Next Photo Tour of Vietnam dates: Spring 2020 Dates TBD
Emerald green terraced rice paddies, colorful floating markets, ancient ruins and magical pagodas, vibrant city life, even the largest caves in the world. Yes, Vietnam has it all.
15 day Vietnam Photo Tour
- Where: Vietnam
- When: Spring 2020 Dates TBD
- Who: You and 11 other photography enthusiasts.
- What: A 15-day photo tour of Vietnam, catering to photographing in the best light of the day, in the field practice in a fun small group setting, with a flexible schedule and customized photography lessons to match the group members!
- Why: Total photography immersion, in a safe environment, with experienced professional photographers providing lots of hands-on help!
How much is this tour?
This tour is designed to offer you both adventure and comfort.
We stay in comfortable and clean rooms in properties with local character and style when possible. All your meals and in-country transport (bus, planes, train, junk) are included.
We also take care of little incidentals like water daily, small change (which you'll need for tips and for visiting the toilet), and snacks on the bus, train and junk have all been taken care of for you for a smooth easy experience.
| Group Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 10 – 12 People Nice group size with a maximum of 12 people |
TBD |
| Small Group Supplement With less than 10 people (8 – 9), a small group fee will apply |
TBD |
Maximum group size: 12
Remaining Spots: 12
This tour is currently closed for registrations but you can join the wait list to be notified if a spot opens, or when the next tour is available for booking.
Members of the wait list will be notified first when registration becomes available.
This is less than many other Vietnam tours which include 15 – 20 people – please look at that when researching and comparing tours!
NOTE: We have lowered the maximum number of participants on this tour to 12. This allows for a smaller, more intimate group in order to give you the best experience. This means you will have more time with the tour leader(s), and a really nice group size.
Single Supplement Price:
- Prices quoted are for double occupancy. NOTE: You will be paired with someone of the same gender if you do not have a travel partner and request a roommate – if one is not available you will be charged the single supplement.
- Price for single room is an additional $695
Do you love to travel? If you are as obsessed with travel and photography as we are then you need to join us on this tour of Vietnam. Not only will you learn how to take better photographs, through the support of our 2 expert teachers, but you can rest assured you will travel to the best locations Vietnam has to offer.
DPM tours are the gold standard as far as I’m concerned
I just came back from a 14-day tour put on by another photographer. Now that I have something to compare to, it made me realize just how good you guys are.
Darlene, your tours are the gold standard as far as I’m concerned.
The Best Light
This photography tour to Vietnam has been especially curated to make sure each day we are photographing in the best light possible.
Over the 15 days, you will learn the best time of day to photograph and how to overcome challenging lighting situations.
Expect fishermen at sunrise, rooftop sunsets, portraits of local people in traditional dress, and explorations into the magical blue hour.
The Best Locations
Where others might go in, we go around. Don’t expect the typical tourist locations.
This is a custom designed travel tour, by a photographer, for photography enthusiasts. What you can expect is a private junk cruise, floating fishing villages, exquisite architecture, and bustling markets.
We have taken the time to ensure our tour allows you to experience the real Vietnam, and not just the picture postcard version.
Less Rushed
Nobody likes to be rushed. On our Photography Tours, we take our time.
By keeping the group sizes small we can be more responsive to each individual's needs. We want to make sure you have time to get the best photographs possible.
That means if you feel like taking a break, and skipping a location or exploring on your own, that’s not a problem. We are here to support your photographic passion, and if that means taking a break that’s fine by us!
Photographers love Vietnam.
Do you want to perfect your landscape photography? How about Vietnam's limestone Islands, surrounded by crystal clear tropical waters as your backdrop.
This captivating Southeast Asian gem – incredibly diverse in landscape – serves up the perfect spots to explore all the photo opportunities you’ve been craving.
Vietnam’s breathtaking countryside, lively cities, delicious street eats, fascinating history, and friendly locals make it one of the world’s most up-and-coming destinations – especially for photographers.
One on One Access to Tour Leader
Come along and join us on a journey through one of the safest and most awe-inspiring destinations in this part of the world.
Your tour leaders are sure to work in some special surprises. Light painting or food photography up your alley? We’ll add in fun, offbeat photo outings to play with specific skills and photo tricks.
We specially-design our tour as a small group experience. You’ll have plenty of room to find just the right light and with a 6:1 ratio of guests to guides, have easy one-on-one access to your experienced tour leader.
We will only be accepting a maximum of 12 photo tour guests.
Improve Your Camera Skills
If you like photo vacations with an emphasis on improving your camera skills at the same time, a smaller group presents a greater chance you’ll learn what you came to – and then some!
Over the course of the tour you will get help in areas you may be struggling with in a small group setting.
This will help maximize your learning opportunities and give you time to get individual help, ask questions, get your images reviewed and allow us to customize the tour dynamically based on guest needs and skill level.
Move Vietnam to the top of your photography list
Vietnam is bursting with astonishing natural beauty.
With dramatic countryside, vibrant cities, 3000 km of tropical coastline, fresh and delicious street food and fascinating culture. Vietnam is the unsung hero of Southeast Asia and one of the world’s most up-and-coming destinations. Vietnam is developing at a staggering rate, so now really is the time to go.
Over the centuries the different civilizations that have called Vietnam home have shaped the architecture, culture and, cuisine. Its rich and complex history is waiting for you to explore. From the French quarter in Hanoi to the Imperial City every place tells a story.
You’ll cruise in a luxury ‘Junk Boat' with 360-degree views of the hundreds of towering island cliffs of Halong Bay. Explore the bustling metropolis of Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi and follow your curiosity through the picturesque mustard-yellow alleyways of colonial Hoi An.
Together we will explore the Imperial City in Hue, and gather photo memories of the impressive waterfalls and colorful flora of Da Lat.
Come along on this exciting, one-of-a-kind photo tour of Vietnam, designed by photographers for photographers of all levels. Vietnam provides the backdrop, all you have to do is take the shot. Will you join us?
I really enjoyed my tour of Morocco
I really needed this opportunity to loose the fear of clicking, to see the camera as a part of my body, a toy I love to play with, a BFF.
What to look for, the details, include people as a point of much interest, how others look at a scene ,bending low, searching other angles, other types of light.
Practicing is much different than simply learning the theory and this photo tour gave me much time to practice.
This is a tentative schedule, may not be exactly as shown here:
- Day 1 – Hanoi (D)
- Upon arrival in Vietnam's capital city Hanoi, you will be met and transferred by van to your hotel, where you will check in and relax for the afternoon. After the welcome meeting and orientation we will head out to dinner at a local restaurant for some traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
Lan Vien Hotel
- Day 2 – Hanoi (B, L, D)
- After an early morning shoot around Ho An Kiem Lake, it’s back to the hotel for a delicious breakfast. The rest of the day will be spent exploring the nearby village of Lang Gom Tho Ha (Đình Thổ Hà), the Temple of Literature and the Old and French quarters of Hanoi. The Evening meal will be a set menu of local food to introduce you to some of Vietnam's most popular dishes.
Lan Vien Hotel
- Day 3 – Hanoi / Ha Long (B, L, D)
- The day will begin early with a visit to photograph Long Biên Bridge. The historic cantilever bridge connects Hoan Kiem and Long Bien across the Red River. It makes for a magical early morning photo shoot. Returning to the hotel for breakfast and to collect your belongings it is time to make our way to Halong Bay. Taking time to stop at a local village along the way we will arrive at our luxury ‘Junk Boat' just in time for lunch. On our private cruise, we will visit a floating fishing village enjoying dinner onboard before retiring for the evening in one of the 10 cabins.
Garden Bay Legend Cruise
- Day 4 – Ha Long / Hanoi / Hue (B, D)
- Returning from our overnight cruise to the pier we head straight for the airport to catch a flight to Hue. Time permitting we will enjoy a picturesque sunset shoot and dinner on the rooftop of the Indochine Palace Hotel.
Indochine Palace Hotel Hue
- Day 5 – Hue / Phu Loc (B, L, D)
- Our fifth day begins with an early morning sunrise shoot. Photographing local fishermen at work. After breakfast, we will visit the Imperial City and Emperor Minh Mang’s Tomb before taking the time to fully explore the local area. Next stop is Puh Loc where we will enjoy both lunch and dinner in local restaurants with free time to take in your new surroundings.
Vedana Lagoon Resort & Spa
- Day 6 – Phu Loc / Hoi An (B, L, D)
- After an early trip to Phu Loc Lagoon, we will stand by to capture the local fishermen returning from their morning excursion, before heading out to the rice fields. As well as taking the time to capture the beauty of the rice fields we will be visiting some local villages on route to Hoi An.
Hoi An Silk Village Resort & Spa
- Day 7 – Hoi An (B, D)
- Catching the early bus to the fishing market we will photograph the hustle and bustle of the early morning trading. After breakfast back at the hotel, it’s time to explore some of the major sightseeing spots in the Ancient town of Hoi An before the midday crowds arrive. In the afternoon, weather permitting, we will take a sunset boat trip to capture the big fishing nets. Returning to dry land just in time to photograph the city during the magical blue hour.
Hoi An Silk Village Resort & Spa
- Day 8 – Hoi An (B, D)
- This morning we travel to the vegetable market to capture the bright colors of the fresh produce.
The rest of the day will be yours to decide. You can choose to take a break, wander on your own, or take some time to shop. The choice is yours.
We will reconvene in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant.
Weather dependent there is also an option of doing a second blue hour shoot. However, this will be up to the group to decide as it will eat into your free time.
Hoi An Silk Village Resort & Spa
- Day 9 – Hoi An / Da Nang / Hanoi / Lao Cai (B, L, D)
- It's time to take it easy after all of those early mornings, so enjoy a lie in and spend the morning relaxing and preparing for a day of traveling. After lunch, we will travel to the airport to take a short flight to Hanoi where you will enjoy some free time before dinner. After dinner, we will be catching the overnight train to Lao Cai with luxury cabins featuring 2 berths each.
Overnight in train, luxury upgrade
- Day 10 – Lao Cai / Can Cau Market / Bac Ha (B, L, D)
- Upon arrival in Lao Cai, we will enjoy breakfast together in a local restaurant before driving to Can Cau for a photo shoot at the market. Next stop is Bac Ha Town to check in to the hotel, and then on to Pho Village well known for the whiskey made from corn.
Note: the accommodations we have for this night is the best in the area.
Sao Mai Hotel
- Day 11 – Bac Ha / Sapa (B, L, D)
- After enjoying breakfast together at the hotel we will travel to Bac Ha Market for a mid-morning photo shoot. In the afternoon, we will travel to Sapa where the group will split for two nights. Some of the group will check into the Amazing Hotel Sapa while the rest of the group will opt to spend 2 nights at a Homestay with Pham in Tha Pin Village, which belongs to the Red Dao minority.
Amazing Hotel Sapa or Pham homestay in Tha Pin Village
- Day 12 – Sapa (B, D)
- Today we will be visiting the villages of Red Dao and Black Hmong. The group will be split into two.
Group 1 will explore the villages on foot hiking from one to the other and enjoying the scenery along the way, while Group 2 will travel between villages from the comfort of a van.
Meeting back up in the afternoon we will travel together for a sunset shoot at the Ô Quy Hồ's pass
Amazing Hotel Sapa or Pham homestay in Tha Pin Village
- Day 13 – Sapa (B, L)
- Today is portraits day.
Our local guide will make arrangements with local people to be photographed in a selection of different traditional and modern dress. All other activities for today will be discussed and arranged with our local guide Pham depending on the group's desires.
Amazing Hotel Sapa
- Day 14 – Sapa / Hanoi (B, L, D)
- Today we will travel together by bus back to Hanoi, stopping at the villages of Tay People and Xa Pho People on the way. On arrival in Hanoi, we will check in to the hotel before enjoying a farewell dinner together.
Lan Vien Hotel
- Day 15 – Travel home (B)
- After enjoying breakfast at the hotel your transport awaits to take you to Hanoi airport to begin your journey home. Alternatively, you can choose to extend your trip, at your own expense, and stay on a few more days in Hanoi.
Traveling with Darlene and DPM Tours is a series of unexpected, unusual and unique experiences to be savoured and enjoyed.
Easy way to open ones eyes and heart to different worlds and cultures.
Cuba is a perfect place to experience this with its warm and welcoming people, music and history.
Your Photo Tour Leaders:
Daniel Korzeniewski
One of your tour leaders for the Vietnam photo tour is Daniel Korzeniewski. Daniel is a Miami-based travel photographer whose work has appeared in several publications. He contributes to various stock photography outlets and often leads photo travel tours.
Daniel contributes articles about travel photography here on Digital Photo Mentor and is the photo leader for this photo tour of Vietnam, our Morocco photo tour, and also Peru. Daniel is fluent in both Spanish and English.
Darlene Hildebrandt
Your second tour leader for this Vietnam photo tour is Darlene. Darlene is the creator of Digital Photo Mentor, a photography teacher, tour leader, traveler, and a cat owner.
She has over 30 years of experience as a professional photographer, has been teaching photography since 2011 and has lead over 8 tours and 20 workshops.
Darlene is a Fuji user, but speaks almost all other photography languages. Whatever your skill level and experience, she can help you unlock the next level and take better photos .
Cost of Photo Tour of Vietnam
We have lowered the maximum number of participants on this tour to 12. This is less than many other Vietnam tours which include 15 – 20 people – please look at that when researching and comparing tours. Keeping the group sizes small allows for a smaller, more intimate group in order to give you the best experience.
This means you will have more time with the tour leader(s), and a really nice group size.
The minimum number of people required to run the tour is eight.
| Group Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 10 – 12 People Nice group size with a maximum of 12 people |
TBD |
| Small Group Supplement With less than 10 people (8 – 9), a small group fee will apply |
TBD |
Max group size: 12
Remaining Spots: 12
Join the waiting list above to get notified early and grab a spot.
Single Supplement Price:
- Prices quoted are for double occupancy. NOTE: You will be paired with someone of the same gender if you do not have a travel partner and request a roommate – if one is not available you will be charged the single supplement.
- Price for single room is an additional $695
The price of the tour includes:
- Airport pickup and return (airport transfers) on the start and end dates as indicated. If you arrive early or stay later you will be responsible for your own airport transportation. We can arrange it for you if you wish at an extra cost.
- 12 nights hotel accommodations.
- 1 night accommodation aboard junk.
- 1 night train accommodations.
- Meals – 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 12 dinners (includes non-alcoholic beverages and tips).
- Air-conditioned transportation – included driver, fuel, and insurance.
- Professional English speaking guide, licensed for tourism.
- Excursions (Junk boat, train).
- Entrance fees to historical sites.
- Organized photo shoots.
- Photography lessons and image reviews in a group setting (as time permits).
- Photography tutoring and help as needed, you just have to ask.
- Portage tips for bags.
The price DOES NOT include:
- Your flight or other travel to Vietnam
- Tips for your guide, driver, and tour leader
- Lunches on your free days
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal spending
- Optional activities like spa treatments, etc
Flights to Vietnam: We travel to Vietnam through Noi Bai International Airport, located 45 kilometers outside Hanoi city center. We have arranged transportation to our lodging in Hanoi for you if you arrive on the tour start date of March 28, 2019. We just need your flight arrival information to get you picked up at the airport.
Flights home from Vietnam: The tour ends and we depart from Hanoi so make your travel arrangements accordingly. Airport transfer is included if you fly out on the last day of the tour, April 11.
I felt very at ease and safe.
I expected a beautiful India, but realized that the people impressed me most by the kindness, happyness and willingness to interact. And because my shyness of asking permission to click was gone.
What touched me most was the people, the colors, the smiles. I felt very at ease and safe.
I enjoyed very very much the photo shoot in the marigold fields. Learning new techniques was valuable.
... and I cried the day I left.
FAQs
What is the physical fitness level needed for this tour?
There are many stairs and hills and some of our accommodations do not have elevators. If you are in good health and fitness level you will be fine. But this tour is NOT recommended for people with mobility issues.
What if I don't have a roommate but don't want to pay the extra for a single?
If you request to share a room and we cannot match you with a roommate you will be required to pay the single supplement fee. We do our best to pair everyone up but due to gender mismatches, we may not always have equal numbers of males or females. You can certainly bring a friend along to share.
What skill level do I have to be in photography?
We encourage all skill levels to join us on this tour. It is not about what you know it's about doing photography together, enjoying the adventure, and learning a few things along the way. Whatever your level you can get some tips from the tour leader. You don't even have to be a photographer, but can come along and appreciate the relaxed pace of this tour.
Explore the country on this photo tour of Vietnam. Meet fellow photographers from around the world and make new friends.
I have been on four of Darlene's photography tours
I have been on four of Darlene's photography tours and all of them are full of adventure, learning opportunities, and fun!
Darlene creates situations that allow you to be creative with your photography and gives you advice on trying new techniques, all in beautiful settings.
The India photo tour was one of my best trips ever
The tour exceeded my expectations.
No amount of preparation can truly prepare a person for their first experience with India but I have to say that the up close experience with the people, the streets and the Pushkar camel fair made the India photo tour one of my best trips ever.
Your photo tour of Morocco fulfilled my dream.
You all had planned out where we would get the most bang for our buck! I believed I told you that Morocco was number 1 on my list to visit and this certainly fulfilled my dream! You were awesome! I really loved the way that you got yourself involved and showed us all how to have fun.
Our Photo Tours & Workshops
Click here for our complete list of photo tours of Central America, Africa, Asia, and South America, and if you'd like more hands-on, photography education, you'll love one of our workshops, held in Western Canada (new locations coming soon).