Vietnam photo tour with Mr.Franco Mazza

DETAILED ITINERARY

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 1: Hanoi arrival (-/-/-)                                                                                                                         
Upon arrival, meet with your guide at airport for a private transfer to your hotel. Briefing about your trip by your guide. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Skylark Hotel – Deluxe Room

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B/-/-)                                                   
At 08:30AM, our waiting guide and driver will welcome you at your hotel and transfer us to Temple of Literature. Following is a visit to The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Then followed by Van Mieu litterarlly translated “Temple of Literature” which is wel-known in Vietnam for a combination of Confucian sanctuary and academy, the centre also housed the country’s first university, founded in 1076. We have time to wander through the stone tablets and soak up a thousand years of learning with our local guide. Lunch break in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we visit Vietnam History Museum or others upon your choice. We then leisurely walk to nearby Hanoi Opera House for photos of the most beautiful French architecrural buildings left in Hanoi. 

Next is Old Quarter Walking tour. Stop over at a local coffee shop to observe how the local people enjoy life while sipping every drop of Vietnam bitter sweet coffee at Café Giang– the oldest brand in Hanoi, since 1946 (optional). Followed by, we travel by rickshaw cyclo (traditional bike-propelled cart) and foot along tree-lined boulevards and through the 1000-year-old Old Quarter, exploring the markets and taking in some of the city’s great colonial architecture.

We finish day by attending a thousand year old Water puppet Show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Skylark Hotel – Deluxe Room

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 3:  Hanoi – Nghia Lo – Tu Le(B/L/-)                                                                                         
Breakfast at hotel then transfer to Tu Le You could make several stops along the way to take some pictures. You arrive Tu Le in the afternoon. Lunch and check-in hotel.

We will visit Lim Mong Village where we will have a chance to meet local White Thai and H’Mong who have been settled for centuries. Back to Khau Pha hill at 3h30 pm to witness the spectacular down in the mountain and awaiting for the chance to take pictures of H’Mong farmer on their way back home or mingle with the H’Mong children. Free time for dinner and overnight at hotel.

Meals: Lunch
Accommodation: Pho Nui Hotel

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 4: Tu Le – La Pan Tan – Che Cu Nha – Mu Cang Chai. (B/L/D)                                
Breakfast at hotel then heading back Khau Pha pass before reaching the mountain road to La Pan Tan, a beautiful H’Mong village where you take thousands of pictures of rice terraces. After lunch break, keep driving along the road and stop where you wish to take pictures of Rice terraces. Stop at Che Cu Nha to wait for the Down to record the last space of your memory before heading to Mu Cang Chai.

Overnight at homestay of White Thai (house on stilt).

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Homestay

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 5: Mu Cang Chai – Than Uyen – Tram Ton – Sapa(B/L/-)                                                        
Departure at 8h30 in the morning to Sapa, today you will pass beautiful country road of rice paddies and tea plantation. If you wish, we could make a stop to visit a tea factory and upon your request lunch would be picnic lunch or in the local restaurant.

In the afternoon we will arrive at Tram Ton Pass, the highest one in Vietnam where you sometimes could view the rainbow and the afternoon sun on this pass. Arrive at Sapa, check-in at hotel and relax for the next interesting day.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Sunny Mountain – Camera Deluxe

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 6: Sapa Trekking – Lao Chai, Ta Van (B/-/-)                                                                
Breakfast at hotel. At 9:00 in the morning transfer to Muong Hoa Valley. Along the road stop to take pictures at Y Linh Ho village then keep moving to Lao Chai where you will start your trek. We have a special photograph road researched for you where you could meet H’Mong people and Zay peoples in Ta Van village. Back to the town for lunch and relax. Get ready at 15h00 for the beautiful pictures along the main road of Muong Hoa Valley. Tour ends only when the sun gets down. Overnight in hotel in Sapa.

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Sunny Mountain – Deluxe Room

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 7: Sapa – Bac Ha Market – Hanoi (B/-/-)                                                                     
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Bac Ha (100 km – 3h). You will visit Bac Ha market which is held only on Sundays. At the market, ethnic minorities Mong Fiore, Dzao Nero and Nung gather to exchange goods. After that you will be waiting for a boat ride along the Chay River to admire the beautiful and exciting landscapes. A brief trekking to Ban Pho and return to Hanoi via the Hanoi – Lao Cai highway. You arrive in Hanoi and overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Skylark Hotel – Deluxe Room

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 8: Hanoi – Baia di Halong (B/L/D)                                                                    
08:00 departure for Ha Long Bay; enjoy a 3-4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay. Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Tonkin Gulf (weather permitting). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Swan Cruise – Deluxe Cabin

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 9: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Volo per Hue (B/L/-)                                                         
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as we navigate back to Halong City. Have brunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier.

Your driver will meet you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai Airport of Hanoi to catch the flight to Hue where your driver will await you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

 Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Romance Hotel – Deluxe Room

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 10: Visit Hue (B/-/-)                                                                                                             
In the morning, enjoy a scenic boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda or Heavenly Lady pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Situated 4 km upstream on the banks of the Perfume River, it is an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601.

Visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue with the Purple Forbidden City. The Hue Citadel is situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River. It covers an area 500 ha and has a system of three circles of ramparts: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). The Hue royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Tu Duc Royal Tom, the Emperor of the Imperial City built his own tomb during his reign and today you will visit one of the most beautiful mausoleums. Back to hotel, dinner is on your own and overnight in Hue.

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Romance Hotel – Deluxe Room

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 11: Hue- Danang- Hoian visit (B/-/- )                                                                                             
Journey from Hue over scenic mountainous roads with spectacular views over the coastline. Halfway between Danang and Hue lies the dramatic Hai Van Pass, the high dividing line between the climate zones of north and south Vietnam. Continue southwards passing Lang Co, a lovely stretch of beach curving outwards between a clear blue lagoon and the South China Sea, and the large coastal city of DANANG before arriving in Hoi An.

Visit Cham Museum: this houses probably the best collection of Cham art to be found anywhere in the world. There are more than 300 artifacts in the museum, many dating to the 4th century. There are beautiful sculptures reflecting the 1000 year Cham period.

Lunch at local restaurant, then continue to the charming historic city of Hoi An, known to early  Western merchants, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs.

Sightseeing in Hoi An
Hoi An is picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of South East Asia’s major international ports during the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries. Now this beautifully preserved historic city is best seen on foot. The walking tour includes: Japanese covered bridge, Ceramic museum, Phung Hung ancient house, Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall and Lantern Making Working Shop.

Hoi An is very well-known for Tailors so Amo Travel would recommend the Le Loi or Yaly Tailor for your suite made (please note that we do not make any commission for the suggestion, the choice is yours).

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Hoi An Coco Resort  – Superior Room

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 12: Hoi An– Volo per Saigon Visita (B/-/-)                                                                  
Breakfast at hotel. We drive from Hoi An to Danang to catch a flight from Danang to Saigon in late morning. Arrive Saigon International Airport and transfer to your hotel for check-in.

You enjoy an afternoon tour of the city. In this essential highlights tour, visit the former Presidential Palace, which is now preserved as a museum, including the underground communications bunkers, headquarters for the Saigon Government during the American (Vietnam) War. Continue to visit Notre Dame, an impressive neo-Romanesque cathedral in the centre of city.

Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Signature Saigon – Deluxe Room

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 13: Saigon – Ben Tre – Cho Lach (B/L/D)                                                                     
Breakfast at hotel and trasfer to the Mekong Delta considered the “rice paddle of Vietnam”.

You will arrive Hung Vuong (Ben Tre Town). On arrival in Ham Luong pier. Cruse  on Ben Tre river  exploring  the  lively activities along river as fishing, water transferring…….see  brick making in  handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to village. Take a walk to family workshop making sleep-mats and enjoying some fruits and tea. Riding a motor cart (xe lôi) or bike  on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out  about tropical culture from Peasants. Lunch at Hai Ho house.

After lunch, you will continue cycling to Mr.Sau Khanh – a famous antique collector in Ben Tre. You are invited to visit his house with hundred antique pieces from Vietnam as well as another Asian country, the wall in the housed is fully decorated with his family photos and you could also visit the backyard garden and finally he could show you how to climb up the tree to collect coconuts. The last activity, you could take a sampan ride along canal, before boat back to Ham Luông pier. 

End you touring, going  to Cho Lach and overnight Le Jardin du Mekong. Enjoy the home-cooking with the family and dinner 

Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Le Jardin du Mekong

Vietnam Photo Tour | Day 14: Cho Lach– Saigon(B/ L/-)                                                                                                            
Breakfast at hotel.
08.00- 08.30 You will visit Cho Lach by bike and by boat. Discovery local life, school, garden…
Lunch at homestay. In the afternoon,you will  visit around.
End of afternoon. Transfer to Saigon and overnight in Saigon.

Meals: Lunch
Accommodation: Signature Saigon – Deluxe Room

Day 15: Saigon  Departure (B/-/-)                                                                                                                            
Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure
16:30 pick-up and transfer to the airport for departure flight. Home sweet home

These photos are credited from Mr.Franco Mazzo photo album called “The Colour of Vietnam”. If you wish to have a perfect Vietnam photo tour, please don’t hesitate to contact Amo Travel at sales@amotravel.com.