A typical itinerary for a photography holiday in Vietnam

Day 1

Arrive in Hanoi and time to relax

After landing in the bustling city of Hanoi, a city where medieval and modern coexist, we’ll transfer to our stylish four star hotel in the heart of the city. The rest of the day can be spent at your leisure, either resting our joining your tutor for a walking tour of the local area. As the sun sets over the city, we’ll come together and have an introduction to the holiday and then head out to dinner for our first taste of Vietnamese gastronomy!

Day 2

Exploring Hanoi

This morning your tutor will host a photography workshop and then, with a local guide, take you out into the busy and vibrant streets of Hanoi, where we’ll be able to explore the local area, including the Old Quarter. Here you can also put into practice what was just covered in the morning’s workshop with guidance from your tutor.

Capturing street life outside Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum

Following lunch at a local café, we’ll then stroll around Hanoi's beautiful Hoan Kien Lake, where we can try our hand at capturing locals going about their day to day life with the stunning Ngoc Sun Temple as a backdrop. If we're lucky we might get a glimpse of the lake's most famous resident, a giant turtle, which means a lifetime of good luck!

Dinner and a look at the day’s images

It’s then a short walk back to the hotel where we’ll have time to freshen up and then it’s dinner and a look at the day’s images.

Day 3

Photography workshop followed by a visit to Dong Xuan Market

Following breakfast your tutor will host a photography workshop, which, depending on what you want, will either might recap on some photography fundamentals or cover aspects of street photography. We’ll then spend the morning in Hanoi’s bustling Dong Xuan market to put into practice what we have learnt. Famous for its stalls full of food and nicknacks, here we’ll also enjoy a true taste of Vietnamese life.

An afternoon visit to Hanoi's pottery district

Following lunch, we'll pay a visit to Hanoi's beautiful pottery district where we can meet some local craftsman and discover their trade secrets. Here we will also take part in a fun photography exercise that will certainly get our creative juices flowing!

Dinner and overnight train to Sapa

After dinner, it’s time to say goodbye to Hanoi for now, as we catch the traditional Fanxipan Express sleeper train to the remote mountain village of Sapa. Tonight we’ll each enjoy the privacy of our own cabins and share a few drinks in the bar while watching the views from the windows fade from bustling metropolis to sublime mountains. (Please be aware that the cabins on on this train are not en-suite and bathrooms are shared. However, the cabins and bathrooms are all impeccably clean and well serviced)

Day 4

Wake up in Lao Cai and transfer to Sapa

The next morning we arrive in the border town of Lao Cai, where it's a short transfer to the remote village of Sapa. Here the landscape is expansive and green and populated with flashes of colour thanks to the vibrant locals and their traditional attire. This is a wonderfully unspoilt pocket of Vietnam where you'll experience first hand a true taste of what it means to live a simple life full of traditional customs.

Photography class and lunch

Once we settle into our mountain hotel there is a chance to have a rest before your tutor will host a photography workshop. Then it's a delicious local lunch made from ingredients grown in the surrounding mountains!

Exploring the tribal hill villages

After lunch we’ll explore the hills surrounding Sapa and visit a number of quaint tribal villages, including the wonderful Cat Cat and Sin Chai.

A look at the day’s images and dinner in the village

After freshening up at our hotel we’ll have a look at some of the wonderful images that everyone has captured in the past couple of days. It’s then time to sample some locally produced Vietnamese beer and a selection of delicious dishes for dinner.

Day 5

Exploring the terraced rice fields and surrounding villages

After breakfast you can choose to go on a longer hike through terraced rice fields to see the more remote villages in the surrounding mountains OR visit Sapa's neighboring village of Cat Cat to try your hand at some street photography. (The hike is three hours in total over uneven, hilly ground. Walking shoes are essential). Either option offers the chance to capture vibrant photographs of locals going about their day to day lives against the backdrop of stunning mountain scenery.

A look at the day’s images and dinner in the village

After returning to the hotel we’ll have a look at some of the day’s images before sitting down to another delicious locally prepared dinner and a chance to share a beer or two with some colourful local characters!

Day 6

Exploring market of Sapa, boat ride through lime stone mountains

The markets in northern Vietnam are colorful meeting places for the hill tribes. Following a brief photography workshop, we’ll try our hand at capturing photos of market life, such as locals buying and selling products, catching up on the latest news, gossiping and quietly drinking away their troubles!

At around mid morning we travel to the Red River where we will have lunch and then board a fleet of boats that will take us on a tranquil journey through a valley of towering limestone mountains.

Dinner before catching the sleeper train to Hanoi

As the sun sets we head back to Lao Cai for dinner before catching the sleeper train back to Hanoi. Over dinner and drinks we’ll be able to have a look at everyone’s images from Sapa before bedding down in our cabins.

Day 7

A leisurely day in Hanoi for shopping, photography or tutorials

After arriving in Hanoi we transfer to our hotel where we are able to then spend the rest of the day at our leisure. Shopping excursions can be arranged, or, for those who want to keep on clicking, you can explore Hanoi’s ancient back streets with your tutor and guide.

One on one tutorials and dinner

There will be further opportunities for personal tutorials this afternoon before we all meet up for dinner and a few (lively) drinks on a local Hanoi street bar.

Day 8

The rural paradise and rice fields of Mai Chau

This morning we leave Hanoi and drive to the rural paradise of Mai Chau. With tranquil rice fields, wooden houses on stilts and locals in conical hats going about their daily lives, this rural idyll seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Hanoi.

After lunch we'll adjust to life in the slow lane and spend the rest of the day shooting in and around the local villages and surrounding landscape. Here locals will greet you with big smiles and a genuine interest in learning about your way of life. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself invited into someone’s home for a glass or two of the locally produced rice wine!

A true insight into Vietnam life over dinner

This evening we will be staying in the village of Ban Lac in a local home stay. This picturesque accommodation is home to a family who has lived in the village for generations and tonight we will be able to learn all about the history and way of life of this magical pocket of Vietnam.

After a family dinner, we will have the chance to experience the traditional dancing of the White Thai minority community whom are hosting us. After this we might well be presented with a large clay pot full of rice wine!

Please be aware that this home stay is different to a 'hotel', as it is a family home. Furnishings are clean and comfortable, but basic. Accommodation is shared in dorm-like bamboo huts. For those who want to, there is the option of staying in a nearby hotel for an additional supplement.

Day 9

Exploring Mai Chau by bike!

By far the best way to see the area around Mai Chau is by bike, so following breakfast we put on our peddle pushers and spend the morning doing just that! The cycling terrain is very flat, quiet and safe, however, for those who don't want to risk saddle sore, there are several leisurely walks through the paddy fields to choose from.

Transfer back to Hanoi for dinner

After lunch a home made lunch back at our home-stay, we bid farewell to our generous hosts and drive back to Hanoi for dinner and a chance to look at some of the images of our time in Mai Chau.

Day 10

The towering limestone islands of Ha Long Bay

This morning we drive to Vietnam’s most recognized natural wonders, Ha Long Bay. Here giant limestone islands rise up from the crystal blue waters and traditional sailing boats navigate the many coves, caves and islands fishing for squid and other seafood delicacies.

Check into our boat for lunch and an overnight cruise

After settling into our private boats, where everyone enjoys the luxury and privacy of their own spacious ensuite room, lunch is served on deck as some of Ha Long bay’s magnificent natural wonders glide past.

After a day on the water photographing, swimming or simply marveling at the magnificence of the bay we enjoy cocktails on deck and look at some of the day’s images as the sun sets. Following dinner aboard the boats there is the chance to try our hand at catching some squid by the light of the moon!

Day 11  

Sunrise photography and the chance for an early morning swim

For those who want to, there is the chance to get up at sunrise to capture the bay when it looks the most beautiful. After breakfast there will be time to take a dip in the crystal clear waters or for those who would prefer to stay dry, you can sit with your tutor and go through your photos so far.

Transfer back to Hanoi, final presentation of images and farewell dinner

After arriving back at port we transfer back to Hanoi. Here we have the chance to freshen up and with the help of your tutor, sort your best shots from the past few days into a final edit. Then we hit the town for a few drinks and dinner at the Wild Lotus Restaurant. After dinner we’ll have a few celebratory drinks and marvel at everyone’s wonderful photos from the holiday!

Day 12

A leisurely morning and depart for the airport

Today’s itinerary depends on flight times, however, there is usually time for a quick shopping trip in the morning before departing for Hanoi airport to head back to good old Blighty!

Please note: This itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions and unexpected delays. We ask that you put your faith in the experience of our guides and tutors, who occasionally choose to slightly alter the program to ensure you have the best possible experience.