Vietnam Itinerary

Saigon to Hanoi: The Other Vietnam with Son Nguyen and Roger Nelson

I’d love to talk with you about this initial itinerary and how we can work together and design a photo tours just for you!
415-331-3791 or 800-403-7190 (USA/Canada)

Day 01

Arrive Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

On arrival, you will be met by our office representative and assisted to the hotel (Rooms will be available from 1400 Hrs). Evening is on your own.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 02

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

(By surface approx. 65 Kms/ 02 Hrs)

You will meet the guides and other participants for an orientation breakfast.

After breakfast, you will visit 3 of the most notable old buildings in Ho Chi Minh City – Notre Dame Cathedral, the post office and city hall. Later in the morning you will have the opportunity to photograph the inside of an old pagoda with textural light filtering through the roof. After lunch you will visit a lacquer ware workshop where you can photograph the artisans at work making lacquered items with mother of pearl and egg shells.

As the sun is going down you will visit a special rooftop lounge to watch and photograph the hectic throngs of rush hour traffic as the lights come on. Dinner will be served on the rooftop of your hotel where you can watch the river traffic at night. You will spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 03

Saigon – My Tho – Tra Vinh

We travel to My Tho in the Mekong Delta early this morning to photograph the unique rowers on the canals. They row standing up. From here, you will visit My Tho Pagoda to photograph a large Vietnamese Buddha statue. In the afternoon, we drive to Tra Vinh and visit another pagoda where you can photograph the monks at their evening prayers.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 04

Tra Vinh – Can Tho

After breakfast, we will visit the pagoda again to photograph the monks. After our photo session, we drive onward to Can Tho, in the heart of the delta. In the late afternoon we visit a bird sanctuary for photo options of the birds and the delta as the sun sets.

Overnight in the Hotel

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Day 05:

Can Tho

Early morning, we discover the Nga Nam Floating market to photograph the busiest time of day for the market. We photograph the market from both land and boat to get the best shots. In the afternoon we visit an area of stilt house along the water to photograph daily life in this region.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 06

Can Tho – Saigon

Visit the Phong Dien floating market early morning to photograph the interactions between the buyers and the sellers. Each market has its own character. We return to our hotel for a late breakfast followed by the journey back to Saigon. Dinner will be served on a riverboat tonight.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 07

Saigon – Hoi An

(By flight and surface approx. 30 Kms/less than 01 Hrs)

You will visit Taodan Park before breakfast for an early shoot. This is a special unique place where locals take their pet birds for some fresh air and a chance to interact with other birds. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Da Nang in central Vietnam. Upon arrival you will be transferred to Hoi An, a traditional village near the coast. Along the way you will stop at Marble Mountain to photograph a special cave where locals come to make a wish.

Upon arrival in Hoi An you will have a chance to photograph the architecture of this old town in the late afternoon light. You will spend the night at a 4 star hotel near the historical district in Hoi An.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 08

Hoi An

This morning you will have a chance to visit the action laden morning market and the Japanese Bridge to photograph vendors in the early morning light. Later, you will have some free time to wander through Hoi An on your own. After lunch you will be welcomed at several houses and shops in old town to photograph craftspeople making lanterns and embroidered pictures. Then in the late afternoon you will take a boat ride to photograph fishermen with huge nets. You will spend the night in Hoi An again.

Overnight in the Hotel

hoi-an

Day 09

Hoi An – Hue

(By surface approx. 145 Kms/ 03 Hrs)

After breakfast you will travel by boat to a woodworking village to photograph people carving wooden statues.

Later in the morning you will travel by van to the city of Hue, once a capital of an ancient kingdom. Later in the afternoon, you will visit two different tombs, Khai Dinh Tomb and Tu Duc Tomb to photograph the unique architecture and landscapes around these ancient structures. You will spend the night at a 4 star boutique heritage hotel on the bank of the Perfume River in Hue.

Overnight in the Hotel (basic)

Day 10

Hue – Quang Dien -Hue

You will be up very early this morning to visit Quang Dien fishing village to photograph the fishermen and their boats as they return from a night of fishing. The village is particularly picturesque as well. You will return to Hue for breakfast and have some time to explore the city’s cultural and photographic opportunities on your own.

Later in the afternoon you will visit the Imperial Citadel where you will have an opportunity to watch and photograph an excellent traditional dance performance. You will spend the night in Hue again.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 11

Hue – Hanoi

We visit the Thien Mu Pagoda this morning for one last chance to photograph the ancient architecture and the surrounding landscape. Next we meet a conical hat maker where you can photograph the workers in each step of the handmade production. After lunch we are driven to the airport in Hue for a flight to Hanoi in the northern part of the country. You will spend the night in a 5 star heritage hotel in the middle of the French district.

Overnight in the Hotel

 

Day 12

Hanoi – Halong Bay

(By surface 100 Kms/1 plus Hrs)

After breakfast we travel by van to Halong Bay. Along the way we will visit a craft center that makes marble statues. When we arrive in Halong Bay, we will board a private luxury junk for a two-day cruise through this world heritage site.

In the afternoon we will stop at a floating fishing village where we will board sampans for a tour of the village. Later in the afternoon, we have an opportunity to climb to the top of an island for sunset or you can choose to photograph the sunset from the boat. You will spend the night on a luxury junk in Halong Bay.

Overnight on the Boat (private en-suite sleeping quarters)

Day 13

Halong Bay – Hanoi

Wake up early morning to catch sunrise from the rooftop of the junk. Breakfast will be served on the boat. Stop to explore a cave to photograph inside as well as views of Halong Bay. Cruise back to the dock where our driver picks us up and drives us back to Hanoi.

Our lunch will be at the Novotel Halong hotel. We make one more stop on the way back at the Dong Trieu ceramic factory to capture people making, firing and painting ceramics. Break at the hotel. Farewell dinner at the Press Club, the best restaurant in Hanoi, and also very close to your hotel.

Overnight in the Hotel

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Day 14

Depart Hanoi

On time transfer to the International airport to connect with flight to International destinations.

Tours are limited to just 6-8 people. Make a deposit and reserve your space today.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Location

Accommodations

Meals

Saigon
Grand Saigon Hotel
B, L, D
Tra Vinh
Cuu Long Hotel
B, L, D
Can Tho
Can Tho Resort
B, L, D
Saigon
Grand Saigon Hotel
B, L, D
Hoi An
Anantara Hoi An
B, L, D
Hue
Imperial Hotel
B, L, D
Hanoi
Hilton Opera House
B, L, D
Halong Bay
Bhaya Cruise
B, L, D
Hanoi
Hilton Opera House
B, L, D

Prices depend on dates, travel season and number of travelers.

Let’s talk soon about a photo tour customized for you and fellow travelers: 415-331-3791 or 800-403-7190 (USA/Canada)

Email us directly: A Different Perspective

FOR DEPOSIT ONLY Reserve Your Space Today

A deposit of $625.00 per person is required along with the Booking Form and the below signed Terms/Conditions Agreement Form to confirm a space on this tour. If there are two travelers on one form, the person signing assumes full financial responsibility.

Deposit Per Person: $625.00

Terms & Conditions Book Now

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