Vietnam Film Fixer
& Video Production Services

Our core team, offices, and equipment rental partners are based in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang. This is home base. We are not a broker or a middleman operating from another country. Our producers, fixers, and crew live and work here.

Ho Chi Minh City is where most of our productions originate. Hanoi is our base for projects in the north, including Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, and Sa Pa. Da Nang covers the central coast including Hoi An, Hue, and Ba Na Hills.

We also operate crews across Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, Laos and Cambodia, but Vietnam is where we started and where the majority of our work happens.

We work in two ways depending on what you need.

For international production companies, agencies, and film crews bringing their own creative to Vietnam, we provide full production services and fixing. That includes film permits and drone permits, crew hire, equipment rental, location scouting and management, logistics, talent casting, fixers, and translators. We handle everything on the ground so your team can focus on the creative.

For brands and organizations that need video or photography created, we handle the full process from concept through delivery. Corporate video, brand films, commercial production, documentary, and photography across multiple disciplines. Our clients include Nike, Microsoft, Netflix, and other global brands who trust us as a creative partner.

Over 20 years of production in Vietnam means we know the locations, the regulations, the crews, and the logistics better than anyone.

It depends entirely on your project. The type of production, the locations involved, the size of your crew, the content being filmed, and whether the production is visible to the public all factor into what is actually required.

What we can tell you from 20 years of managing productions in Vietnam is that the permit landscape here is nuanced. A small crew filming inside a private factory has very different requirements than a 30-person team blocking traffic in District 1. A corporate interview in an office is different from a documentary in an ethnic minority village. Some situations are straightforward. Others require careful coordination with the Ministry of Culture, local police, and provincial authorities.

We have handled permits for productions of every scale and type across Vietnam. The best way to understand what applies to your project is to talk to us directly. We will assess your specific situation and advise on the smartest way to proceed, keeping your schedule, budget, and creative goals protected.

Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Every project is different. A large-scale commercial shoot on public streets has very different permit requirements than a small crew filming inside a private office or factory. The scale of the production, the locations involved, the type of content, and the visibility of the crew all factor into what is actually required.

What we can say from 20 years of production in Vietnam is that the consequences of getting it wrong are real. Shoots have been shut down, equipment confiscated, and crews detained. But the right approach depends entirely on your specific project.

The best thing to do is talk to us before you make any decisions. We will walk you through what applies to your situation, what the actual risks are, and how to proceed in a way that protects your schedule, your budget, and your creative. Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Filming permits in Vietnam are issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The process involves documentation, translations, government coordination, and lead times that vary depending on the type of production.

Generally, you will need items like a content summary or script, passport details for foreign crew, a location schedule, and an equipment list. Narrative productions typically require longer lead times than commercials or corporate work. Some productions also require a government-assigned press officer to be present during filming.

That said, the specific requirements for your project may differ from the general process. We have managed hundreds of permit applications across Vietnam and know how to navigate the system efficiently. Rather than trying to piece it together on your own, the fastest path is a conversation with our team. We will tell you exactly what your project needs, what the timeline looks like, and handle the full application process.

Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

It depends on the nature of your production and whether a filming permit is involved. In some cases, the Ministry will arrange a journalist visa as part of the permit process. For location scouting trips or smaller-scale projects, a standard tourist visa may be sufficient.

We can prepare invitation letters for visa on arrival, covering one month or three months with single or multiple entries. The right visa type depends on your project specifics, so we recommend discussing this with our team as part of your production planning.

Reach out at info@em-production.com and we can advise on the best approach for your situation.

In most cases, yes. If you are a small crew with mid-size professional equipment, it is generally straightforward and will not raise issues at customs. When a film permit is in place, we liaise with customs in advance so equipment inspections go smoothly.

Vietnam is not a carnet country, which makes temporarily importing large equipment more complex and more expensive. For most productions, it is more practical and cost-effective to rent equipment locally. Vietnam has a strong rental market including specialty cameras, cinema lenses, lighting, grip, drones, and rigging.

We work with trusted equipment rental partners in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and can put together a full equipment package based on your shot list. If you are unsure what to bring versus what to rent, talk to us and we will help you make the most cost-effective decision for your project.

Permit costs in Vietnam depend on multiple factors: the type of production, the number of shoot days, the locations involved, and whether special permits or drone permits are needed on top of the standard filming permit.

Costs can include content review and translation fees, permit application fees, daily fees for a government-assigned press officer, and press visa fees for foreign crew. Productions involving restricted locations, military zones, or national heritage sites may have additional costs.

Every production is different, and we have seen the full range over 20 years. Rather than guessing at a number, the best approach is to tell us about your project and we will give you an accurate breakdown based on your specific requirements.

Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form and we will scope it for you.

A film fixer is a local production professional who handles the logistics, coordination, and problem-solving that international crews cannot manage on their own in an unfamiliar country. In Vietnam, that means permits, locations, crew, equipment, translations, police coordination, customs, transport, and everything else that keeps a shoot running.

Vietnam’s regulatory environment, language barrier, and regional differences make it extremely difficult for a foreign crew to operate independently. Even experienced international producers who have worked across dozens of countries rely on local fixers here.

We have been providing fixer services in Vietnam for over 20 years. We know the locations, the officials, the crews, and the problems that come up before they happen. That is the difference between a fixer who reacts and one who prevents.

Drone use is tightly regulated in Vietnam and requires a separate drone permit, even if you already have a filming permit. The two permits are issued by different government bodies.

The application process involves submitting operator details, drone specifications, flight coordinates, and a schedule of use to the Ministry of Defense. Processing times, restrictions, and feasibility vary depending on the locations you are planning to film.

Some areas near military zones, airports, and government buildings may be restricted or denied. Operating a drone without a permit in Vietnam carries serious consequences including fines, confiscation, blacklisting, and potential imprisonment.

We handle the full drone permit process and can advise early on which locations are feasible for aerial work and which are not, so you can plan your shot list accordingly. If drone footage is part of your project, bring it up early in our conversation and we will map out what is possible.

Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Some locations in Vietnam require permits beyond the standard filming permit. National parks, nature reserves, UNESCO World Heritage sites, historical landmarks, military zones, border areas, and ethnic minority communities all have their own requirements and restrictions.

The specifics depend on which locations your production involves, the size of your crew, the type of equipment, and the nature of the content being filmed. Some locations are straightforward. Others require additional applications, provincial coordination, and longer lead times.

We have filmed across virtually every region and location type in Vietnam over the past 20 years. We know which locations require extra planning and can flag potential issues before they become problems. The best approach is to share your location list with us early in the process so we can advise on what is needed.

Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Vietnam offers extraordinary visual range for a single country. Within a few hours of travel you can move between dense jungle, terraced mountain passes, colonial French architecture, modern skylines, river deltas, limestone karsts, white sand beaches, underground caves, and some of the most energetic street life in Asia.

The most commonly filmed locations include Ho Chi Minh City for urban, commercial, and corporate work. Hanoi for its old quarter, French colonial buildings, lakes, and temples. Da Nang and Hoi An for coastal and heritage settings. Ninh Binh for dramatic karst landscapes. Ha Long Bay for iconic water and island scenery. Phong Nha for caves, including the largest cave system in the world. Sa Pa for mountain terrain and rice terraces. Phu Quoc for beaches and resort environments. The Mekong Delta for river life, floating markets, and rural Vietnam. Hue for imperial palaces and ancient citadels.

Vietnam can convincingly double for multiple Southeast Asian countries, which makes it a cost-effective choice for productions that need varied looks without moving between territories. We scout and manage locations across all of these regions.

Vietnam spans over 1,600 kilometers from north to south, so weather varies significantly by region and season.

The south (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc) has two seasons. Dry season runs from December to April, which is the best window for reliable outdoor shooting. Rainy season runs from May to November, but rain typically comes in short, heavy afternoon bursts. Morning shoots are usually fine even in rainy season.

Central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) is best from February to August. October and November bring the heaviest rainfall and occasional flooding.

The north (Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa) is best from October to December and March to May. Summers are hot and humid. January and February can be cold and overcast, especially in the highlands.

Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, usually late January or early February) shuts the country down for roughly a week. Crew availability drops significantly in the weeks surrounding Tet. Plan around it.

We help clients schedule productions around weather windows and local events to avoid disruptions.

Send us a message at info@em-production.com or use our contact form. Tell us what you are looking to achieve, where and when you want to shoot, and any requirements you already know. We will set up a call to discuss your project, timeline, and budget. No commitment required.

If you are still in the early stages and just need guidance on what is possible in Vietnam, we are happy to talk through it. That is part of what we do.