Vietnam by Rail
All aboard the Reunification Express!
Take an extraordinary journey across Vietnam aboard the iconic Reunification Express. Spanning 12 days, this photography adventure explores the vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and authentic daily life of Vietnam’s three regions. From bustling markets and ancient traditions to serene salt fields and majestic mountain vistas, each moment offers a new story to capture through your lens.
Traveling south to north, you’ll visit Saigon’s hidden railway communities, the salt fields and fishing harbors of Nha Trang, and the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An. Cross the Hai Van Pass, one of the world’s most scenic train routes, and continue to Hue’s imperial charm before arriving in Hanoi, Vietnam’s richly layered capital. The journey concludes in the misty highlands of Sapa, where tribal markets and golden rice terraces provide unforgettable imagery.
Guided by Vietnam in Focus photography leaders, you’ll receive expert instruction and cultural insights every step of the way. Enjoy premium accommodation, delicious cuisine, and unparalleled access to people and places, with every detail tailored to provide an inspiring, immersive experience.
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 mountain shack in Sapa. 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!
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