Vietnam Photo Tour ~ 2020, May 12- May 24th (12 nights): $6200. Double Occupancy-Limit: 8/ 4 spots available
Join me for my second adventure to Vietnam. I am very excited to share this fantastic photo opportunity with everyone. My guide Son, will be joining me again as I explore even more of what Vietnam has to offer. Son is an award winning photographer who was born in Vietnam and shares his love and knowledge of his country freely. He speaks English and will be on hand to assist us every step of the way. This second trip will also include a chance to photograph the endangered Red Shanked Doucs and a fishing village with nets and basket weaving.
Itinerary
Day 1 -Tues
12 May - Saigon – arrival [-/-/d]
Meet up with our professional photo guide on arrival in Saigon / Tan Son Nhat International airport, transfer to hotel for check in.
Group Transfer Time 12 :00Noon $20.00 transfer fee pp if not part of the group transfer at noon.
Note: Check-in time: 14:00 pm
Enjoy free time. Welcome dinner at hotel.
(If time permits, we will photograph a traffic jam in Saigon city)
Overnight at hotel in Saigon
Day 2 – Wed
13 May -Saigon full day city tour [b/l/d]
Hotel breakfast
We’ll photograph one of the largest post office’s in Indochina in the early morning, A Catholic church that was built by the French in the 18th century in Saigon, Then, we will photograph monks and nuns at the university where they both study and have lunch together in Binh Chanh District.
Back to Saigon center to have lunch at the local restaurant.
At 14:00pm, we’ll photograph the monks and the Buddhist followers to pray inside the pagoda in Saigon. Next, we’ll photograph one of the traffic jams in Saigon before having dinner at the BATALIS restaurant.
After dinner, our guide will take us back to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Saigon
Day 3 – Thu
14 May - Saigon – Hue [b/l/d]
Breakfast boxes will be arranged by the hotel in Saigon
Leave Saigon for Hue with early morning flight.
Flight: TBA [approx. 06:15-07:40]
Arrive in Hue city and transfer to hotel for check-in, before going to shoot the models inside the Imperial Citadel.
Note: Check-in time: 14:00 pm
Lunch at local restaurant.
If time permits, we can photograph the models at the Tu Duc Tomb.
After shooting, dinner will be served at a local restaurant before coming back the hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Hue
Day 4 - Fri
15 May - Hue - Danang [b/l/d]
Hotel breakfast
Check out to leave Hue for Da Nang by bus.
Shoot the fishermen with the big nets on their small boats.
Depart from Hue for Danang via the picturesque Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds) moving through many pretty red-tiled villages and enjoying a spectacular view of the sea and the sky.
We will see big fishing nets on the way.
On arrival in Da Nang, our lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Da Nang city before checking into the hotel.
We will photograph the Red-shanked douc monkeys on Son Tra Island in the afternoon.
Dinner at a local restaurant in Danang city before coming back the hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Danang city
Day 5 - Sat
16 May - Danang – Hoi An [b/l/d]
Hotel breakfast
We will once again, photograph the Red-shanked douc monkeys on Son Tra island. After shooting, You are going to leave Da Nang for Hoi An-an old town by bus, just takes 1 hour. (Check-out time at noon: 12:00)
On arrival in Hoi An, we are going to have lunch at the DAO TIEN restaurant before checking into the hotel. (Check-in time: 14:00 pm)
After check in and a short rest at the hotel. We will take a boat trip on Thu Bon river for shooting fisherman with big nets at the sunset in the late afternoon
Back to Hoi An center to photograph lanterns which the local people make and sell.
Dinner will be at the TAM TAM CAFE restaurant, then back to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Day 6 – Sun
17 May -Hoi An - time at leisure [b/l/d]
Hotel breakfast
This time is free for you to discover the ancient town on your own.
(No vehicle, no tour).
Lunch and Dinner at hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Day 7 – Mon
18 May -Hoi an – Danang – Hanoi [b/l/d]
Hotel breakfast
You will wake up early morning to take pictures at the colourful, local market and will be back to the hotel for breakfast. And visit the local merchant house were built more than 200 years ago. The Chinese temple where the first Chinese ancestor arrived in Vietnam.
Free time at the hotel to pack up your stuff before going to the airport in Da Nang for our afternoon flight to Saigon (the flight takes 1 hour but we must be at the airport 2 hours in advance). (Check-out time at noon: 12:00)
Lunch at the BROTHER CAFE restaurant in Hoi An then proceed to the airport.
Flight: TBA [approx. 17:15-18:35]
On arrival in Hanoi city, you will be picked up and transfered to a local restaurant for dinner before check in. (Check-in time: 14:00 pm)
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Day 8 - Tue
19 May - Hanoi – Halong [b/l/d]
Breakfast at hotel
Hotel pick up in Hanoi and transfer east to Halong (approx. 4- hour driving). Upon arrival in Halong Bay, board your boat for an unforgettable cruise. Welcome seafood lunch on board. Cruise in Halong bay visiting some islands and caves. Possibility of kayaking (optional) around some nice beaches. Late afternoon, admire the sunset over the bay, enjoy happy hour on the bar deck or attend a cooking demonstration.
Dinner and overnight on Bhaya Classic charter cruise. (Private cruise)
Day 9 - Wed
20 May - Halong – Hanoi – night train to Lao Cai [brunch/l/d]
Start the day with a Tai Chi class on sundeck.
Continue cruising the bay, visiting some other highlights.
Have a brunch before disembarkation.
Return to Halong wharf, disembark and transfer back to Hanoi.
Lunch box en route.
On arrival in Hanoi, You are going to take a ride by Xich Lo, called "Rickshaw" around the old town in Hanoi and will photograph a traffic jam in Hanoi before coming back the hotel for dinner.
Transfer to Hanoi train station for night train to Lao Cai, departure around 22.00 hrs.
Overnight on Chapa train [approx. 22:00-06:05]
Day 10 - Thu
21 May - Lao Cai – Sapa – Ban Ho – Nam xai – Sapa [b/l/d]
Arrive in Lao Cai station, proceed to Sapa town for hotel breakfast.
Note: Check-in time: 14:00 pm
After breakfast, leave the hotel for Ban Ho & Nam Xai Village where you can see the Xa Pho people who wear traditional dresses and explore their houses and village.
Take time to admire the photogenic landscape, rice terraces on the way.
Come-back to Sapa center for lunch at local restaurant.
After lunch, rest at the hotel before having dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at hotel in Sapa
Day 11 – Fri
22 May -Sapa – Ban xeo - Muong hum – Y ty – Alu village – Lao cai – Night train to Hanoi [b/l/d]
Early morning departure/ breakfast boxes to go.
We will leave the hotel for Muong Hum where we will see large rice terraces, this takes about 2 hours. Arrive there and spend some time shooting the rice terraces at the top of the valley.
Take lunch boxes with us from the hotel. Because there are no restaurants along the way.
Arrive in Lao Cai town to have Day-use with 6 hour stay and dinner at hotel in Lao Cai.
Then we'll leave Lao Cai town for boarding on the night train to Hanoi, departure around 20:55 hrs.
Overnight on Livitran train [approx. 20:55-04:35]
Day 12 – Sat
23 May - Hanoi – Tho ha village & city tour [b/l/d]
04:35 am -Early arrival in Hanoi and drive straight to local restaurant for breakfast.
After breakfast, leave Hanoi for Tho Ha village to see the local people make rice paper.
Come back the Hanoi central for lunch.
After lunch, take pictures of the bamboo fishing basket village in Hung Yen province.
Get back to Hanoi for a rest before having dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Day 13 – Sun
24 May - Hanoi - departure [b/-/-]
Hotel breakfast
Free time at leisure until check out. Check-out time is at noon.
Transfer to Noi Bai International airport for departure flight home or to your next destination.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
• Accommodation with meals as outlined-(for example-[B/L/D]= breakfast,lunch,dinner)
• Domestic air tickets
• Transfers and tours by minibus or coach with English speaking local guide (professional photo guide)
• Night train: Hanoi – Lao Cai, private cabin- 2 per cabin (single supplements will get their own cabin)
• Halong cruise with guide on board
• All entrance fees for sightseeing and visits as mentioned itinerary
• Service charges, room tax and handling fee
• Model fees
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
• International airfare to/from Vietnam
• Any meal other than listed above. All meals are pre-planned; please let us know your dietary restrictions.
• Vietnamese visa
• Personal insurance
• ALL beverages with the exception of 2 bottles of water provided daily, laundry
• Early check-in or late check-outs
• Tip for guide and drivers-- approximately $250pp
Single Supplement:
Single supplements are available for the entire trip (except for the one night at Halong Bay) and will be available on a first come first served basis. Single supplements must be paid in full at time of registration. Single supplement charge: $1300.00
Deposit Info:
A $2000.00 deposit is required to hold your spot for this tour. All final payments should be made via check made out to "Denise Ippolito LLC". Wire transfers accepted from overseas participants and participant is responsible for all transaction fees on both sides. All tour deposits are non -refundable, please check your schedule closely before making your deposit. Credit cards will only be accepted for deposit payment only. All other payments must be made by check or wire transfer.
Trip insurance is highly recommended for all trips. A detailed PDF file will be sent to all participants once we get our entire group together. Please do not purchase airfare until I let you know that the trip is a go.
*Prices are subject to change in case of VAT or other tax increase.
In case there should be a major change (5% or above) in the exchange rates between the Vietnam Dong and the USD, (presently around VND 22,000 per USD), the tour company reserves the right to correct quotations in line with the revised value of the USD.