Photographic Journey in Vietnam

04:00 AM. The “Morning photo tour” will begin early in the morning (at approximately 4:00 AM). In this tour, we would like to offer you the chance to see how Hanoians live during the first four hours of the day. While the entire city is still sleeping, from some small corners emerge the chatter and laughter of merchants at the small markets… let’s just say these are the most beautiful moments of the city. The Hanoi journey will leave you with unforgettable experiences.

08:30 AM. Departure for Halong by the cruise company’s bus.

The journey to Halong takes 4 hours including a short stop. Arrival in Halong at approximately noon, boarding and settlement on a boat for a cruise in the bay. Relax at a beach with the possibility of swimming or climb to the highest point of an island to enjoy the panoramic view of the bay. Meals on board with seafood tasting. Overnight stay on board the same junk in a private cabin (with air conditioning and shower).

NOTE: The navigation itinerary in Ha Long Bay may change depending on the junk company, sea conditions, and the decision of the bay authority. The guide on board will be in English.

Breakfast on the deck of the junk with the possibility of admiring the beauty of the bay at dawn. You will spend the morning relaxing on the cruise among the magical landscapes of Bai Tu Long Bay. Brunch on board. Disembarkation, then return to Hanoi by the cruise company’s bus.

NOTE: The navigation itinerary in Ha Long Bay may change depending on the junk company, sea conditions, and the decision of the bay authority. The guide on board will be in English. A guide for the transfer from Hanoi is available at a surcharge. Please refer to the “Supplements” section.

08:30 AM. After breakfast, the next destination of our Vietnam photo tour is a village located 1.5 hours’ drive from Hanoi. Here, the locals have long been dedicated to the production of incense sticks. Afterward, the sticks travel throughout Vietnam to be burned on family altars or in temples.

Then, continue towards Ninh Binh, with its immense rice fields in the center of the Red River Delta, visit the village of Van Long, and take a boat trip in Van Long. The river route is surprising and offers splendid photographic opportunities for your photographic journey in Vietnam.

Overnight stay in Ninh Binh.

08:30 AM. On this day, you wake up early to capture photos from the Mua Cave at dawn. A leisure walk through the rice fields to visit the picturesque Thai Vi temple and staged photos of the elders guarding the temple in ascending order. Transfer to visit the Thu Sy craft village.

The village of Thu Sy is characterized by dark brown tiled roofs, three-room houses, and rows of bamboo trees. Walking through the village, you will see the elders sitting in front of their houses, weaving fishing pots and chatting. 

Overnight stay in Bac Ninh.

08:30 AM. After having breakfast, you will go to the outskirts of the city to visit the Tho Ha village in Bac Ninh and observe Vietnamese rural life. Walking along the narrow paths with old brick walls, you can see hundreds of bamboo racks draped with rice paper, used to prepare Vietnam’s most famous traditional food: spring rolls (Nem). Lunch at leisure.

You will continue towards Nghia Lo and Tu Le; after about 5-6 hours of driving, you will reach Tu Le, located at the foot of the magnificent and winding Khau Pha pass, considered one of the 4 greatest passes in Northern Vietnam. This place is home to the most colorfully dressed highlanders, who still preserve many of their long-standing cultures and traditions. Stop to enjoy its misty pine forests, graceful terraced rice fields, and take beautiful photos of the landscape and the charming Hmong, Dzao, and Thai girls you see on the mountainside.

If you are not tired and time permits, take your camera and go hunting for sunset photos. Overnight stay in Tu Le.

Breakfast at the hotel and return to Khau Pha to enter La Pan Tan – a beautiful H’Mong village from where you can take thousands of beautiful photos of the rice fields. After the lunch break, you will continue the excursion, and along the way, you can stop to take photos. Stop at Che Cu Nha and at the Ba Nha bridge, an ascent of about 2 hours to take photos from above before going to Mu Cang Chai. 

Overnight stay in Mu Cang Chai.

Breakfast at the hotel, then you will visit the beautiful Kim Noi village for more wonderful photos.

You will begin a marvelous drive and a very short trek to admire the majestic landscapes of rice terraces, the local villages of the Black Hmong, and the mountains of Han Xung village of the Hmong people. You will immerse yourself in the majestic natural landscape and the unique terraced fields of this area.

After lunch, you will leave Mu Cang Chai for Sapa (147 km and about 4 hours of driving) passing through Than Uyen, along the northwestern slope of the Hoang Lien mountain range, which offers magnificent landscapes, a combination of towering mountains, wonderful valleys, waterfalls, and splendid streams.

During the journey, there are stops to photograph the Than Uyen tea plantation and Mount Chu Va before conquering the Tam Ton pass, which offers arguably the most extraordinary and magnificent scenery in the mountainous region of Vietnam. You will also stop to see the Heaven’s Gate to enjoy a splendid view and visit the Silver Waterfall. Overnight stay in Sapa.

Early wake-up and descent to the foot of Muong Hoa. Along the way, you can make various stops to take photos at Y Linh Ho village and continue towards Lao Chai, where the trek begins. The exclusive participants of the photo tour will have the chance to meet the H’Mong and the Zay in Ta Van village. Return to the city for lunch and rest. At 15:00 departure for the marvelous Muong Hoa valley. The tour ends only after sunset or when the battery is drained. 

Accommodation and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Can Cau market which takes place only on Saturdays. At the market, the Flower Mong, Black Dzao, and Nung ethnic minorities gather to exchange goods. After the visit, a boat trip along the Chay River awaits you to admire the beautiful and exciting landscapes. A short trek in Ban Pho and transfer to Sapa.

After the visit, transfer to Bac Ha. Along the way, you will visit the H’Mong King’s Palace, built in 1914 and completed in 1921. 

Overnight stay at the hotel in Bac Ha.

Breakfast at the hotel; this beautiful day is dedicated to visiting the Bac Ha market, which takes place only on Sundays.

The Bac Ha market is the largest in Northern Vietnam, and here you can find a vast number of people from various minorities living in dozens of villages in the nearby valleys. The Flower H’mong wear colorful short circular skirts and jackets with zigzag embroidery; the Black Dzao wear dark, fluttering aprons and tall top hats; and the Nung and Pa Then wear bright, densely embroidered garments.

After the visit, transfer to Hoang Su Phi. Upon arrival in Hoang Su Phi, check in to the hotel, and if time permits, take a walk in Nam Hong village, home of the Red Dzao, to discover their local daily life. If time allows, you can visit another nearby village, Nam Nghi. 

Overnight stay in Hoang Su Phi.

After breakfast, begin your trekking journey from Nam Hong to Khoa Thuong village, which is the land of the Dao Ao Dai (long tunic). You will walk through rice terraces, forests, waterfalls, and ethnic villages.

Lunch at a local house along the way.

Transfer to Ha Giang; you will arrive in Ha Giang in the mid-afternoon. We will begin with a trek towards Nam Dam village, where you will be greeted by big smiles and curious eyes. The village consists of hundreds of wooden stilt houses covered with palm leaves. You will visit a typical local house so that you can better understand the lifestyle of the inhabitants.

Check-in at your accommodation. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay in a homestay (private room with shared bathroom).

Breakfast at the homestay.

Departure from Nam Dam for Meo Vac, crossing through Pho Cao – Sung La and then arriving at the Lung Cu flag tower. Along the road to Meo Vac, we will stop at a “Nha Trinh Tuong,” a typical Hmong house of the village. Then, we will continue to Lung Hoa village. Unmissable is the H’mong King’s Palace (Dinh Vua Meo), dating back 100 years and once considered the residence of the most powerful lord of the northwestern region.

Arrival in Meo Vac, check-in, and relaxation in Meo Vac. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay in a homestay.

Breakfast at the hotel/homestay.

The day continues with a boat trip along the Nho Que River, the deepest canyon in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, and a walk on the Skywalk. We visit the Ma Pi Leng Pass, which will seduce you with the spectacular, pristine scenery of the limestone mountains, the Nho Que River, and the H’mong villages nestled in the mountainsides. Lunch at leisure in a local restaurant.

Return to Nam Dam. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay in a homestay (private room with shared bathroom).

Breakfast at the hotel. Return to Hanoi.

Return and settlement at the hotel.

08:30 AM. On this day, the guide will take you by motorbike to visit the hidden corners of the city for half a day.

Lunch at leisure and then return to the hotel.

Free time in the afternoon to rest and wander on your own.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for the departure flight.

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