Explore Vietnam by Rail and capture awe-inspiring photographs

Multi Day Vietnam Photography Tour

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TOUR TYPE:
Group Photography Tour
TOur Length:
10

 Days  

Departure Date:
September 2, 2024

Vietnam by Rail

All aboard the Reunification Express!

Travel from Saigon to Hanoi on the legendary Reunification Express, while creating a stunning visual narrative of life in all three regions of Vietnam. From street photography in Saigon’s Chinatown and little-known railway village, we’ll head up the eastern coastline, to the serene white sand dunes of Mui Ne. By the sea, we’ll explore colorful fishing villages and sleepy harbors, snap portraits of traders and fishermen at work with their nets, before continuing north through magical Nui Chua National Park.

Between World Heritage-listed Hoi An and the Imperial capital of Hue, we’ll cross the Hai Van Pass, one of the world’s most spectacular short train journeys. Then it’s north to the scenic splendor of a cruise on Ha Long Bay, before we roll into Hanoi, Vietnam’s richly-cultured and highly photogenic capital. Over the course of the tour, with the guidance of our Vietnam in Focus photography tour leaders, we capture a visual story of life throughout this diverse, dazzling country.

This is a premium photographic adventure, and we’ll enjoy the best accommodation available along the way. We’ll also taste the most delicious cuisine in a part of the world already renowned for its culinary excellence. Between short train journeys, we travel by spacious and comfortable minibus, with an extra vehicle to transport our luggage between accommodation. The trip also includes two domestic flights.

Our close connection to the people of this region, local friendships and many years of experience give us unparalleled access to the authentic life of locals and the area’s most stunning vistas. As working photographers and journalists, with many years of teaching experience, we provide you unique insights and knowledge about Vietnam and photographic storytelling.

Expectations from Vietnam by Rail

From south to north, prepare to shoot a huge range of images, from street photography to epic landscapes and photographic series about time-honored craft production. The railway uniting Vietnam’s three regions provides an evocative theme, but our images will be as diverse as the country itself, and you’ll be encouraged to pursue your own photographic style and interests. Our own focus on tour tends mostly to the Vietnamese people and their daily lives, particularly where the old world meets the modern.

We always aim to tell authentic stories with our images, and this means mixing and interacting with the locals, whether in a Saigonese temple, a fishing harbor in Danang or a skiff on Ha Long Bay. Along the way, we’ll develop our skills in all aspects of photography, from image composition to lens selection and use of different settings. We’ll have regular review sessions, as well as feedback on the go, drawing on the experience and know-how of our expert guides, and the input of our fellow photography-loving travelers.

Image Gallery

Guiding Team

Our photographers are no ordinary guides. We’re adventurers, teachers and assistants, as well as experienced shooters.  We’re up at dawn to catch the best light, and always looking out for unexpected moments and details that make for great photography. Our guides are committed to making sure you enjoy exploring Vietnam through photography as much as we do. Your pictures and your experience are always the priority.

Vietnam by Rail Tour Information

Recommended Equipment

  • Digital Camera or Film Camera
  • Selections of lens
  • Cable release
  • Tripod
  • Memory cards
  • ND Graduated filters
  • Laptop/tablet
  • Storage device

What's included

  • Transfers upon arrival and departure
  • Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
  • All transportation
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Daily activities and excursions as indicated in the itinerary
  • All gratuities
  • local guides and government permits

What's not included

  • Airfare to and from destination, as well as internal airfare where applicable
  • Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
  • Visas
  • Alcoholic beverages

Seasonality

Our Vietnam by Rail tour is available during the months of March to June and August to November.  We officially run this tour on our designated dates (April and September) but the tour can be booked privately at any stage during the available months. If requested the tour can also be run in reverse from North (Hanoi) to South (Saigon)

Further Reading

Get In Quick

Unlike many photo tours, we have very small group sizes of maximum five guests. This is to ensure the best quality experience and authentic photography opportunities. However, it also means we regularly sell out of places on our feature tours quickly, so we highly recommend you book today. And don’t forget, there’s a 5% early bird discount for those booking at least 12 months in advance!

Reviews

Vietnam by Rail review
Steven
California
Read More
My wife and I recently returned from a twenty-day tour with Vietnam in Focus where we participated in their Vietnam by Rail and Golden Harvest tours. We are thrilled to share that we had a fabulous time. The photography guides were excellent and thoroughly knew the region that they were covering. They were able to unobtrusively place us in natural and interesting settings to photograph the people, customs and regions of Vietnam. We both came back with a portfolio of images that show this and are proud of. The accommodations, drivers and coordination were also excellent. Alex and Yen were very helpful during the planning phase, modifying parts of the trip for our requests and photography style. The meals were wonderful and we think they should add the words “food tour” to their descriptions. We hope to come back in a year or so to participate in a few other of their tours.
Tour FAQ and Information

Please contact us directly and request a Brochure for this tour.

Throughout the trip, we stay in quality 4-5 star hotels or the best mountain eco-lodges available locally. In some places there are shared bathroom facilities. There is a surcharge for single bookings. If you are open to sharing with someone outside your group, we will do our best to make sure your preferences are met.

Please contact us for more Information

Throughout the tour we travel by comfortable, air-conditioned 16 seat private minibus. There will be enough room in the vehicle to carry our maximum 5 guests, guide, driver, luggage and camera gear. Please however bring a maximum of 1 large suitcase, small daypack and/or camera bag.

Prices are per person based on double occupancy, and do not include international airfare to/from your destination or internal flights during the tour. Single supplement is available at request. Surcharges may apply to certain travel dates based on international or local holidays, as well as local events and festivals. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. See the terms and conditions for this trip for more information

Please contact us for more Information

Yes. We offer a 5% early bird discount on all featured tours if bookings are received 12 months in advance of departure.

We offer an extra 5% discount to returning guests.

We take an initial holding deposit of $500 per person, which is non-refundable, unless Vietnam in Focus calls off the trip.

The remainder is due at least 3 months in advance of the departure date. This is also our latest date to confirm tour departure at this point, and guests can go ahead and book flights.

In the event that we have our minimum number of guests booked in for the tour earlier than 3 months before departure, we will confirm the tour, and guests are free to book their flights.

Your initial $500 reservation deposit is non-refundable, except in the event that Vietnam in Focus cancels the trip. The deposit can however be put towards a future trip with Vietnam in Focus.

If you cancel your booking with us, our cancellation policy includes the following fees and cut-off periods:

If canceling 90 to 61 days before departure, the guest is liable for 25% of the trip cost.

60 to 46 days before departure is 50% of the trip cost.

45-0 days prior to departure is 100% of the trip cost.

In order to ensure an authentic, personalized experience, we take a maximum number of 5 guests per one photographer tour leader. With larger groups, we will split between 2 photographer tour leaders.

Yes, you do.  You will be asked to sign a legally-binding liability disclaimer with your insurance details before tour departure.

Absolutely, they are most welcome. There’s plenty to entertain non-photographers on our tours, as long as they don’t mind the rest of us getting up at the crack of dawn most days.

Please see the What to Bring list included in each itinerary.

It’s a good idea to do this, as you’ll have a chance to get over the jetlag and do a bit of exploring before the action begins. We can help you arrange accommodation and adventures.

Welcome the New Year with the hill tribes of Northern Vietnam

Experience the Gao Tau festival, Hmong fire dancing & lunar new year festivities with the Dzao, Hmong & Tay people during far Northern Vietnam's festival season. Cameras in hand, we'll explore the spectacular landscapes and colorful tribal communities around Sapa on a photographic adventure to remember. In the company of our photography team and local Black Hmong guides, this is the ultimate, authentic encounter with Vietnam's hill tribes.

Experience the thrilling Phuoc Hai Whale-Worshiping Festival

Explore southern Vietnam's spectacular coastline and traditional cultures on this immersive photo adventure. Travel by boat down the Saigon RIver to discover the mangroves and salt farms of Can Gio, before heading north to experience the vibrant Phuoc Hai Whale-Worshiping Festival. In Ninh Thuan, we'll encounter the ethnic Cham tribe and the wild volcanic landscapes of Nui Chua National Park en route to remote, palm-fringed Whale Island.

Vietnam by Rail

Customize Your Photography Experience

Our unparalleled knowledge of travel and culture in Vietnam, and where and when to get the best shots, mean we are experts in designing tailormade photo tours.  We have planned and run tours for everyone from professional photographers on a mission to amateurs who want to get to know their cameras better on an adventure.  Each person and group is different, so once you’ve completed the few questions below, expect to answer a few more before we can create your ideal photographic adventure.

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