NORTH AND CENTRAL VIETNAM

IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS TRIP IS BEING RUN IN CONJUNCTION WITH INTREPID TRAVEL AND BOOKINGS MUST BE MADE DIRECT WITH THEM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BOOK A PLACE, PLEASE EMAIL LEE ON INFO@PHOTOADVENTURES.CO.UK AND HE WILL PASS ON YOUR DETAILS TO INTREPID SO BOOKING INFO CAN BE SENT OUT TO YOU. THE DEPOSIT PAYABLE TO INTREPID WILL BE £200 PER PERSON.

I'm excited to announce that in June 2024 I'll be teaming up with Vietnamese photographer and guide Giang Nguyen again to lead my second Vietnam photo tour - this time concentrating on North and Central Vietnam. The trip dates shown are UK to UK - we depart the UK on June 11th and arrive in. Vietnam on June 12th. We depart Vietnam at the end of the tour on June 26th, and arrive in the UK on June 27th.

The trip commences in Hanoi, where we spend the first three nights. We'll enjoy a walking tour of the old quarter, a model shoot at the Temple of Literature and a dusk shoot at Hoan Kiem Lake. From Hanoi we will also visit the amazing incense village of Quang Phu Cau, where the villagers produce traditional colourful incense then display iut outdoors to dry. The soy sauce factory in Ban Village and Thy Su village, where traditional bamboo fish traps are made, are also on the itinerary and offer fantastic photo opprtunities.

Tu Le is our next destination for 3 nights. We'll stop at the Thanh Son tea plantation en-route and shoot sunset at Lim Mong, Khau Pha Pass. Day 5 takes us to Lim Thai Village. From the pass, we can see quite clearly the Thai houses curled beside a stream of rice terraces. The Lim Thai village is the home of Thai people from the Khau Pha Mountain pass. In the afternoon, we will contnue to Sang Nhu – the H’Mong terrace rice field which is called “horse shoe” in Vietnamese.

On Day 6 we travel to Mam Xoi (Tray of sticky rice) hill in La Pan Tan, Mu Cang Chai which is considered the most beautiful place in the Northwest of Vietnam with its unique shape of terrace rice fields. In the afternoon, we will visit Kim Noi - a Thai village lying at the end of the vast rice fields, having its back facing against the mountains. All the houses are stilt houses, made of wood, with traditional Thai architecture.

After returning to Hanoi for another night, we head to the spectacular World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, a sheltered harbour with some 2000 limestone islands jutting out of the Bac Bo Gulf. We'll cruise around the bay, shooting through thew afternoon and sunset, then dawn the next morning. There will also be time to relax aboard the boat after a busy few days and enjoy the wonderful scenery. 

An internal flight from Hanoi to Hue takes us into Central Vietnam and the second part of the trip. We will visit and photograph Minh Mang King Tomb, which is considered as the most beautiful king tomb in Hue, photograph butterfly fishing nets at sunset and lanterns being scattered on the river during the blue hour. A sunrise shoot at the Chuon Lagoon starts Day 11, then after breakfast, we'll drive from Hue to Hoi An. En-route we'll stop at Lang Co Lagoon, then head to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass, which has been described as a giant dragon lying on the border between Hue and Da Nang, stretching from the Truong Son range to the sea. If the weather is favourable, as you pass through the clouds you’ll have a chance to contemplate the breathtaking views of Lang Co Bay – named one of the world’s 30 most beautiful bays in a 2009 poll.

On Day 12 we have another early start to visit Tam Tien fish market, the biggest fish market in Central Vietnam. On return to the hotel we will take a break and relax out of the heat for a while. In the afternoon, we'll head to Cam Kim – Duy Vinh sleeping mat village to experience their daily local life. You will have chance to interact with the local people and have further understanding of their work and life through your lens.

The next morning we head to Cua Dai “fishing-net” village for sunrise. More than 100 fishing nets are located at the intersection of the Thu Bon De Vong and Truong Giang rivers before following to the sea. When the sea is calm, fishing season starts, the fishermen go fishing all night, and only end a hard-working day when the dawn comes. Nowadays, the fishing-net industry is still the main livelihood of hundreds of households in Cua Dai region. Therefore, every early morning or at sunset, the fishing nets in Cua Dai are sparkling in the sunlight. In the afternoon, we will get back to the Old Town Hoi An to explore the most beautiful corners of the ancient town.

For the final day we have an early start to witness the daily life of the fisherman in Binh Minh fishing market. At dawn, the market is very busy with large crowds of seafood sellers and buyers, creating great opportunities to shoot candid images. In the afternoon we will visit two wonderful old ladies in Hoi An for a portrait shoot before enjoying a farewell dinner tonight

Myself and Giang will be on hand at all times to offer advice and guidance. Giang will also set-up shoots with local people so you will have the opportunity to capture portraits in amazing settings and ensure you get the most from this trip.

If you would like to find out more, please email Lee on info@photoadventures.co.uk and he will send you a full itinerary.

• At A Glance...

• Deposit / Price

  £1.00 / £6,000.00

  Sharing Discount - £1,000.00

• Date

  11th - 27th June, 2024

• Included

  13 nights hotel accommodation in single en-suite rooms unless sharing, 1 night overnight boat accommodation, 13 x breakfast, 8 x lunch, 6 x dinner, airport transfers on group basis, transport in air-conditioned vehicle throughout the trip, internal fights, services of local English-speaking guide (an experienced Vietnamese photographer), tuition from Lee Frost, admissions where included in itinerary.

• Excluded

  Meals not mentioned, international flights, visas, services not mentioned in the itinarary, drinks with included meals, tips for local guide and driver, insurance, optional activities, expenses of a personal nature.

• Fitness Level

  Easy to moderate

• Location

  Vietnam, Southeast Asia

• Max Group Size

  11