tran Tuan Viet
Viet began organizing photography tours in 2009, drawing on his extensive experience photographing Vietnam's landscapes, cultural traditions, and local communities. His knowledge of locations, seasonal conditions, and daily life helps photographers discover subjects and moments beyond conventional sightseeing.
Today, as the founder of Vietnam Photo Tours LLC, he continues to guide photography journeys while working alongside a team of experienced Vietnamese photographer-guides. Together, they offer carefully planned small-group and private photography tours across Vietnam.
Whether traveling with Viet or one of the company's photographer-guides, guests benefit from local knowledge, thoughtfully arranged photography opportunities, and professional support in the field.