Day 1 Hanoi - Arrival [-/-/D] 05 May 2027

Meet up with our professional photography guide upon arrival in Hanoi/Nội Bài International airport, transfer to the hotel for check in. (Check-in time: 14:00 pm). Enjoy free time. Welcome dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the Le Jardin Haute Couture hotel in Hanoi

Day 2 Hanoi - Tho Ha - Quang Phu Cau – Hanoi [B/L/D]

After breakfast, we will leave Hanoi for Tho Ha village to see the local people making dry pancakes or rice wafers. Then, we will photograph people drying incense in the Quang Phu Cau village. Lunch at a local restaurant in Hanoi.

In the afternoon, we will photograph the oldest and most famous pagoda in Ha Noi. Dinner will be at a local restaurant before coming back to the hotel for the night. Overnight at the Le Jardin Haute Couture hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3 Hanoi - Hung Yen - Lao Cai [B/L/D]

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out. We will photograph the daily local street vendors who sell fruits, vegetables... on their bicycle in Hanoi before leaving Hanoi for Hung Yen where we will photograph at the bamboo fishing basket village. Lunch boxes will be prepared by the hotel. Then, we will have a chance to photograph the process of making soy sauces in Hung Yen province. Next, we will go back to Ha Noi to photograph the Long Bien (oldest bridge) in blue hour. Dinner will be arranged at the local restaurant, and you will have free time until our departure to Ha Noi railway station to catch a night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the local night train, private cabins (2 pax sharing one compartment meant for four). Our local guide will escort us onboard.

Day 4 Lao Cai - Sapa - Ban Ho - Ta Phin Village  Sapa [B/L/D]

Arrive at Lao Cai station around 6 AM, drive to Sapa town for your breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, proceed from Sapa to Ban Ho, taking time to explore and photograph landscapes, 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 will go to shoot sunset at the O Quy Ho pass in the afternoon. If the weather is unpredictable, you can capture the reflection of the town). Dinner will be served at a local restaurant. Overnight at the Amazing hotel in Sapa

Day 5 Sapa - Ban Xeo - Muong Hum - Sapa - Hanoi by overland [B/L/D]

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out. We will leave early in the morning for Muong Hum where we will see large rice terraces which takes about 2 hours. Arrive there and spend sometime shooting the rice terraces at the top of the valley. Return to Sapa for lunch at a local restaurant. Then, we leave Sapa for Ha Noi by private vehicle, which takes about 4 hours. Arrive in Ha Noi to check in and have dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the Le Jardin Haute Couture hotel in Hanoi.

Day 6 Hanoi - Hue [B/L/D]

Because of our early domestic flight (included) we will have breakfast boxes prepared for us by our hotel.  Leave Ha Noi for Hue the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive in Hue city and transfer to our hotel. We will have a little time to unpack before going to photograph the models inside the Imperial Citadel, at the Tu Duc Tomb. If time permits, Khai Dinh Tomb. Next, we will capture local fishermen throwing large fishing nets into the water. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then, we will take pictures of models sitting on a boat as they drop paper lanterns into the water (this will be later in the afternoon). After shooting, dinner will be served at a local restaurant. Overnight at the Eldora hotel in Hue.

Day 7 Hue - Hoi An [B/L/D]

Wake up early in the morning, capture pictures of the Dam Chuon lagoon at sunrise where we can see the fishermen and the local people buying and selling their goods. Back to the hotel for breakfast and check out. Next, we will leave Hue for Hoi An by private vehicle, taking about 3 hours, stopping to break along the way. We will stop for some sightseeing at the village in An Bang in Vietnam.

Depart from Hue to Danang via the picturesque Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds) moving through many pretty red-tiled villages where we will enjoy spectacular views of the sea and the sky. Arrive in Hoi An, the UNESCO The World Heritage Site of old Hoi An was once the busiest port on the South China Sea, ruled by the Champa Dynasty for 14 centuries. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Hoi An before shooting the local people making lanterns by hand to supply at the market. If time permits, we will see the local fisherman washing fishnets in the golden hour in the afternoon by private vehicle. Dinner will be served at the local restaurant tonight. Overnight at the hotel River Suites Hoi An.

Day 8 Hoi An - Danang [B/L/D]

Sunrise photo shoot with local fishermen as they cast their huge nets into the water. A timeless and beautiful representation of the local culture of the region. This unique opportunity captures the true spirit of the local people and their way of life to make a living on a daily basis. Breakfast will be served at the hotel followed by free time to explore on your own until noon. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in Hoi An. After that, we will leave Hoi An for Da Nang by private vehicle. Next, check into the hotel and rest a bit before going to shoot the monkeys which are called Red-shanked douc langur on the islands. After shooting, dinner will be at the local restaurant before coming back to the hotel. Overnight at the Brilliant hotel in Da Nang.

Day 9 Danang - Saigon [B/L/D]

Wake up early in the morning to photograph the Red-shanked doucs on the Son Tra islands one more time before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Check out of the hotel and drive to the airport to fly to Saigon. Our domestic flight is around 10:00am. On arrival in Saigon, we will go directly to the local restaurant to have lunch. After lunch, we will visit the monks and many of the followers to gather for prays at the pagoda. Then, check into the hotel and rest a bit if time permits. Next, we take photos of the crazy traffic jams in Saigon city in the afternoon. Dinner will be arranged at the local restaurant. Overnight at the Central Palace hotel.

Day 10 Saigon - Ben Tre - Long An [B/L/D]

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. We will leave Saigon city for Ben Tre which will take about 2 hours by private vehicles. Arrive in Ben Tre. Here we will take a boat trip along the Mekong river where we can photograph the local people making, processing coconuts for many different purposes. Bến Tre is located in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, which is known as the “Kingdom of Coconuts.” With its fertile land and dense river network, the province is ideal for growing coconuts. For generations, local people have used every part of the coconut—flesh, water, shell, and fiber—to create a wide range of products. We can see families making coconut candy, coconut oil, dried coconut, and handicrafts from coconut shells.... Even the husk is processed into coir fiber, ropes, mats, and eco-friendly items. Coconut processing is not just an industry here—it is deeply connected to the daily life, culture, and identity of Bến Tre. After shooting, lunch will be arranged by a local restaurant. Then, back to Long An province where we will have dinner and stay overnight at our hotel in Long An.

Day 11 Long An - Saigon [B/L/D]

Wake up early and capture the local people washing water lilies before selling them at the market and delivering them to the local restaurant. Back to the hotel for breakfast before moving to Saigon. If time permits, we can photograph monks and nuns at the biggest University of Buddhism, they both study and have lunch together in Binh Chanh District. Lunch will be arranged at the restaurant in Saigon city before checking into our hotel. Then, we will photograph cityscapes in Saigon in the afternoon. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the Central Palace hotel.

Day 12 Saigon - Departure [B/-/-] 16 May 2027

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Free time at your leisure until check out at noon where we will say our goodbyes before transferring to Tan Son Nhat International airport for a departure flight back home or to your next destination.

Included:

English speaking, licensed professional guide.

All Accommodations

Group transfer to and from airport.

All ground transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Train Hanoi - Lao Cai in private cabin with 2 persons per cabin.

All entrance fees

All applicable taxes and service charges

Meals as indicated in the program (food only). Example [B/L/D] = breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Domestic airfare included: Hanoi - Hue and Danang - Ho Chi Minh.

All local models, boats, fishermen, entrance fees, motorbikes... mentioned in the program.

Voluntary Carbon Offset Compensation: USD1.50 per person per day.

Excluded:

International flights

Additional transportation cost – if you don’t make the group transfers.

Vietnamese E-visa; Visa approval letter and Visa stamping fee.

Personal expenses such as other meals, drinks, mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program.

Tips for guide and driver. Suggested total tip $250.00pp

International travel and medical insurance coverage for customers.

*We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this tour.

*We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the tour in case of unfavorable weather

conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of everyone.

*A detailed information sheet will be sent upon sign up.

Deposit Information:A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 due now to hold your spot. Final payments are due January 15, 2026 via check or wire transfer only, fees on both ends are the responsibility of the participant. Credit cards will not be accepted for any payment other than deposit. Full payments are always welcomed via check or wire transfer . All checks made payable to: Denise Ippolito LLC. Please note that I will do my very best to secure you a room mate; if I am unable to secure you a room mate then you will be charged for a single supplement.

Please be sure to check your calendar carefully and to check out my Workshop Policy Page.

Note: Purchasing travel insurance is strongly recommended.