Vietnam in Focus - Winter Camp

Creative Arts Winter Camp – Hanoi

Creative Arts Winter Camp – Hanoi is a seasonal holiday programme for teenagers aged 13–18 organised by Vietnam in Focus, a creative education and photography experience provider based in Hanoi, Vietnam. The camp runs during the winter school break, offering young people a structured, hands-on environment to deepen their creative skills in multiple artistic disciplines and connect with peers who share similar interests.

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Purpose and Educational Focus

The primary purpose of the Creative Arts Winter Camp is to provide teenagers with an immersive creative learning experience during their winter break, allowing them to discover and develop artistic talents in areas such as photography, visual art and filmmaking. By combining practical projects with supportive mentoring, the programme encourages self-expression, creative confidence, teamwork and communication skills through English-led instruction and collaborative activities. (Source: vietnaminfocus.com)

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Target Ages and Participants

The camp is designed specifically for students aged 13 to 18. It is suitable for international and bilingual school learners in Hanoi who are interested in exploring creative outlets or strengthening existing skills in photography, art and filmmaking. The programme caters to beginners and intermediate learners alike, requiring no previous experience in the arts.

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Duration, Schedule and Location

The Creative Arts Winter Camp runs from December 26 to January 3, structured as 7 participation days with a break on January 1. Daily sessions typically take place Monday through Saturday and are split into morning (8:30-11:30 AM) and afternoon (2:00-5:00 PM) blocks to balance creative work with rest. Activities and workshops are held at the Vietnam in Focus headquarters in central Hanoi as well as River Cafe in Long Bien, providing both studio and relaxed social environments for learning and creation.

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Core Courses and Creative Tracks

Participants can register for one or two courses that match their interests. Each course is designed around practical, project-based learning that helps teens explore creative mediums and develop new skills:

• Photography: Students learn how to use a camera, understand composition and framing, and create visually compelling images that tell a story.
• Art: This track focuses on visual arts fundamentals such as drawing, painting and mixed media techniques, helping students develop their own artistic voice and experiment with expressive styles.
• Filmmaking: In the filmmaking course, participants explore the basics of camera work, storyboarding and editing, gaining hands-on experience in creating short film projects from concept to completion.

These creative tracks allow learners to engage actively with visual storytelling and artistic expression while receiving personalised guidance.

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Instructors and Learning Environment

The camp is led entirely in English by a team of experienced and professional creative mentors, including:

• Art educators and historians, who bring pedagogical expertise and artistic context to visual arts activities.
• Award-winning photographers and visual storytellers, who guide photography and filmmaking projects and help students refine technical and narrative skills.
• International and local creative professionals, offering diverse perspectives that enrich creative learning and cultural understanding.

The learning environment is designed to be supportive, safe and engaging, with small group sizes that allow for individual attention and collaboration among participants. (Source: vietnaminfocus.com)

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Creative and Personal Development

Beyond artistic techniques, the Creative Arts Winter Camp emphasises interpersonal and personal growth. Through team projects, peer feedback and shared creative challenges, students can build:

• Confidence in self-expression and creative risk taking
• Collaborative skills through group projects and peer interaction
• **Communication abilities via artistic presentation and critique
• Creative problem-solving through hands-on project work

The camp also encourages participants to explore their own interests and discover new ways of seeing and telling stories through visual media.

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Practical Information and Inclusions

Participants do not need to bring their own materials for core activities, as essential creative tools and supplies are provided on site. For those attending full-day sessions, lunch can be arranged separately and details are shared with families prior to camp start. Safety and supervision are highlighted as priorities, with instructors and staff ensuring a secure and well-equipped setting for all activities. (Source: vietnaminfocus.com) The camp is offered with fee options that include a daily rate (approximately 2,000,000 VND) or a full 7-day course fee (approximately 12,000,000 VND), making it accessible for families who wish to tailor participation to their schedules.