Vietnam Photo Tour ~ May 5-15th, 2024- (10 nights): $6999. Double Occupancy/Limit: 8
I am very excited to share this fantastic photo opportunity with everyone. Donna Bourdon and Son Nguyen are together again for a fantastic tour through some of the best photo locations that Vietnam has to offer. Both Donna and Son are internationally acclaimed award winning photographers. Son, who was born in Vietnam, shares his love and knowledge of his country freely. He speaks English and Vietnamese and will be on hand to assist us every step of the way. This third trip to Vietnam will also include a couple of photo sessions with the endangered Red-shanked doucs (monkeys) the rolling rice fields, fishing villages with nets, basking weaving and so much more…
This is a very photo rich trip with lots and lots of photo opportunities. Most people will have a camera at their side throughout the tour. Accommodations will be superior as will most meals with the exception of a few breakfast boxes (supplied by our hotels) to make our destinations on time. We will be travelling around via bus, air and train as we explore the country.
*This trip will be led by Donna Bourdon and my Vietnam guide Son Nguyen.
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Itinerary
Day 1 —May 5th
Saigon – arrival [-/-/d]-denotes meals that are included.
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 ( There is a $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
Saigon full day city tour [b/l/d]
Breakfast at hotel
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 15:00pm, we’ll photograph the monks and the Buddhist followers to pray inside the pagoda in Saigon.
We’;ll photograph the traffic jams in Saigon before having dinner at a local restaurant. Then, our guide will take us back to the hotel for relaxation.
Day 3
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]
We’ll photograph local people making incense in Hue. We will shoot a model sitting in a boat placing paper lanterns into the water. in the late afternoon. 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 to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Hue
Day 4
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
Danang – Hoi An [b/l/d]
Hotel breakfast
Check out to leave Hue for Da Nang by bus, takes around 3 hours
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.
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 Sơn Trà Island in the afternoon.
Dinner at a local restaurant in Danang city before coming back to the hotel.
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 a local 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 a local restaurant, then back to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Day 6
Hoi An - time at leisure [b/l/d]
Hotel breakfast
This time is free for you to discover the ancient town on your own. We may do one “model shoot”, depending on time.
(No vehicle, no tour).
Lunch and Dinner at hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Day 7
Hoi an – Danang – Hanoi [b/l/d]
Hotel breakfast
Early morning photo shoot at the colorful, 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 local restaurant in Hoi An then proceed to the airport.
Flight: TBA
On arrival in Hanoi city, you will be picked up and transferred to a local restaurant for dinner.
After having dinner, you will be free until departure to Ha Noi railway station to catch a night train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on the local night train, private cabins
(4-berth per compartment = 4 pax sharing one compartment)
Note: Guide will escort on board (share cabin with orther passengers)
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi—
Day 8
Lao Cai – Sapa – Ban Ho – Nam xai – Sapa [b/l/d]
Arrive in Lao Cai station, proceed to Sapa town for hotel breakfast.
After breakfast, proceed from Sapa town to Ban Ho, take time to admire the photogenic landscape, rice terraces on the way.
Come-back to Sapa center for lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, rest at the hotel before shooting Red Dao people at Ta Phin Village. If time and weather permits, we would go to shoot sunset at the O Qui Ho pass in the afternoon.
Having dinner will be served at a local restaurant.
Overnight at hotel in Sapa
Day 9
Sapa – Ban xeo - Muong hum – Y ty – Alu village – Lao cai – Night train to Hanoi [b/l/d]
Breakfast at hotel
We will leave early at 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.
Return to Sapa for lunch at a local restaurant, then you will rest at the hotel.
Dinner will be at the local restaurant in Sapa before going to Lao Cai railway station to get on night train. Arrive in Lao Cai railway station, you will get on and will sleep on the night train tonight.
Overnight on the local night train, private cabins-2 per berth.
Day 10
Hanoi – Tho ha village & city tour [b/l/d]
Early arrive in Hanoi railway station and drive straight to a local restaurant for breakfast.
After breakfast, leave Hanoi for Tho Ha village to see the local people make dry pancakes or rice wafers.
After that (If the local working, good weather, strong sun, you can take pictures of the people drying incense at the Quang Phu Cau village).
Your lunch will be at the local restaurant (in Ha Noi or in Bac Ninh, subject to availability)
After lunch, take pictures of the bamboo fishing basket village in Hung Yen province. Walk around the railway track street. Photograph reflection of the back houses in the water.
Get back to Hanoi for a rest before having dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Day 11 —May 15th
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
• Accommodations/shared double, 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 (if we use one): Hanoi – Lao Cai, private cabin- 2 per cabin
• 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, laundry-Participants must bring a refillable bottle for water as single use plastic bottles are banned.
• Early check-in or late check-outs
• Tip for guide and drivers-- approximately $350pp
Single Supplement:
Single supplements are available for the entire trip (except for the one night on the train) 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: $1400.00
Deposit Info:
A $2000.00 deposit is required to hold your spot for this tour. Please make that payment on this page. 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.
Final payment due by July 15, 2023
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.
