North Vietnam - Off the Beaten Track Photo Tour

This is a 17-day North East and West Vietnam, fully tutored photography tour led by UK professional photographers and supported by local guides throughout.

On this tour we will be covering several amazing locations in North East and West Vietnam, in a tailor-designed route that starts and ends in Hanoi. The itinerary includes the fantastic nature reserve of Pu Luong, the markets of Bay Ha, the ethnic group villages around Ha Giang, the amazing waterfalls at Ban Gioc, the beautiful Ba Be lake, the karst mountain and river views of Ninh Binh and Tam Coc and finally the unforgettable sunrise from the overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay.

This is an authentic off the beaten track experience which will see us stay in the heart of local communities and photograph the beauty of people and landscapes in this region in a slow-travel circular route tailor designed to enhance photographic opportunities and authentic local experience.

Our tours are fully guided and tutored and held in small groups of between 6-10 people, so you can make substantial progress with your photography benefiting from unlimited 1-2-1 on any photography topic you are looking to improve in. We have no single supplements, so solo travellers can rest assured they will get great value.

Itineray Highlights

Days 1-2    Hanoi

After picking everyone up from the airport on Day1 we will have an introductory dinner and drinks where the group will meet, and we will talk about everyone’s photography experience, desires and expectations for this trip and chat about the forthcoming days.

We will spend Day 2 in Hanoi, taking advantage of the amazing photographic opportunities here, from street to architecture, portraiture to nightscapes. The photography opportunities in Hanoi will include:

-The Temple of Literature

-Hanoi Old Quarter

-Hoan Kiem Lake

Included: 2 nights in Hanoi hotel with breakfast. Welcome dinner on Day 1.

Days 3-5    Pu Luong, Mai Chau, Thac Ba

In the morning on Day 3 after breakfast at the hotel we will be traveling from Hanoi to the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. From there we will be traveling to Mai Chau village and Thac Ba reservoir. Experiences and photographic opportunities in this region will include:

-      Cham River and the Water Wheels

-      Rice terraces, villages, wild fields, ponds and rivers around Pu Luong

-      Mai Chau village and handicrafts markets

-      Ngoi Tu village, home of the Dao and Tay ethnic groups

-      Boat cruise on the Thac Ba reservoir, experiencing lifestyle of Dao people

-      Staying in an eco-lodge, in a traditional stilt house with a lake view

Included: Accommodation in home stays in Pu Luong, Pom Coong village and Thac Ba. All meals and bottled water included

Days 6-8    Bac Ha, Ha Giang, Dong Van & Meo Vac

From Thac Ba we will be traveling to Bac Ha village on Day 6, getting ready for visiting the Sunday market. From here we will be traveling on to Ha Giang, Dong Van and Meo Vac. Experiences and photographic opportunities in this region will include:

-      The Sunday market of Bac Ha: people on horseback, weird and wonderful things being sold including the (in)famous Viet Cong black pyjamas!

-      Minority villages of White or Flower H’mong, the Red Dao and Tay

-      Sa Phin village with former Meo King’s Palace

Included: Accommodation in home stays in Bac Ha and Ha Giang, hotel stay in Dong Van. All meals and bottled water included

Days 9-11 Cao Bang, Ban Gioc, Ba Be Lake

We have a long drive on Day 9 from Meo Vac, but we will be stopping along the way to break the journey and take advantage of more photographic opportunities. This leg of the journey will take us to the lovely waterfalls of Ban Gioc and Ba Be Lake. Experiences and photographic opportunities in this region will include:

-      Ban Gioc waterfall and Nguom Ngao Cave

-      Boat trip along Nang River, Puong Cave and Dau Dang Waterfall

-      Pag Ngoi Village the home of Tay ethic group

Included: Accommodation in hotel in Cao Bang and home stay in Ba Be. All meals and bottled water included.

Days 12-13 Ninh Binh and Tam Coc

We will be driving down from Ba Be to Ninh Binh on Day 12, another long drive but the countryside is beautiful and we will have plenty of opportunity to stop and take photos along the way. In this region we will take advantage of the following experiences and photographic opportunities:

-      Countryside en route to Ninh Binh, arguably some of the most beautiful scenery in Vietnam

-      Trang An and a ride in a traditional style smaller boat along the waterways

-      Ngo Dong River

-      Karst mountains

-      Van Lao village with local artisans making napkins and pillow cases

Included: Accommodation in home stay in Ninh Binh and Tam Coc. All meals and bottled water included.

Days 14-15          Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba

From Tam Coc we will make our way towards Ha Long Bay where we will start our 2-night trip to Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba. Highlights of this leg of the trip include:

-      An overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay, amazing opportunities to photograph the stunning unique scenery of limestone mountain formations at different times of the day including at sunrise, and from several viewing points

-      Viewing point from Ti Top island

-      Kayaking, swimming (included but optional)

-      Sunrise on Cat Ba

-      Fishermen floating villages

Included: Accommodation on boat (en-suite cabin) in Ha Long Bay, at hotel in Cat Ba. All meals and bottled water included.

Day 16 Cat Ba to Hanoi

Start your last day with a sunrise shot on Cat Ba or take a short walk to the beach and chill and relax for the rest of the morning. Around lunchtime we will return to Hanoi, where we aim to arrive around 5pm. After checking into our hotel for the last night, we will have a celebratory dinner.  

Included: Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi. Lunch in Cat Ba and dinner in Hanoi included.

Day 17 Departure from Hanoi

Depending on everyone’s flight / train arrangements today we will provide transfers for everyone to the airport / train station. If you have some more time at your disposal you will be able to leave bags at the hotel and do some last-minute shopping!

Included: Breakfast at hotel.

Pricing

The cost of the trip per person is £4900 with single accommodation included as standard (no single supplements).

Itinerary Map