Hanoi Film Fixer
& Video Production Services

Hanoi is one of our three Vietnam offices alongside Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Our producers, fixers, and crew in Hanoi live and work in the capital. We are not a broker or a middleman operating from another country.

Hanoi is our base for all productions in the north, including Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Sa Pa, and the highland regions. We also operate established local crews in Singapore, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, and Cambodia.

We work in two ways depending on what you need.

For international production companies, agencies, and film crews bringing their own creative to Hanoi, 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 in the capital so your team can focus on the creative. We have supported productions for Netflix, global agencies, and corporate brand teams filming in Hanoi.

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.

Over 20 years of production in Hanoi and Northern Vietnam means we know the locations, the officials, the regulations, and the logistics of the capital 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.

Hanoi is the capital and the seat of government. That means certain areas carry more sensitivity than other cities in Vietnam. Filming near the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, government buildings, military areas, or in the Old Quarter during peak hours all present different considerations than a controlled shoot inside a private office or hotel.

What we can tell you from 20 years of managing productions in Hanoi is that the permit landscape in the capital is nuanced. We have handled permits for every type and scale of production here. The best way to understand what applies to your project is to talk to us directly.

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

Every project is different. A 30-person crew blocking a street in the Old Quarter has very different requirements than two people filming inside a private office in Cau Giay.

Hanoi is the capital, and government presence is higher here than in Ho Chi Minh City. The consequences of getting it wrong in Hanoi are real. Shoots have been shut down, equipment confiscated, and crews detained. The proximity to government buildings and sensitive areas in the city center means enforcement can be swift.

The right approach depends entirely on your specific project. Talk to us before you make any decisions. We will walk you through what applies to your situation 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, which is headquartered in Hanoi. That gives us a direct advantage. Our team coordinates with the Ministry regularly and understands the internal process, the people involved, and the timelines.

Generally, you will need 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.

The specific requirements for your project may differ from the general process. We have managed hundreds of permit applications in Hanoi 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.

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.

Since the Ministry is based in Hanoi, the visa coordination for permitted productions here can sometimes move faster than for projects originating in other cities. 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.

In most cases, yes. If you are a small crew with mid-size professional equipment, it is generally straightforward through Noi Bai International Airport 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.

Hanoi has a solid rental market including cinema cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, drones, and rigging. We work with trusted equipment rental partners in the city 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 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 heritage sites, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, or areas near government buildings may have additional requirements and costs.

Every production is different, and we have seen the full range over 20 years in Hanoi. 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.

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 Hanoi, that means permits, locations, crew, equipment, translations, police coordination, customs, transport, and everything else that keeps a shoot running.

Hanoi presents specific challenges that make a local fixer essential. The Old Quarter is a dense, chaotic environment with narrow streets and heavy foot traffic. Government presence in the capital means permit enforcement is stricter than in other Vietnamese cities. The regulatory environment, language barrier, and cultural protocols around government sites and heritage locations require someone who knows how the city works.

We have been providing fixer services in Hanoi for over 20 years. We know the locations, the officials, 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.

Hanoi has more restricted airspace than most Vietnamese cities. Noi Bai International Airport, military installations, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, Ba Dinh Square, government ministries, and embassy zones all create no-fly or restricted areas in and around the city center. This limits where aerial work is feasible compared to other locations in Vietnam.

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

We handle the full drone permit process in Hanoi 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.

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

Yes, several locations in and around Hanoi require permits beyond the standard filming permit. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and surrounding complex, the Temple of Literature, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, One Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake perimeter, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and Long Bien Bridge all have their own requirements and restrictions.

Outside the city, popular northern filming locations like Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh (Trang An, Tam Coc), and Sa Pa involve provincial permits and their own coordination processes.

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. We have filmed at virtually every major location in and around Hanoi over the past 20 years. 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.

Hanoi and the surrounding northern region offer some of the most visually distinctive locations in Vietnam.

Within Hanoi, the most commonly filmed locations include the Old Quarter for its dense street life and colonial architecture. Hoan Kiem Lake and Turtle Tower for iconic establishing shots. The French Quarter for wide boulevards and grand facades. Long Bien Bridge for industrial character and sunset shots. West Lake for open water and pagodas. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex for political and historical context. The Temple of Literature for traditional Vietnamese architecture.

Within a few hours of Hanoi, you can reach Ha Long Bay for iconic limestone karsts and water. Ninh Binh for dramatic river valleys and ancient temples. Sa Pa for mountain terrain, rice terraces, and ethnic minority villages. Phong Nha for the largest cave system in the world. Mai Chau for rural homestay environments and valley scenery.

Hanoi itself can shift between French colonial, traditional Vietnamese, dense urban, and modern architectural looks within a single day of shooting. We scout and manage locations across all of these areas.

Hanoi has four distinct seasons, which is different from the south of Vietnam.

The best windows for filming are October to December and March to May. These months offer comfortable temperatures, lower humidity, and relatively reliable weather. October and November bring clear skies and the start of cooler weather. March through May are warm without the intense heat and humidity of summer.

Summers (June through September) are hot, humid, and bring heavy rainfall. Outdoor shooting is possible but requires flexible scheduling and backup plans. Indoor and studio work runs year-round without issue.

January and February can be cold and overcast, especially if your production involves highland locations like Sa Pa or Ha Giang. Visibility drops and conditions can be difficult for outdoor work.

Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, usually late January or early February) effectively shuts the city 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. If your dates are fixed, we will plan accordingly and build contingencies into the schedule.

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 Hanoi and Northern Vietnam, we are happy to talk through it. That is part of what we do.