Covid Considerations

Travel always involves risk. In 2023, Covid adds another layer to that general calculus. Here are some of the steps we are taking to ensure we can minimize Covid risk and maximize the safety of our travelers in Vietnam.

First and foremost, all participants must provide proof of full vaccination upon acceptance into one of our workshops. Additionally, you will agree to be boosted to the best extent possible before the trip. This is not just for your safety as an individual, but also for our shared safety as a group.

Vaccination is common sense, and offers the best bang-for-buck protection for all of us. If you have a medical reason or a personal belief that precludes your being vaccinated against Covid-19, then this trip is not for you. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

As we approach our travel dates our advice will be for group members to take extra precautions to minimize your potential exposure in the weeks before the trip. We don’t want anyone arriving in Vietnam Covid positive.

Vietnam as a country has done a very good job of fighting Covid. They’ve had prior pandemic experience in 2003 (SARS) and and 2009 (H1N1) and thus were well-prepared when Covid arrived in 2020. Masking was embraced early, to good effect. Vietnam’s vaccination and booster rates are both higher than those of the US.

As of this writing, Covid positivity rates are much lower in Vietnam than they are in the US. We will continue to monitor the situation, and keep you informed of any material changes. 

Vietnam requires basic Covid insurance coverage during our stay in the country. We will arrange for this coverage, and the cost is included in the workshop fee. Please note that our insurance vendor does not provide coverage for people over 75.

The greatest point of risk on your trip will be on your inbound and outbound flights. So we ask, for your safety and that of the group, that you please mask while on the plane.

In the event someone does become infected, we have confirmed they would be able to recuperate in our hotel. We would also provide a dedicated person to monitor you, bring you food, supplies, and liaison with the local medical system if needed. There is good quality medical care in Hanoi, including access to antivirals.

That said, the best defense is a good offense. So as a group, we will be taking precautions to minimize our chances of both exposure and spread. 

Our hotel has a rooftop bar area which serves well for our classroom use. We also hold our group meals outdoors or in open-air spaces. We will mask during group transport, and choose vehicles that allow for good open airflow.

Fortunately, one of the things that makes Hanoi so visually interesting is the extent to which life takes place out in the open on the street. As photographers, this facet of the culture obviously works well for us. And we’ll lean into this approach to enhance our own safety as well. In Hanoi you can eat very well without ever going indoors.

At X-Peditions, we have structured our embedded costs and non-refundable expenses to provide us with the most flexibility possible. In there is a significant Covid-related event during the lead-up to our trip, either for a group member or for Vietnam in general, we will reassess our refund policy with an eye toward the most equitable solution.

We suggest you make your own plans with the same considerations in mind. Please look at the Covid-related rebooking policies of your chosen airline. Carriers tend to still be pretty generous and flexible. They really don’t want you getting onto a plane Covid-positive. Nor do they want to present you with a policy that economically forces you to choose that option.

We recognize we are still in a potentially fluid situation. Our top priority is your health and safety, and our decisions are made with that in mind.