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Photography tour - 14 days

A photography focused trip capturing Vietnam's beauty from the wonders of nature to the works of man, from images of Vietnam's UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it's unique cities to stories of a land and a culture that are known to few. The trip features the spectacular Ha Long Bay, the magnificient mountains and rice terraces of Sapa, the Royal Citadel and vast and beautiful imperial tombs of Hue, the living jewel of Hoi An with blending cultures and architecture of of east and west, and the unique life and culture on the Mekong river and delta.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi. After clearing customs and immigration, meet your tour guide and tranfer the city center for hotel check in and relax. Accommodation in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour

City tour of Hanoi, the convergence of thousand years of history through many dynasties till French colonized stage then American’s until now. Your guide will show you every corners of Hanoi with different architectures: classic French style to typical Chinese and Vietnamese architecture: charming French villas, tub houses in the Old Quarter, temples, pagodas and lakes, among which is the legendary Hoan Kiem lake, the symbol of the city right at the heart of Hanoi, the famous Tran Quoc pagoda and Temple of Literature, and the vibrant French Quarters with many schools of that have been built throughout the years. Accommodation in Hanoi (B,L).

Note: Hochiminh Mausoleum and Museum are closed on Mondays and Fridays)

Day 3: Hanoi - Halong

Depart at 8am for a 3.5 hour drive through the picturesque countryside to Ha Long Bay. Along the way see the farms and rice fields and villages of the north-east. Board the traditional junk at Ha Long wharf about noon. Have a welcome drink and lunch on board. The cruise will take you by exotic islets jutting out of the sea, shaped like dogs, incense urns, sails and fighting cocks, naturally formed as the seawater erodes the limestone mountains. Your tour guide and crew will advise you the best corners to get extraodinary images of Halong Bay from exotic lagoons, amazing caves to smiley, friendly people, floating school, sampan markets and more. Enjoy fresh delicious seafood dinner and overnight on board. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Halong - Hanoi - Sapa

Early morning you can enjoy and take wonderful pictures of the sunrise, quite breath-taking beauty of the Bay's lanscape. After breakfast, continue exploring the fantastically-shaped islets, visit floating houses and picturesque fishing villages and pearl farms. An early lunch is served before disembarking the boat at noon.

Drive back to Hanoi with optional stop at Phu Lang Pottery village which dates back from the 15th century, this is a good chance to take pictures of hard-working artistic talented people with their beautiful works. Refresh and dinner in town before transfering to the train station for the night train to Sapa. (B, L)

Day 5: Sapa

Arrive in Lao Cai in the early morning. Drive up hill to Sa Pa (1 hour), giving you a glimpse of stunning scenery and impressive rice terraces. Leave the lugguge at hotel (check in time is 14.00), then take a short walk around to explore Sapa town. After lunch, trek down to Cat Cat village, home of the Black H' Mong tribe and learn about architectures, culture and custom. Then trek back to Sapa town. Accommodation in Sapa. (B,L)

Day 6: Sapa

Today we get more chances to take thousand of valued images of wonderful landscapes, colorful, friendly hill tribe people. Accommodation in Sapa. ( B)

Day 7: Sapa - Bac Ha - Hanoi (sunday)

After breakfast, drive to Bac Ha market - the area's biggest hill-tribe market only held on Sundays. The market is a picture that reflects the life and culture of the hill tribes: They go to the market not only for buying and selling stocks but also to meet their friends and lovers; they come to eat traditional dishes and drink their typical corn wine. You might have chance to see many of them hangover after the market on the way home. Lunch in a restaurant. Transfer back to Lao Cai station to catch night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on board (B, L,D).

Day 8: Hanoi - Hue

Arrive in Hanoi at about 5.30am. This is a good chance to see Hanoi's activities in the early morning: doing Taichi around Hoan Kiem lake, busy morning market. Enjoy a bowl of famous Pho Hanoi before transfering to Noi Bai airport for 1hour flight to Hue.

Arrive in Hue, take a sightseeing tour along the tranquil Perfume River and through the high-walled Imperial Citadel. Accommodation in Hue. (B)

Day 9: Hue - Hoian

Continue to visit two of the finest examples of Imperial architecture, the tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. After lunch, enjoy a wonderful drive along the scenic coast, passing through spectacular Hai Van Pass, "the pass in the clouds" and delightful Lang Co Beach. Tour the famous Cham museum where you can see most of the remaining master pieces of Champa Kingdom, an Indianised culture that flourished from the 2 nd to the 15 th AD. Continue on to Hoi An - the charming ancient town, famous as the 17th century trading port of Fai Fo, with its fascinating mix of Chinese, Japanese and French architecture. Accommodation in Hoi An. (B,L)

Day 10: Hoi An

Hoi An appeared on ancient South East Asia maps as one of the major trading ports from 15th to 17th century. It is a lovely ancient town withnarrow streets lined with buildings representing a mix of architectural styles, some of which are not seen anywhere else in Vietnam today. Have a walking tour of this historic town and visit some of the highlights, including the Temples of Phuc Kien and Quang Dong, and the 16th century Japanese Covered Bridge. Visit a local home and watch them make their famous silk lanterns. Accommodation in Hoian. (B)

Day 11: Hoi An - My son

Morning drive to My Son, a UNESCO’s World Heritage site 50km south-west of Hoi An. You will be powerfully moved by your visit to the Cham Holy Land. The ruins of My Son are the sole remaining trace of the Champa Kingdom, an Indian culture that flourished from the 2nd to the 15th century AD. Afternoon is free at leisure or exploring Cua Dai beach. Overnight in Hoi An. (B,L)

Day 12: Hoian - Saigon

After breakfast, drive to Danang for an one-hour flight to Saigon. After hotel checking in, start exploring the former city Saigon, beginning with a short visit to Ben Thanh market for a panorama of the fresh foods that go into making Vietnam's fabulous cuisine, followed by the city’s most famous examples of French Colonial architecture, including the Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. Accommodation in Saigon (B,L)

Day 13: Saigon - Mekong Delta

After breakfast, depart by car to the "rice basket" of Vietnam - the Mekong Delta where the mighty Mekong River ends its journey from mountain of China to the South China Sea. The delta is a region of extraordinary energy and market commerce, with burgeoning markets, floating markets, fruit orchards, and more coconuts than you'd want to contemplate. We'll be sightseeing by sampan, cruising along the quiet back-roads and canals of the Delta, stopping for lunch of tropical fruits and local specialties. After lunch, continued exploration of the waterfront villages through the vast rice field landscapes and the home of a local farming family. Accommodation in Can Tho.(B,L)

Day 14: Mekong Delta - Saigon

Early morning sampan cruise to Cai Rang floating market, through the waterways, and for a short walk to a rice husking mill and a chance at crossing one of the many bamboo "monkey bridges" along the canals. Lunch featuring specialties of the Mekong. Afternoon return to Saigon. Late afternoon and evening free time for relax on your own. (B,L)

Day 15: Saigon - Depart

After breakfast, free at leisure until tranfser to the airport for your flight home with the memories of a life time. (B)

Quotation in US Dollars per person

valid through 31 October, 2010

Group size

Acomodation

SGL SUP

Deluxe

2,310

1,940

1,805

780

Superior

1,845

1,415

1,302

1,279

407

Includes

Accommodation: 4star (Deluxe option) & 3 star (superior option) shared Double/Twin with daily breakfast,
Vietnamese Meals as mentioned,
Private transportation as per the itinerary
Doomestic flights (economy class),
Private experienced English speaking guides.
Admission/Entrance fees as per the itinerary
Visa on arrival (approval letter)
SOS emmergency Air evacuation service

Excludes