Compare Vietnam Photo Adventure Vacations by Photo Workshop Adventures vs Cycle Northern Vietnam by Intrepid Travel
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
|
4.5 | Great
|
| Duration | 9 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 5,995 | $ 1,068 |
| Price Per Day | $ 666 | $ 142 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included |
8 Breakfasts and 2 Dinners |
N/A |
| Description |
This is not your father’s Vietnam. Things have changed, and fast. Vietnam is one of SE Asia’s fastest growing economies, and our visit here will show plenty of evidence of that. But there is also lots of history on display in Old Vietnam, with substantial French colonial influence, and remnants of the American War everywhere. This impressively resilient country will surprise you at every corner. Not only is it physically beautiful (amazing beaches, rice fields carved from mountains), but it’s also historically fascinating, and the people have a charm about them that will leave you with photographs and memories forever. The Vietnam that is emerging today may well surprise you. It’s found a way to embrace it’s history will still managing to grow at a pace that is envied all over SE Asia. We will experience the legendary Vietnam hospitality, bear witness to it’s beautiful people, and breathe in it’s culture through historical sites and incredible beauty. With 1000-year-old cities that appear both ancient and incredibly modern at the same time, it’s easy to see how this country will become one of the most important places in the region. |
More than 30 million Vietnamese can't be wrong – handle-bar height gives you the best view of Vietnam! On this seven-day cycling trip through the north, you’ll meet locals and experience their culture in a way that otherwise wouldn't be possible. Get started in bustling Hanoi, where you can discover the Old Quarter’s ‘36 Streets’ and fuel up on multiple Bahn mis, then make your way to UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, down country lanes and through spectacular mountain scenery. You’ll stay in a traditional homestay with friendly hosts, ride through the gorgeous landscapes of Pu Luong and Cuc Phuong National Park and spend a night on serene waters under the stars. |
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Meals: Dinner
We meet in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s southern capital city. After we are settled into our classic hotel in the city centre, we will discuss PWA’s “10 guiding principles of photography” as well as our “The Art of Seeing” photographic technique. During our “Welcome Dinner” in one of Ho Chi Minh City’s best French-Vietnamese restaurants, we will have informal discussions about what our guests are trying to achieve in their photography, subject matters, styles and techniques. A walking tour of the downtown area at night will allow us to shoot the crowded city streets and abundant late day activities.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Meals: Breakfast
There is a lot to see in Ho Chi Minh City, particularly historical districts and buildings. Among the highlights would be the Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Central Post Office that was designed by Gustave Eiffel (remember the French influence?). We will also have a chance to visit one of the large open markets as well. We will venture up to the observation deck of Bitexco Financial Tower. With breathtaking views of the city and surrounding areas, it’s a fitting tribute to the modern Vietnam that lives today.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City - Hội An
Meals: Breakfast
We head to the HCMC airport in the morning, and take a short flight to Danang. After our arrival in Danang, it’s a quick 40 km journey through the beautiful countryside to Hội An, on the central coast, where we will settle into our hotel on the waterfront. Hội An is a UNESCO world heritage site, and maintains much of it’s old charm from when it was one of the busiest ports in all of Asia, centuries ago. The market and harbor at night are highlights for photographs. We’ll catch Hội An at blue hour, when it looks it’s best. In the evening, we’ll get a chance to share our photos and discuss techniques with one another.
Day 4: Hội An – Sapa
Meals: Breakfast
We have the morning to explore more of Hội An, and after lunch have a flight up to Hanoi, in order to catch a luxurious overnight train to Sapa, a small mountain village near the border with China. Sapa is a strong contrast to the bustling life of large cities in Vietnam. In Sapa, we will have wonderful opportunities to see ancient village life among the hill tribes. This village of roughly 7000 is at a high elevation and boasts beautiful landscapes filled with terraced rice paddies. It’s considered the most picturesque in the region. Because of the elevation, it’s a pretty wet climate and rain and fog is abundant during much of the year. Expect to see some of the most beautiful parts of inland Vietnam here.
Day 5: Sapa
Meals: Breakfast
Our first full day in Sapa will concentrate on photographing the Hill Tribes in the villages around the area. There are many ethnic minorities in this part of Vietnam, many of which are not seen anywhere else. Rural life here dates back centuries and generations, and it’s etched on the faces of the locals and their children. Our evenings will be spent in comfort in our hilltop hotel, overlooking the Sapa valley, and allow us to share our experiences and photographs.
Day 6: Sapa
Meals: Breakfast
Our second day in Sapa will allow us to spend time seeking out the best views of the terraces that layer the hillsides of this region. Taking a journey through the mountainous community to visit markets and interact with colorful locals, will provide you with images you will always cherish. It’s the people of Sapa that will be what you remember the most from your time here.
Day 7: Sapa – Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast
Our final day in Sapa will allow us to spend time in a local market with the Hmong people, in their colorful dress. So much of their culture is centered around traditional family roles, farming and selling their produce. We’ll venture up the mountainside in search of the best views overlooking the terraced rice fields, carved out centuries ago. Tonight, we will embark on the journey south by the overnight train to bring us back to Hanoi, arriving rested and ready for the day ahead.
Day 8: Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Our day in Hanoi will be filled with a lot of amazing images from the streets of this cosmopolitan city. We will get to explore both the Old Quarter and French Quarter, along with West Lake, the HCM mausoleum, and the notorious Hanoi Hilton prison. Seeing this city by day will open up many opportunities to see the modern and the colonial city scenes. Hanoi is a very modern city with a long history that is clearly evident. After returning to our hotel, we prepare for a festive “Farewell Dinner” at one of Hanoi’s best restaurants. Here we will discuss the events of the trip, share our favorite photos and enjoy the fun and laughter.
Day 9: Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast
Our journey comes to an end today, but only after we have one last chance to observe the charm of this wonderful city. Hanoi awakens early, and the streets are buzzing by sunrise. Locals are exercising on the streets, alone and in groups. Food vendors are everywhere, and we will be too. A farewell to our guests over breakfast and a chance to exchange contact information and share some of the photographs we’ve experience over the past 9 days.
Day 1 Hanoi
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in capital city Hanoi, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, you might like to stretch your legs with a walk around the shaded boulevards or a squat on a street-corner stool and tuck into a bia hoi (freshly brewed draught beer) in the Old Quarter – in these ancient ’36 Streets’, you can discover an amazing selection of shops that sell everything from souvenirs to silk clothing, jewellery, embroidered tablecloths, wood carvings and lacquerware. If you are bringing your own bicycle with you, you’ll need to assemble it today to check for any damage. After your meeting, maybe head out with your local leader and group for a welcome dinner and try some of Vietnam’s famed cuisine.
Day 2 Hanoi city ride
This morning, you’ll get the chance to explore the Vietnamese capital by bike on a guided ride through the city. Hanoi is the perfect city to explore on two wheels, so this is the perfect place to get to grips with Vietnamese street life and traffic. You’ll ride through parks, around lakes and down tree-lined boulevards to iconic sights. Explore the vibrant colours of the Old Quarter then make the most of your free afternoon. You could walk around Hoan Kiem Lake or dive into local culture at the Vietnam Fine Art Museum. Top off the day with a steaming bowl of fresh Pho from a hole-the-wall eatery – the street food in Hanoi is not to be missed!
Day 3 Mai Chau Cycling
Leave Hanoi behind and travel by bus to Hoa Binh. When you arrive, you’ll jump on your bike and cycle to Cao Phong, through small ethnic Thai villages and paddy fields. Limestone peaks climb in the background and banks of green line the road, so you’ll take regular stops to admire the view across the valleys. When you arrive in Cao Phone, take a short bus ride, stopping for lunch at Man Duc. After you fuel up, the bus will take you to the Da River Reservoir. Cycle along the Da River, past the karst cliffs, beside green paddy fields and into the panorama of the Mai Chau valley. The town of Mai Chau is surrounded by green mountains and is famed for its breathtaking scenery and friendly hilltribe peoples. Tonight, you’ll enjoy local hospitality in a simple stilt-house homestay in the village of Poom Coong. Your amicable hosts will cook up a traditional meal, and there may even be a chance to sample some of the local rice wine that’s produced in the region.
Day 4 Pu Luong National Park Cycling
This morning, say farewell to your homestay hosts and cycle from Mai Chau to Mai Hai, then on to Pu Luong National Park. Ride through more paddy fields and test your skills (or suspension) with the shallow potholes on the road. Pass pineapple farms and the farmers riding atop their load drawn by water buffalo. Cycle through small towns, green fields, limestone mountains, tranquil waterways and many historic sites. See everyday rural life in action and take in the beautiful countryside as you wave to the locals.
Day 5 Cuc Phuong National Park/Tam Coc Cycling
Over two rides today, you’ll cycle from Pu Luong to Cuc Phuong National Park – Vietnam’s first and largest national park, opened by Ho Chi Minh himself. This is one of the most important conservation sites in the country and home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. You’ll cycle through some of Vietnam’s most spectacular views, riding in between limestone peaks that emerge from the rice paddies. If the weather permits, there will be an option to visit the famed Hang Mua caves/viewpoint. After a while of riding, you’ll then board the support vehicle to miss the busy traffic, before it's back on the bikes for another leg. After lunch with a view, reboard the support vehicle and cruise all the way to Tam Coc.
Day 6 Halong Bay & Ninh Binh Cycling
Enjoy one final early morning ride through the beautiful green scenery of the Ninh Binh Province, along the banks of the duck-filled Hoang Long River to the Bai Ding Buddhist Temple. Here, you’ll bid farewell to the cycling support team and transfer by minivan to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. Climb aboard a traditional junk-style boat and venture out into the emerald waters of the bay. The boat will glide through the often misty waters, past limestone peaks that jut dramatically out of the water. The area was created over thousands of years by waves and wind, and you’ll explore the best of it, both by boat and on your own two feet. Visit the caverns of Surprise Cave and get the blood pumping up and down the many staircases, then sail past the enigmatic Ga Choi Islet to your kayaking excursion straight into Luon Cave. In the warmer months, you’ll make a stop at either Ti Top Island or Soi Sim Island before spending the night aboard the boat beneath the starry night sky.
Day 7 Halong Bay & Hanoi
After a night beneath the stars on the still waters of Ha Long Bay, you’ll cruise back to the mainland, taking in all the amazing scenery one last time. Then, head back to Hanoi, arriving in the early evening. When you arrive back in the bustling capital, maybe head down to the markets for some last-minute souvenir shopping or visit to one of the city's many fascinating museums, like the Fine Art Museum, Women's Museum or Museum of Ethnology. Toast the end of this active adventure with an optional farewell group dinner.
Day 8 Hanoi
There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay in Hanoi, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
