Vietnam - South to North Photo Tour.
Take magnificent portraits through the lens of harmony and peace.
The Tour.
Join us on an incredible photographic adventure through Vietnam, where we travel from the vibrant metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City to the fascinating capital city of Hanoi and beyond. We explore the lively floating markets of the Mekong Delta, the colourful coastal town of Hoi An, and the historic capital city of Huế, whose ancient palaces and temples stand as testaments to Vietnam's imperial past. From there, we cross the stunning Hai Van pass en route to Hanoi, with its famous cathedral, the Temple of Literature and the incense village of Quang Phu Cau.
From Hanoi, we drive to the beautiful Pu Luong nature reserve, where the emerald-hued rice terraces cascade down lush hills. We then venture to the magical UNESCO-protected Ninh Binh, with its majestic limestone karsts rising from the emerald waters. Our journey ends with an optional overnight extension to the serene Halong Bay, spending the night aboard a traditional junk boat and witnessing the magical sunset and sunrise that you can only photograph from a boat.
Although Vietnam's history of war may be what many people associate with the country, it is an oasis of harmony and peace, offering captivating natural beauty and tranquil villages. The country has done a remarkable job of healing its wounds since it was officially united decades ago, and today it is an outstanding travel destination that offers something for everyone – history, cultural heritage, or exploring the country's abundant exotic fauna and flora.
Ho Chi Minh City has become a vast, bustling metropolis with modern building projects and quaint old cafes, while the Mekong Delta still boasts vibrant floating markets. We will find an extensive coastline in the central region with quaint fishing villages and ancient citadels. In the highlands, we will discover hill tribes working on step rice terraces. In Hanoi, we will experience iconic Vietnam with food vendors wearing conical hats and balancing steaming pots of noodles on bamboo braces.
We are confident the beauty and diversity of the country, the warmth of its people, and the expertise of our guide will leave an indelible impression on your heart, and even more confident, Nathan's help will leave you with a photographic portfolio to cherish forever.
We have designed this tour for photographers of all levels, with an optional pre-tour technical and aesthetic workshop for those new to travel photography. Vietnam is a country full of remarkable contrasts, from bustling metropolises to tranquil villages, and with Nathan's help (who lives there), we will capture it all.
Photo Highlights.
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Portraits
Friendly people
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Incense village
Local handicrafts
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Rice Terraces
Pu Luong
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Floating markets
Can Tho
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Mekong delta
River life
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Hoi An
Ancient fishing village
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The coast
Never-ending beaches
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Fishing villages
Working scenes
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Hue
Imperial citadel
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Hill tribes
Pu Luong
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Hoan Kiem lake
By night
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Halong Bay extension
Optional
Tour Details.
Est. 2022
Duration: 13 days, 12 nights, 11 days of shooting.
Dates and Prices
2025
February 16 - 28
US$6650 {+$650 Ha Long Bay extension}
2026
February 15 - 27
US$6850
Past participants will get a special discount.
Our fee includes hotels, breakfast, bottled water throughout the tour, as well as all transport including airport transfers. This tour also includes two internal flights. We base our fee on accommodation in a single room, (always A/C with private bathroom) though we offer discounts for couples sharing rooms, as well as for non-photographers. If you need help with insurance for this tour, please let us know and we can put you in touch with a broker that should be able to help you.
Our Itinerary.
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Day 1
Arrive any time: Enjoy free transfer to your hotel
PM: Optional technical and aesthetic travel photography workshop for those who need it
Sunset: Meet Nathan and the group
Sleep: Riverside luxury hotel
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Day 2
Sunrise: Drive to Ben Tre
AM: Mekong Delta adventure
PM: Drive to Can Tho
Sunset: Can Tho promenade
Sleep: Can Tho heritage hotel
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Day 3
Sunrise: Floating market
AM: Chinese Temple
PM: Fly to Hoi An
Sunset: Walking food tour
Sleep: Hoi An boutique Hotel
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Day 4
Sunrise: Fishermen returning to harbour
AM: Walking tour of Hoi An
PM: Lightroom workshop
Sunset: Street photography with model
Sleep: Hoi An boutique hotel
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Day 5
Sunrise: Free time
AM: Hai Van pass
PM: Lang Co fishing villages
Sunset: Lang Co lagoon
Sleep: Lang Co beachside hotel
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Day 6
Sunrise: Beach fishing
AM: Lotus ponds
PM: Perfume River cruise
Sunset: Neon Bridge shots
Sleep: Hue boutique hotel
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Day 7
Sunrise: Imperial Citadel
AM: Imperial Citadal
PM: Fly to Hanoi
Sunset: Cathedral
Sleep: Hanoi boutique hotel
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Day 8
Sunrise: Breakfast
AM: Incense village
PM: Temple of Literature
Sunset: Hoa Kiem lake by night
Sleep: Hanoi boutique hotel
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Day 9
Sunrise: Hoan Kiem lake
AM: Drive to Pu Luong
PM: Rice terrace walk
Sunset: Rice terrace vantage point
Sleep: Pu Luong hillside retreat
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Day 10
Sunrise: Hotel balcony
AM: Local hills with model
PM: Local village walk
Sunset: Waterfall
Sleep: Pu Luong hillside retreat
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Day 11
Sunrise: Hotel balcony
AM: Guong Nuoc village
PM: Drive to Ninh Binh
Sunset: River boat trip
Sleep: Ninh Binh garden resort
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Day 12
Sunrise: Riverside activity
AM: Galaxy cave
PM: Drive to Hanoi
Sunset: Hanoi back streets
Sleep: Hanoi luxury hotel
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Day 13
Either enjoy our airport transfer anytime today.
Note: Hotel checkout by noon
Or consider our 24-hour Halong Bay extension with sunset and sunrise privileges
We know you will have had a fabulous time
Bon Voyage
Make the dream a reality.
Tuition.
On any of our tours, stunning photography is the name of the game, and our objective is for you to leave with a collection of images that you'll be proud to show off. Indeed, many of our past participants have gone on to win awards and competitions with photographs taken on our tours.
Nathan’s teaching approach is very hands-on, as he believes in learning by doing. He will guide you through technical challenges, provide artistic inspiration, and lead by example in approaching locals for great portraits. You'll be amazed at the striking and authentic images you'll be able to capture.
We also offer Lightroom workshops during our tours, where we cover workflow management and picture processing. We'll show you the tools to take your travel photography to the next level and provide tips on saving your pictures for various outputs like social media, e-books, and printing.
If this is your first tour with us, you can also join Nathan’s pre-tour workshop, designed to equip you with essential skills for travel photography. Covering technical competence, creative observation, and ethical responsibility with a focus on people and culture, this workshop is perfect if you’re new to travel photography or need a refresher. The workshop runs on the first day of the tour from around 1-5pm. Enhance your photography skills and capture breathtaking moments to treasure forever. Apply via our tour request form and prepare to take your photography skills to the next level.
Where We Stay.
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Boutique hotels
Accommodation is a key element of any tour and we have gone to great lengths to secure luxury hotels in amazing locations to enhance your sense of being in Vietnam. Unlike many other tours, we assume you will want a private room and bathroom all to yourself.
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Charming rooms
We do not charge a single-person supplement but we do offer a discount if you choose to share a room if you are travelling with a partner or friend. We are very competitively priced, but we don’t cut corners on accommodation; on the contrary, others can charge more for less, and we have no hidden costs.
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Fabulous locations
Although all our tours have photography as their primary concern, you deserve a rest, most of our hotels have areas where you can relax mid-day when you are not shooting. Our restaurant choices always have an exciting menu, and we consider your good health a primary concern.
TripAdvisor.
ouththere_68 - July 2022
A bucket list photography and sightseeing tour. The photography tours run by Nathan Horton surpass expectations. They are adventurous, exciting and filled with educational tips about photography and the culture. Nathan has the charm, expertise and local knowledge to make every day special.
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