Photographic Exploration Of Northeast Vietnam

To be on a cyclo (pedi cab) is one of the best ways to discover the older parts of Hanoi, namely the Old Quarter and the Colonial Quarter . You will quicly get an idea of what is where and have a general idea of the city’ spirit. You will also have a stroll around the lovely Hoan Kiem lake to meet a sample of Hanoians, and very possibly  some nervous grooms and brides-to-be on their wedding album shooting. Go accross the photogenic red bridge to have a visit of 17th century Ngoc Son temple on an islet at one corner  of the lake. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a nice restaurant.

Take a full day to explore Hanoi by bicycle on your own, Hanoi is a city that have a history of 1000 years. Although vestiges of the earlier periods of its history can hardly be seen apart from archeological exvacations, the cultural depth of Hanoi can be felt here and there as you go around, entering some pagodas and temples,  contemplating some old trees or encountering some people... There is also much heritage of a more recent past. The many different facets of this capital are to be discovered and captured by your camera.

In the morning, depart for Ha giang, a seven-hour drive. Ha giang is the northenmost province of Vietnam, possessing some of the country’s most beautiful lanscapes. Up to now,the province is still untouched by mass tourism, but hurry! The recent recognization of Dong Van plateau as a member of the World Geo Parks will soon attract an inflow of visitors, which won’t affect the beauty of the place, but might diminish to some extent the authentic aspect of the experience.

As you approach Ha giang city, you will meet some ethnic minority people on the road. You wil arrive in Me village of Ha Giang in the middle afternoon. The rest of the afternoon is free time to wander around the village, photograph local life and watch people working in their rice fields. You will have a home-stay in the village.

Ha Giang city is only a technical stop. The best of Ha Giang is still ahead. After breakfast, we’ll head for Heaven’s Gate, the peak of the highest mountain in the area, before reaching Quan Ba, Yen Minh and Dong Van towns. On the 165 km drive you will discover limestone peaks touching the skies located among stone forests. This spectacular landscape from the visitor’s point of view is however a chalenge for the people who have to live, and make a living in it. The H’Mong tribe, main dwellers in this remote and wild region have learned to adapt to their rough environment over time. They have become one with it and are indeed an inseparable part of the area’s beauty. After visiting Yen Minh town, we continue driving to Pho Bang, an old district with many stone houses and the villa of the Vuong Chi Sinh Royal family, whose architecture is a mixture between Chinese and European styles, which shows the H’Mong people’s creative construction arts. Arrive in Dong Van town in the afternoon.

This morning you will be transferred out of Dong Van town to Ma Le hill tribe market. Located about 12 km from town, this small market will provide you with a very colourful and nearly unspoiled spectacle of trading activities among ethnic minorities within the area. Many of the items being traded are home-made products. There are also live pigs, chickens, dogs that have walked all the way from nearby mountains to the market with their masters.  Women of all ages and tribes are dressed up in their respective traditional costumes. It is a real treat for photographers! After lunch, continue on to a nearby village for visiting and photographing. Back to the Dong Van town at the end of the afternoon.

 Be ready early in the morning to witness one more exciting local market: Dong Van market. After time for taking pictures at the market, we depart in the direction of Meo Vac – the town of Lo Lo and Pu Peo ethnic minority people. These two groups are renown for having the most beautiful traditional costumes of all the hill tribes in the area. The scenery along the road today is magnificent, impressive sights of mountains that will stay long in your memories. The area is sparsely populated, there is little traffic and an immense wildness. You will stop on the way to have lunch in a local restaurant then continue in the direction of Ha Giang. At your arrival, if time permits, transfer to Thon Tha village to observe the local stilt houses of the past century. Visit Green Palm Trees Hill and enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding rice-terraced fields.

After breakfast, take a last walk around the village for photographs, then say goodbye to the host family and start the seven-hour drive back to Hanoi. Stops along the road will let you stretch your legs. Lunch en route. Arrive back to Hanoi in the afternoon, check in to the hotel, and relax.

After breakfast, we take the new road to Ha Long Bay and arrive at noon. Board a beautiful wooden junk for an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay with an excellent menu of fresh seafood. Ha Long bay is a Worl Natural Heritage,  a place of beauty and inspiration. We first cruise to Cam Na village, where you will have 30 minutes to take photos of the village and residents’ daily activities. Then we’ll move to Titop Island. It’s a bit touristy, but it is the best place for a panoramic shot in Ha Long Bay. From the very top of the mountain, you can view Ha Long in four directions. Dinner and overnight on boat.

Your boat will keep moving to the Dau Be area. The fishing people in Halong bay are descendents of the fishermen who have been living here for generations. This tough, special life has resulted in particular expressions on their face, as though they could be read into lives. You’ll kayak to Dau Be floating village to take photographs, and head back to the boat for lunch. In the afternoon, kayak to the lagoon, Ba Men fishing village and Be Men temple to visit and take photographs. 

After breakfast and a morning swim, continue your cruise back to the pier, where you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then transfer directly to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight.