PRICE REQUEST

Day 1: Ha Noi arrival

Up on arrival at Noi Bai Airport. Meeting with guide and transfer to the hotel. Welcome dinner featuring Vietnamese specialties. Overnight in Hanoi.

Include: Hotel in Ha Noi, Transportation, Meal: Welcomed dinner, Tour guide, Entrance fees

Day 2: Hanoi – Lao Cai

We will arise early to go to Hoan Kiem Lake where we will be able to photograph early risers meditating, doing tai chi, exercising and playing badminton. After breakfast we will commence a city tour to visit many of the highlights that Hanoi has on offer. This will include the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. After lunch we will visit the Ethnology Museum before travelling to West Lake area where we will visit Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple. We will photograph the sunset around the lake. After dinner we will board the overnight train to Lao Cai.

Day 3: Lao Cai – Muong Hum Markets – Sapa

After breakfast we will commence our journey to the remote Muong Hum markets. Here we will see Black H’mong, White H’mong, Red H’mong, Flower H’mong, Black Dao, Ha Nhi, Lu, Tay and Day minorities buying and selling local produce. Mid afternoon we will commence our journey to Sa Pa, stopping along the way to take photographs of the scenery in the late afternoon light. On arrival, we will check into our hotel before travelling to Tram Ton Pass (Heaven’s Gate) for the sunset.

Day 4: Sapa

Today we will trek down the mountain to Ta Van village. Along the way we will photograph the magnificent terraced rice fields and local minority people going about their day-to-day activities. After an enjoyable lunch in the village you are free to explore the village and walk around and photograph the local minority people and terraced landscape at your leisure. Tonight our accommodation will be a home stay in Ta Van village.

Note: For travellers who are unable to do this trek, an alternative program will be available including transport to Ta Van village.

Day 5: Sapa – Hanoi

This morning we will arise early to photograph the sunrise over terraced rice fields and minority people commencing their daily activities. After breakfast, we will commence our day by walking through the villages and terraced rice fields, making our way back to the main road and transport. We will return to Sa Pa where we will have some free time to explore the town. After lunch we will travel to visit some other minority villages before commencing our return journey to Lao Cai for dinner. After dinner we will board the overnight train to Ha Noi.

Day 6: Hanoi – Ninh Binh

On arrival in Hanoi, we will freshen up and have breakfast at a local restaurant. After breakfast we visit Dong Xuan markets, the largest markets in Ha Noi before commencing our journey south to Ninh Binh .we visit Kenh Ga Floating Village where we will witness and photograph the unique river life.In the afternoon we will enjoy a 2 hour boat cruise through Van Long Nature reserve breathaking scenery . The boat will float through muontains with intriguing names such as Meo Cao ( scratching Cat ) , Co Tien ( lady fairy ) , Mo Coi and Hon sach ( book) ; each of these name are rooted is old vietnamese legends & folk tales . We will commence our journey to Tam Coc . Overnight in Tam Coc .

Day 7: Ninh Binh – Halong bay

After breakfast we take the boat rowing 2 hours on Ngo Dong river in Tam Coc , the land called ” Ha Long on land ” . short drive to visit Bich Dong mountain pagoda . We leave Ninh Binh town follow highway 10 to Thai Binh province , we stop to visiting Keo pagoda . The masterpiece of architecture from 17 century with famous wooden bell tower , the biggest ancient pagoda in the north . Continue to drive to Ha Long Bay . Overnight in Ha Long .

Day 8: Halong Bay – Cat Ba

We will arise early to photograph the sunrise and visit the local fish market. After breakfast we board our private boat for a relaxing day cruising around Ha Long Bay. We will visit Hang Dau Go (Grotto of the Wooden Stakes) and photograph the bay and floating villages. In the afternoon, we will climb up to the peak of Ti Top Island for a panoramic view of Ha Long bay before enjoying a seafood lunch on the boat. We will then be transferred to Cat Ba Town by bus where we will have time to photograph the sunset over the harbour.

Day 9: Cat Ba -Hanoi

On our final morning in Vietnam we will enjoy and photograph Cat Ba Harbour in the splendid morning light. We will then be transferred back to our boat for our journey back to Hai Phong City before making our way back to Hanoi. Stops will be provided for lunch and souvenir shopping during our return trip. We will then catch night train from Hanoi to Hue

Day 10: Hue

Today we will take a Dragon Boat trip to Thien Mu Pagoda followed by a visit to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Late afternoon we will travel to Vong Canh Hill to photograph the Perfume River during sunset

Day 11: Hue – Hoi An

Morning, we visit the mausoleums of the Nguyen Kings, the first being Ming Mang Tomb, followed by Khai Dinh Tomb and if time permits Tu Duc Tomb. After a short afternoon tea break, we will visit a handicraft village where we will see incense sticks and Vietnamese hats being made. afternoon, we go to Hoi An. By the way, we stop at Lang Co beach and Cloudy pass before going to Hoi an.

Day 12: Hoi  An

Morning, we will take a walking tour of Hoi An, visiting ancient homes, pagodas and the Japanese Bridge. Late afternoon we will photograph fishing nets during sunset. After dinner you are free to explore and photograph Hoi An at night, with its beautiful lanterns.

Day 13: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho

We take morning flight to go to sai Gon and transfert to Mekong After breakfast we commence our journey to the Mekong Delta, where we will take a boat trip to witness and photograph the peaceful and tranquil life of the villages up close. After lunch, we will make our way to Bang Lang Stork Sanctuary, home to literally thousands of storks that return each evening to roost. Here we will also get the opportunity to photograph the local people on the water. We then continue to Can Tho, where we will check into our hotel.

Day 14: Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh City

We will arise early and walk down to Ninh Kieu Wharf to photograph the sunrise and the boats going about their business. After breakfast, we will board a boat to visit Cai Rang Floating markets, the largest authentic floating markets in Southeast Asia. We will then cruise around the local canals and tributaries, stopping to visit a rice husking mill, rice noodle and rice paper making factories before commencing our journey back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh city – Mui Ne

We will arise early to visit 23/9 Park where people will be going about their morning exercise. After breakfast we will travel to Cholon to visit Binh Tay market and Thien Hau Pagoda, a 150 year old Chinese Temple. We then travel north to Mui Ne, stopping to visit and photograph salt farms and Phan Thiet Harbour in the late afternoon light.

Day 16: Mui Ne

We will arise early to photograph the local fisherman returning to the beach with their catch. You are then free to explore and photograph at your leisure or just relax on the beach. In the afternoon, we will visit Fairy Springs followed by Mui Ne village. In the evening we will photograph Mui Ne boat harbour at sunset, which with its bevy of fishing boats, is particularly scenic.

Day 17: Mui Ne – Da Lat

We will arise early and travel to the white sand dunes for the sunrise. After breakfast, we will head north to Phan Rang/Thap Cham to visit Po Klong Garai, a group of Cham towers from the 13th century. We will have lunch before continuing our journey to Da Lat, stopping briefly at the top of Ngoan Muc Pass. Stops will be provided along the way to photograph the interesting villages that we pass.

Day 18: Da Lat

We will arise early to photograph Central Market. After breakfast we will visit Da Lat Railway Station, regarded as the most beautiful in Indochina, where we will enjoy a short train ride to Chua Linh Phuoc Pagoda. After spending some time exploring the Pagoda and surrounding village we will make our way to Truc Lam Zen Monastery. In the afternoon we visit Lat village prior to transferring by jeep to the summit of Lang Biang mountain. Stops will be provided on the return trip so we can photograph the locals watering their market gardens in the late afternoon light. After dinner we will walk around Da Lat to do some night photography

Day 19: Da Lat – Lak Lake

We will arise early to commence our journey to Lak Lake, stopping on the way to visit a silk worm factory, chop stick maker and Voi (Elephant) waterfall at Nam Ban Town. After lunch we will continue to Jun, a M’nong ethnic minority village next to Lak Lake. In the afternoon, we will photograph the sunset over Lak Lake.

Day 20: Lak Lake – Buon Ma Thuot

We will arise early to photograph the local fisherman with their unique method of fishing. After breakfast we will enjoy a leisurely elephant ride to a minority village before commencing our journey to Buon Ma Thuot, stopping to photograph a church that was destroyed during the war. Once we reach Buon Ma Thuot, we make our way to Dray Sap/Dray Nur Waterfalls where we will enjoy a picnic lunch before having a relaxing afternoon exploring the area at our leisure. We return to Buon Ma Thuot for the night

Day 21: Buon Ma Thuot – Nha Trang

Today we make our way back to the coast. During our journey we will pass many villages, offering numerous photographic opportunities. On reaching the coast, the mountainous villages are replaced by coastal fishing villages, once again offering a different photographic opportunity. On arrival in Nha Trang, we will visit Po Ngar Cham Towers before checking into our hotel.

Day 22: Nha Trang

We will arise early to photograph fishing boats returning from sea at sunrise on Xom Bong Bridge over the Cai River. After breakfast we enjoy a relaxing day on the water as we cruise around the islands off the coast. There will be plenty of time for swimming and snorkelling on some of the coral reefs that surround these islands as well as generally lazing around on the deck of the boat. Local seafood will be served for lunch. Late afternoon we will enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Cai River finishing up at Xom Bong Bridge.

Day 23: Nha Trang – Hochiminh

We will arise early to photograph the sunset at the beach. After breakfast we make our way to the airport for our flight to Ho Chi Minh city

Day 24: Hochiminh – Departure

Free at leisure. Transfert to aeroport . End of servic