Written by Namia River Retreat is a sustainable wellness resort that, at the time of writing, is still under construction. This exclusive resort, owned by HG Holdings, is situated on an islet in the Thu Bon River in Hoi An, a small and historical city in Quang Nam province, central Vietnam. The islet is fringed by Nipa palm trees on one side and surrounded by the life-giving waters of the river. The entire Nipa palm has many uses; it produces an edible fruit often used in desserts across Southeast Asia. Its leaves and branches are commonly used as roofing material, traditionally seen in various parts of coastal Vietnam.
The Creative Brief: Capturing the Essence
Lumina Wellbeing, the company managing and marketing the property, contacted us to create a teaser video and a library of lifestyle photos showcasing the resort and local culture. Of the 60 villas, only two were ready for photography and filming.
With much of the resort still unfinished, the real challenge was to highlight the inherent beauty of the immediate surroundings, the ready villas, and the local culture of Hoi An—particularly the people living and working nearby. All of this had to be done while working around the ongoing construction. The weather also played a significant role, as the success of the shoot depended largely on dry conditions during the week.
To meet these challenges, we broke the project down into its core components, aligning them with the principles that Namia embodies: ‘Crafting with Nature,’ ‘Life by the River,’ and ‘Ritual of Lights.’ Using these themes, we told Namia’s story.
Team Collaboration: Working with Lumina
With full support from Lumina, Florence, Lumina’s creative director, was on hand to collaborate during the shoot. Bich and Dien, also from Lumina, acted as our local guide and fixer, liaising with local tradesmen, fishermen, and boatsmen. This level of support greatly contributed to the success of the project.
As with any project, we had to carefully manage timing, especially since we were shooting both stills and video, relying heavily on natural light. Planning was made in great detail to ensure clear communication, so that everyone involved was aligned before we even picked up our cameras. Fred and I worked on the script to inform the client of what to expect from the video. Creating shot lists for both the photos and video. Scouting locat was also part of the process, helping us eliminate uncertainty, assess the locations, and uncover hidden gems.
The production spanned five days. On the first day, upon arrival, sitting down with Florence and her team we reviewed our shot lists and the shoot plan, outlining what needed to be done over the next four days. Dien, a true champion for the project, helped arrange the various characters featured in our photo sets and video.
Working closely with our client made the project enjoyable and efficient. Having local knowledge is invaluable for getting things done effectively. For example, Dien introduced us to the fisherman we captured on video—an old man who had spent his life fishing on the river and knew the waters well. He was not only knowledgeable but also a great subject for the camera and the story.
Final Thoughts: A Successful Shoot Amid Challenges at Namia
The shoot began under dark clouds with the threat of rain, but the grey skies added a dramatic backdrop, which we incorporated into our story and visuals. By the second day, the skies cleared. Although we had to add a model at the last minute—a move we don’t usually recommend—we adapted. It helped that the model, whom we hadn’t worked with before, was very professional.
In the end, with careful planning and strong communication, we managed to finish the shoot right on schedule. Florence approved the shots as we went along—both photo and video. You might wonder if this slowed us down—spoiler alert, it didn’t. Thanks to our thorough preparation before arriving in Hoi An, everyone was aligned on the shots and approaches. All that was left was to pack up and return to Saigon for editing.
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