A Photographic Exploration of Vietnam

Vietnam is a travel experience never to be forgotten. With a unique civilization dating back 4,000 years, this small but dynamic nation displays strong traditions of scholarship, arts, poetry, music, and reverence for beauty in all its many aspects. Foremost for photographers is the country's immense natural beauty stretching for over 1,800 kilometers from the misty mountains and deep valleys of its far northern border with China, through timeless paddy fields of the Red River delta and fairytale islands of Halong Bay, south to the ancient Imperial capital of Hue and through the steamy and mysterious waterways of the Mekong delta. Certainly the proud Vietnamese people will welcome you with their friendly hospitality and captivate you with their gracious charm, making your stay most memorable and your photographs cherished personal treasures

Tour Highlights:

..........Bustling cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

..........Stilted villages, floating markets, and rice paddies of the Mekong Delta

..........Colorful ethnic markets and scenic northern highlands hill tribe villages of Sa Pa and Bac Ha

..........Jagged isles, hidden lagoons, and sea caves of Halong Bay

..........Ancient sites of Hue's Nguyen Dynasty, Hoi An's Old Town, and the Sand Dunes and Fishing Boats of Phan Thiet

A price quote will be determined for this tour, based on the size of your group and level of accommodations, which will include 15 nights in hotels (16 or 17 if additional nights at Sapa and Halong Bay are added), all meals beginning with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 16, domestic transportation and domestic airport taxes, transfers, admission fees, and the services of our English-speaking photographer guide in Vietnam who will accompany you throughout the trip. The price excludes entry visa, international airfare, beverages and personal tips including to the national guide. International air service is available on United, EVA Air, China Airlines, American, Delta, Philippine Airlines, Asiana, Cathay Pacific, and ANA.

Vietnam Explorer Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) from home

Welcome by local photographer/guide and transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner.

Overnight in Superior room at our Hotel near the Ben Thanh Market and offers free internet access.

Day 2: HCMC-Vinh Long-Can Tho

After breakfast drive to Can Tho, then take boat trip on the small canals to shoot the daily activities of the locals. Return to town for dinner. Overnight in Can Tho

Day 3: Can Tho - Phung Hiep Floating Market - Ben Tre

Early morning visit to Phung Hiep Floating Market, the biggest floating market in Southeast Asia. Here you can shoot the real life of the Vietnamese who live on the river. A highlight you won't want to miss is the Phung Hiep snake market where you will be invited to drink some snake wine and watch the dangerous snake performance. There may also be a chance to attend the Moon worshipping festival of the Khmers and the Sea God worshipping ceremony by the My Long beach and enjoy the very famous and interesting art called "Don ca tai tu." Overnight back in HCMC.

Day 4 & 5: HCMC-Phan Thiet

After breakfast drive straight to Phan Thiet. With its 192 km long coast and adjoining range of mountains, Phan Thiet is famous for its beautiful complex of sandbanks and dunes, towering lighthouse, long Buddha statue,and most colorful rocks. Many Cham festivals take place here regularly. After visiting these places and making exhausting the photo possibilities, it is an ideal location to relax in the cool, clear water of the azure blue sea. One of the highlights is a stop en route to the ceramic making village by Dong Nai River. This is not a touristy place and not yet listed in Vietnam's travel map. During one afternoon in Phan Thiet, drive to Bau Trang, 30km from Phan Thiet. This is the site of the most beautiful sand dunes in Phan Thiet, especially in the sunset. Two nights in Phan Thiet.

Day 6: Phan Thiet - Ho Chi Minh City

Activities in Phan Thiet include early morning photo shoot at the fishing wharf where hundreds of fishing boats are bringing netted fish to shore for trading. Return to HCMC for overnight.

Day 7:HCMC-Danang-Hoi An

Morning visit to Cu Chi Tunnels or shooting around bustling Saigon before flying to Danang on flight VN326 at 5:30 PM. Transfer to Hoi An on arrival at 6:40 PM. O/night in Hoi An

Day 8: Hoi An & My Son

Full day in My Son and Hoi An includes shoot at the local Fish Market. O/night in Hoi An

Day 9: Hoi An - Hue

Drive to Hue after breakfast. The ancient city of Hue is known for its numerous remains of tombs, pagodas, and temples dating back to the 17th and 18th century. The historical sites of Thien Mu Pagoda, King Minh's tomb, and Temple of Soul's Tablets are reached by Royal Boat on the Huong River. O/night in Hue

Day 10: Hue – Hanoi - night train to Lao Cai

Visits of Hue. Lunch in Hue. Take afternoon flight VN244 at 2:40 PM to Hanoi arriving at 3:50 PM. Dinner in town in Hanoi. In the evening depart on the overnight train in an air conditioned soft sleeper to Lao Cai.

Day 11: Lao Cai - Sapa

Arrive in Lao Cai early in the morning. It depends on which day of the week you arrive in Sa Pa, We’ll take you immediately to one of many weekly markets (Coc Ly - Tuesday, Can Cau – Saturday, Muong Hum - Monday, Bac Ha – Sunday etc.,). Mile-high Sa Pa nestles in the Hoang Lien Mountains near the border with China and is home to 30 colorful hill tribes as well as Vietnam's highest peak, 10311 feet high Mount Fansipan. Overnight in Sapa

Day 12: Sa Pa - Lao Cai - Hanoi

Another day exploring the countryside around Sa Pa, walking down to Y ling ho, Lao Chai, Ta van Village for great photos of the rice terraces. Lunch and dinner.

Transfer to Lao Cai Station for overnight train back to Hanoi in air conditioned soft sleeper.

PLEASE NOTE: Adding an additional night in Sa Pa is recomended in order to more fully explore the town and additional local villages.

Day 13: Hanoi - Halong Bay

Arrive Hanoi early in the morning and transfer on to Halong Bay for 2 day cruise with overnight on board wooden Junk.

Arrive in Halong, transfer to the pier for embarking the junk, our crew welcomes you on board. Enjoy a welcome drink, check into your cabin and enjoy lunch with fresh seafood. At 1 PM, the boat begins a 3.5 hour cruise into Halong Bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Mat Qui (Monster's face) islet, But Moc islet, Cap De islet, Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu cave, to a Floating Fishing village to see this unique way of life... and then explore Luon cave (from 4 to 5 PM). There will be lots of time for photographing. Enjoy a great sunset dinner and relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin.

PLEASE NOTE: Adding a second night aboard the junk in Halong Bay is highly recomended as it will permit additional photo opportunities at more locations.

Day 14: Halong - Hanoi

Disembark around noon after lunch on board. Return by road to Hanoi with a visit to Dong Trieu ceramic village. Dinner followed by water puppet show in the evening. O/night in Hanoi

Day 15: Hanoi city tour

Full day city tour in Hanoi and its suburbs. Visits to include the Literature Temple, the first university in Vietnam built in 1070 to learn more about Vietnamese study tradition, the old quarter, Dong Xuan Market, the biggest market in Hanoi and small-sized handicraft shops for lively photos of Vietnamese life and people. In the afternoon, go to the suburbs to view the farmers working on the lush paddy fields. Then visit a pagoda on the small island emerging from West Lake. Farewell dinner at Press Club.

Day 16: Departure from Hanoi. After breakfast transfer to the airport for international flights home.