Cover the country from the Mekong Delta in the far south to the misty mountains of the north, stopping off at markets, temples, pagodas and palaces on the way. Meet renowned local figures who have elevated photography into an art form
Day
Itinerary
Hotel
1
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)
Arrive at the airport, check in hotel followed by orientation tour of the city. Evening, welcome dinner at the Ancient Town restaurant with well-known Saigonese photographers including Mr. Hoang The Nhiem, Ms. Dao Hoa Nu and Mr. Nguyen Dang.
Overnight in Saigon (D)
Capture an ancient world in SaiGon on the next day
2
Saigon
Full day tour visiting historic landmarks, including walking tour for photo opportunities to old Saigon post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace and possibly the War Remnants Museum, where a collection of war photographs is now on display. Visit the Saigon Association of Photographic Artists to interact with Mr. Nguyen Dang, the director. Lunch is at the traditional Vietnamese Kinh Bac restaurant. Afternoon, visit Cholon Chinese district, established for over 200 years and largely unchanged with its old temples and houses, with many photo opportunities of local life. Dinner is at the home of Mr. Cuong, former UPI photographer who took the picture of the first NVA tank entering the former Presidential Palace.
Overnight in Saigon (B, L, D)
3
Cu Chi & Tay Ninh
Drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Cu Chi, with stops for photo opportunities and a visit to a rice paper-making village. Experience the underground village of Cu Chi, a network of tunnels built by guerrilla fighters. Drive another hour and a half to Tay Ninh to visit the incredible Cao Dai Great Temple, with architecture that could have come straight from a Walt Disney fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world blend together in a unique religious cocktail. Lunch at a local restaurant. Drive back to Saigon; balance of the afternoon for wandering about Saigon to shoot photos. Dinner at the Rex rooftop Vietnamese restaurant with traditional music performance.
Overnight in Saigon (B, L, D)
4
Can Tho – Saigon
Cruise to Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets where the local people gather on the river to trade fruit and vegetables and other farm products. Drive back to Saigon with a lunch stop at My Tho. Dinner at hotel.
Overnight in Saigon (B, L, D)
5
Saigon – Danang (Air) – Hoi An
Flight to Danang. Visit Cham Museum, Marble Mountain and China Beach before driving 30 km to Hoi An. Hoi An, now a charming small town with an eccentric architectural mix, was a major international trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries. Check in at hotel followed by lunch at Pho Hoi restaurant. Afternoon, walking tour of the narrow cobblestone streets visiting former merchants’ houses, pagodas, the Japanese covered bridge and the colorful local market. Take a boat ride down the Thu Bon River to visit traditional pottery and boat-building villages. Dinner at hotel.
Overnight in Hoi An (B, L, D)
6
Danang – Hue
Depart for Hue, the former Imperial capital of Vietnam. The route climbs over Hai Van Pass with its spectacular panorama of the coastline before dropping down to the photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch there. Drive on to Hue, check in at hotel and take a cyclo ride around the city to photograph the romantic French colonial villas along the Perfume River and the central market. Evening, dinner at Club Garden restaurant hosted by well-known local photographers.
Overnight in Hue (B, L, D
7
Hue
Dragon boat ride to Con Hen island and Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s best preserved religious monument. Drive to Imperial Citadel. Lunch at the Thuong Tu pancake restaurant. Afternoon, visit the elaborate royal tombs and then drive up Vong Canh hill for a spectacular view of the upper Perfume River. Evening, royal dinner at the An Dinh Palace in royal costume.
Overnight in Hue (B, L, D)
8
Hue – Hanoi (Air)
Flight to Hanoi. Tour of this charming city visiting the One Pillar Pagoda, Fine Arts Museum, the Temple of Literature and Hoan Kiem Lake. Lunch at Hoa Sua catering school and restaurant. Afternoon, wander through the old quarter of 36 streets with their 36 trades, with a visit to an ancient house followed by a visit to the home of one of Hanoi’s most celebrated photographers. Evening, cocktail party with members of the Hanoi Association of Photographic Artists at Seasons of Hanoi restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi (B, L, D)
9
Hanoi – Lao Cai
Early morning, walk to Hoan Kiem Lake to see local seniors practicing a rigorous version of tai chi. After breakfast, depart for Tay Phuong pagoda, 40 km southwest of Hanoi, followed by a relaxing hike with photo opportunities through rice paddies and villages to the Thay pagoda, home of the traditional art of water puppetry. Picnic lunch in the pagoda. Return to Hanoi for a
private water puppet show at Truong Chinh Theater. Dinner at Le Tonkin French colonial Vietnamese restaurant. Transfer to the train station for the overnight journey to Lao Cai.
Overnight on train (B, L, D)
10
Lao Cai – Sapa
Arrive in the early morning at Lao Cai near the Chinese border, and transfer to our private car for the scenic drive to the hill station of Sapa, with spectacular views of rice-terraced mountains and Black H’mong and Red Dao hill tribes people dressed in their colorful clothes walking along the road. After checking into the hotel and breakfast, walk through the market, where hill tribes people from far-off villages converge, down to a Black H’Mong village. Back to town for a late lunch at a local restaurant. Balance of the day free to explore the town. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Sapa (B, L, D)
11
Sapa – Lao Cai – Hanoi
Morning drive to Bac Ha, 130 km from Sapa, to visit its colorful market where the Flower H’mong people gather to exchange goods. After lunch at Tran Sin restaurant, there is an optional walking excursion to take photos of the rural life of the northern hill tribes people. Late afternoon, drive to Lao Cai for an overnight train back to Hanoi.
Overnight on train (B, L)
12
Hanoi – Halong
Early arrival in Hanoi. Breakfast in hotel, then drive 160 km to Halong City with a coffee break en route at a handicraft village. Board our private junk for a 4-hour cruise through spectacular Halong Bay, visiting caves and grottos. Fresh seafood lunch served on board. Back to the dock late in the afternoon. Dinner at hotel.
Overnight in Halong City (B, L, D)
13
Halong – Hanoi
Early morning, transfer to the dock for a 2 hour cruise to enjoy sunrise on the bay. Breakfast at the hotel before returning to Hanoi with a stop en route at the pottery village of Bat Trang. Lunch at Cha Ca restaurant. Arrive in Hanoi in the early afternoon, followed by last-minute shopping. Evening, farewell dinner at Indochine Restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi (B, L, D)
14
Departure
Free until transfer to the airport for departure flight.
End of services (B
