Vietnam adventure
11th March-23rd March 2025 ($5500 double occupancy, $750 Single supplement)
Our journey begins in the city of Hanoi where we can wander the streets of the old quarter, experience the delicious cuisine and visit adjacent villages which offer a window into the artistry of local merchants and their crafts. From Hanoi we will travel to the picturesque rice terraces of Sapa and onward into the mountains that separate Vietnam from China. The misty weather in the mountains during this time of the year will offer the perfect atmosphere for photography of Cao Bang province with its unique geological formations, Quay Son river valley, Ban Gioc waterfall, Fansipan peak, and Nguom Gao cave.
The next leg of the journey takes us to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay. Here we will board our private Signature cruise boat that will take us beyond the crowded areas of Halong Bay to the exclusive Bai Tu Long Bay with dramatic limestone karsts, pristine beaches and traditional fishing villages. We will spend a night on our private cruise boat which gives us the opportunity to photograph both sunset and sunrise of seascapes at this spectacular location far from tourists.
The third leg of our journey will take us to Central Vietnam.
We will be hiking through lush tropical forests to enter the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park which boasts the world's largest cave system. We will spend two days inside the Hang Va cave system including an overnight in comfortable camp inside the cave.This segment has been extremely carefully planned with attention to security and comfort. You will be eating fresh cooked meals, have a toilet tent nearby and expert guidance every step of the way to make sure the experience is beautiful and unforgettable.
Our final departure will be from the city of Hanoi after concluding all three segments hiking, cruising and spelunking portions of the workshop.
Group size is limited to 6 to ensure that everyone receives individual attention.
Please note this workshop will require moderate level of fitness and ability to handle rough terrain. You will have expert guides every step of the way..
During our journey in the field you will learn:
-How to distill the scene before you to create an evocative image.
-Find compelling compositions that convey a strong visual story.
-How to shoot in low light conditions.
-Focus stacking, focal length blend, and perspective blend.
-Mastering the technical details of image capture including bracketing and exposure blend.
-Choice of focal length and creative ways to use lens distortion.
-Using filters.
During the dedicated post processing sessions you will learn:
-How to render colors for color harmony.
-Blend multiple exposures in photoshop.
-Final image rendition for panoramas using Photoshop.
-Learning how to use luminosity masks for tonal adjustments.
-Specific steps that can be taken in post processing to strengthen the visual pathway through your image.
Itinerary
March 11th: Pick up from Noi Bai international airport, Hanoi, and transfer to hotel for lunch.
After lunch, we drive to Quang Phu Cau, the "Incense Village". Known for its colorful arrays of incense sticks drying under the sun, this village offers a unique glimpse into traditional Vietnamese craftsmanship. The small lanes are lined with neatly arranged incense bundles in shades of red and pink, creating stunning photo opportunities. It’s a quiet, authentic place where you can witness artisans at work, and capture the beauty of this time-honored art form. We will spend whole afternoon here and back to Hanoi in the evening. Dinner and overnight in Hanoi.
March 12th: After breakfast, check out your hotel and take a scenic drive to Sapa. While the majority of the day will be spent in the vehicle, we will make stops along the way as we come across photogenic spots. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Sapa. This region is known for its picturesque rice terraces and small villages.
March 13th: All day is spent in exploring picturesque areas such as Lao Chai, Ta Van village, and Ta Giang Phin. Ta Giang Phin valley offers expansive views of rice terraces. The small villages also offer opportunities for cultural photography. Dinner and overnight in Sapa.
March 14th: In the morning, we will take the Fansipan cable car to the summit, the highest peak in Indochina. March weather can bring heavy mist, but if lucky, we will be able to capture stunning views when the clouds part. In the afternoon we drive back to Hanoi, arriving around 8 PM for an overnight stay.
March 15th: A long drive from Hanoi to Cao Bang awaits, but the journey offers stunning views along the way. We will stop at scenic passes along the way for landscape photography. Arrive in Cao Bang in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Cao Bang city.
March 16th: The complete day is dedicated to photographing the breathtaking landscapes of the Cao Bang province, Quay Son river valley, Ban Gioc waterfall and Nguom Gao cave.
March 17th: Leisure day when we drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi city.
March 18th/19th: We embark on our private cruise across Halong Bay spending the night in the exclusive Bai Tu Long Bay far from the touristy spots of Halong Bay. Here we will be able to photography dramatic seascapes both for sunset and sunrise. We will spend one night on the boat in our private cabins and return the next morning to Hanoi. Night of the 18th on Signature cruise, and 19th in hotel in Hanoi.
March 20th: We take the morning flight to Dong Hoi and will be transferred by van to the Phong Nha-Ke National Park. We will spend the night in a comfortable guesthouse and get oriented and outfitted for our cave adventure the next day.
March 21st/22nd: The most exciting and unbelievably beautiful part of our adventure begins. We will be traversing lush tropical rain forest and descending into the subterranean world. The photographic opportunities are truly unique in this location. In order to maximize our opportunity for photography our outfitters will be carrying lights for illuminating the caves. The exceptional cave formations result in spellbinding images unlike anything you may have experienced before. No prior caving experience is needed. There are no harmful predators/pests within the cave system. The passages have been traversed several times and have been established as safe routes. You will have an expert guide by your side to assist you every step of the way. Camping at night inside this cave system and eating delicious fresh cooked meals is truly the adventure of a lifetime. Night of March 21st is spent inside the cave system in comfortable tents. Toilet tents are erected and maintained clean for your convenience. Night of March 22nd is spent back at the beautiful farm guesthouse.
March 23rd: We begin our journey back to Hanoi for international departures. Night of 23rd accommodations are not included in case you wish to depart at a later date.
Detailed packing list will be emailed to participants two months before the start of the workshop. Vietnam visa is required and can be obtained easily through online application. Details of how to do this will be emailed to you upon registration.
Meet
We work with extremely reliable guides and outfitters with several years of experience throughout the duration of this workshop. All outfitters we work with are committed to nature conservation and minimizing the footprint we leave at the places we visit. The guides for the cave adventure have received extensive training and make your safety top priority. Working with local companies every step of the way ensures that we foster friendships and create much needed employment. The people of Vietnam are welcoming, compassionate and friendly and are bound to leave you with a lasting positive impression of this beautiful country.
Included
- Airport transfers
-All domestic transfers including airfare for round trip ticket from Hanoi to Dong Hoi.
-All meals.
-All accommodations during the duration of the workshop March 11th through March 22nd.
-Halong Bay cruise in private cruise boat.
-Visits to local villages for cultural photography.
-Entrance to National parks and other fee operated provinces.
-Expert guides including cave adventure segment.
-Gear outfitting for Hang Va cave adventure.
-Photography instruction both in field as well as post processing sessions.
Not Included
International flight to and from Hanoi. Accomodation for nights before March 11th or after March 22nd. Alcoholic beverages. Tips/gratuity to drivers and guides. Any medical or Misc expenses incurred during the workshop.
Refund Policy
Workshop fee: $5500 (double occupancy), $750 (single occupancy surcharge).
Deposit $1500 due at time of registration.
Full amount due 90 days prior to start of workshop.
If canceled by participant 90 days before start of workshop credit can be applied to future workshops.
If canceled within 90 days of start of workshop refund will be issued only if spot is filled.
If workshop needs to be canceled for unforeseen circumstances such as travel restrictions, pandemic etc. then option will be given for a full refund or postponement to a future date.
Please note that changes may be made to itinerary as needed at the discretion of the tour leader to maximize photographic opportunity and for weather conditions.