Meals: B, L

7:00 am: Early morning photo walk with Ralph to nearby Hoàn Kiêm Lake (“Lake of the Returned Sword”), which is located walking distance from our hotel, in the historic center of Ha Noi. Here we’ll be able to photograph the city as it awakens and the people as they go about their early morning routines, including practicing the art of tai chi, playing badminton, and performing other exercises along the banks of the lake.

9:00 am: Our guide will then walk us to the nearby Hang Be market which offers an interesting approach to the life of the people in the Old Quarter of Ha Noi. From here we’ll meet a team of CYCLOS FOR A TOUR of this area.

11:30 am: LUNCH at a local restaurant.

Afternoon free

4:00 pm: Enjoy an optional photo walk with Ralph over to Hoàn Kiêm Lake where we’ll be able to photograph this area and all its activity in the very different late afternoon light. Consider bringing your tripod, remote control, headlamp, and any other lowlight photo gear you think you’ll need to get some night shots of this area.

Evening free to relax and explore Ha Noi with dinner on your own.

Meals: B, L, D

BREAKFAST on your own

NOTE: You’ll want to have a small overnight bag to bring just the essentials to Halong Bay. The hotel will securely store your other gear as we’ll be coming back to the same hotel tomorrow afternoon but do lock your bags.

7:45 am TRANSFER to Ha Long Bay (approximately 3 - 4 hours, with stop on the way). Ha Long Bay became firmly entrenched as one of the “must-see” sights of Vietnam after the filming of the 1992 French movie, Indochine (starring Catherine Deneuve) and later the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (starring Pierce Brosnan). The images of boats navigating through the 3000+ limestone karsts (islands) jutting out of the bay are nothing short of spectacular. “Ha Long” means “descending dragon.”

12:15 pm Upon arrival at Ha Long city, sip on a refreshing WELCOME DRINK at check-in before we begin our unforgettable 24-hour PRIVATE CRUISE through Ha Long Bay.

NOTE: All of the below meals and activities on this day in Ha Long Bay are included, however, drinks are not part of your fee and should be paid at the end of our cruise when the crew will distribute invoices (if you enjoyed the staff’s service, at that time please consider offering an additional tip of US$10 or equivalent).

12:30 pm Board our private boat.

12:45 pm Check-in to your cabin and then we’ll set sail from the Bai Tu Long Bay area. 

1:00 pm Have your camera ready to photograph this otherworldly landscape and then LUNCH will be served in the restaurant on the main deck as we cruise among beautiful islets with interesting names, such as: Tea Pot islet, Mat Quy, Monster Face islet, Yen Ngua islet, Man’s Head islet, Tortoise islet, etc.

3:30 pm Take in the charm and tranquility of the lagoon at Luon Cave onboard a traditional rowboat (you won’t believe this place!).

4:15 pm Back onboard our boat we’ll continue cruising through the limestone karsts.

4:30 pm Explore Surprise Cave (Hang Sung Sot), one of the largest and most famous grottoes in the entire Ha Long Bay. You may want to bring your tripod, remote control, and other lowlight gear to experiment with photographing the cave’s amazing interior.

6:00 pm Back onboard the vessel, surrounded by a stunning setting, if offered you can attend our chef’s demonstration and try your skills in the art of preparing a traditional Vietnamese dish or two.

7:30 pm DINNER will be served onboard in a very nice setting (casual attire is fine).

9:00 pm Evening activities to consider: relax at leisure or you can simply chat with new and old friends with a drink in hand.

Meals: B, L, D

6:00 am Participate in a traditional Tai Chi session (~6:30 am) on the sundeck of our boat at the break of dawn, or simply enjoy and capture the sunrise…or sleep in.

Coffee and tea should be available.

8:00 am Visit Ti Top Island where, if weather and water temperature permit, you can enjoy swimming (bring your suit), kayaking (extra charge) or walking up the 400+ steps to the summit to admire a fantastic view of Ha Long Bay (somewhat strenuous, can be crowded, but highly recommended…and bring water!).

9:30 am Check out of your cabin and settle bills.

9:30 – 10:30 am Timing subject to change, BREAKFAST served in the restaurant on board the boat. Be sure to get your last shots now!

11:00 am Disembark from boat to meet our driver again to TRANSFER back to Ha Noi.

3:00 pm Approximate arrival time back at our hotel. After checking in, the afternoon is free to walk around the Old Quarter or explore other parts of Ha Noi at your leisure. 

6:00 pm Bring your appetite because this evening you’ll enjoy a great opportunity to participate in a special FOODIE TOUR of Ha Noi. On this really fun tour, you’ll make stops at quite a few hand-picked restaurants around Ha Noi’s Old Quarter where your guide will explain about all types of food and you’ll be able to taste each and every one.  

Meals: B, L

8:00 am TRANSFER for a 2-hour LOCALLY-GUIDED TOUR of Ha Noi showcasing some of the city’s most interesting attractions, including the One Pillar Pagoda and the nearby complex of HO CHI MINH’S MAUSOLEUM & HIS HOUSE ON STILTS (cameras not allowed in Mausoleum, however, you may be able to check them or give them to your guide at the entrance and use later. Please understand that access to interior may be closed at certain times of year).

The One Pillar Pagoda was first constructed in 1049 and was one of Ha Noi’s oldest structures. If it doesn’t look that old, it’s because the French blew it up in 1954 as a parting gesture and the current building is a replica. 

10:30 am TRANSFER to the TEMPLE OF LITERATURE, founded in 1070, which was Vietnam’s first institution of learning and the place where candidates for the position of Mandarin were examined. 

12:00 pm TRANSFER to LUNCH at a local restaurant.

3:30 pm Remainder of afternoon and evening on your own. Consider a walk around the Old Quarter to experience more local Vietnamese cuisine and the active nightlife in this area, but please be careful crossing streets and navigating sidewalks as traffic can be dense.  

You might also choose to walk to the Hotel Sofitel for a drink or two in one of their very fine bars.

Meals: B, L, D

BREAKFAST on your own. Be sure to give yourself enough time to check out and settle your bill, if any, before our flight to DAD. Have your passport handy for check-in.

9:30 am TRANSFER to HAN airport (exact timing to be determined). 

12:30 pm Approximate departure time of our INCLUDED DAD-bound flight.

1:50 pm Estimated arrival time in Danang. TRANSFER to China Beach where you’ll be able to get out and walk in the sand, dip your toes in the water, and take pictures.

Afterward, we’ll continue our drive to nearby Hoi An, passing the massive former U.S. airbase that was, in 1968, the busiest airport in the world with all manner of aircraft coming and going in support of South Vietnam’s war effort.

3:00 pm LATE LUNCH in Hoi An at a wonderful local restaurant called Ms. Ly’s or similar.

4:30 pm After lunch in Hoi An we’ll take a walking tour of the Old Town with our local guide where we’ll visit Ancient House, the Chinese Assembly Hall, and the Japanese Covered Bridge.

6:00 pm Walk or transfer to our hotel, which is situated right on the waterfront in a gorgeous setting, complete with a pool and swim-up bar. Check in and settle in, afternoon free.

8:00 pm Later, we’ll take a leisurely walk back through town to enjoy DINNER as a group at a local restaurant called Green Mango, remainder of evening free.

Meals: B, L

BREAKFAST is served daily at our hotel in Hoi An from 6:00 - 9:30 am.

8:00 am Walk with Ralph and your guide from our hotel, along the riverfront to Hoi An’s Central Market where we’ll capture the hustle and bustle of this captivating location with its vendors and shoppers going about their daily routines as they have for centuries. Be sure to visit and photograph the wet market along the river.

10:00 am From nearby the market we’ll embark on a PRIVATE BOAT RIDE to get another perspective of Hoi An and the surrounding area.  

11:30 am After we’ll walk to a nearby restaurant for LUNCH to enjoy some tasty bánh mì (really means baguette, but here it refers to a delectable meat-filled sandwich).

12:00 pm Leave room in your bag to have some clothes made up because you’ll want to take advantage of one of Hoi An’s most famous industries: custom tailoring in 1 – 2 days, complete with free delivery of your finished items to your hotel.  

If we go as a group, Yaly, one of the most famous and reliable shops in town, has offered us a discount (with minimum purchase) that everyone can take advantage of, so plan to go as a group and you can decide if it’s something you’d like to do (it doesn’t cost anything to look!). You’d likely need to come back for one fitting over the next day in order to have your clothes finished before you leave.

1:00 pm Remainder of afternoon free to continue your exploration of Hoi An. Consider getting a massage at the spa next to the hotel (must be paid separately), relaxing on the nearby riverside beach or at our hotel’s pool.

You can also enjoy the wonderful cuisine at some of the town’s numerous cafes and restaurants for lunch and dinner. Consider going to an excellent restaurant called Morning Glory for dinner.

Meals: B, L

8:00 am Today we’ll ride bikes into the countryside to explore how local farmers work in the fields and to witness everyday life as it occurs in villages along the way. Then we’ll peddle on to a small town where we’ll experience a ride in something called a basket boat (locally known as a thuyên thúng, or in Britain referred to as a coracle).  

These basket boats will take us through coconut palm gardens to see how the local fishermen catch fish with a large throw net (this is a great photo op – watch the weather and be prepared for the possibility of slightly wet conditions on the water, and you may want to wear shoes or sandals that can get wet).

NOTE: The bike ride is along mostly flat roads and pathways, but does require that you be reasonably fit and capable of riding as much as 5 or 6 miles. Weather permitting there’ll be time to make several stops along the way to photograph daily life (and each other). Walk your bike wherever the path narrows and along canals or other areas that may be slippery and/or dangerous. PLEASE USE CAUTION.

Afterwards, we’ll have LUNCH at Hoi An Eco Village and ride bikes back to our vehicle. 

1:00 pm Remainder of afternoon on your own.  

NOTE: Be sure to schedule any second fittings in this window of time to ensure you’ll receive your finished clothes this evening.

4:30 pm Weather permitting, later this afternoon we’ll meet at a predetermined point for an optional night shoot. Be sure to bring your tripod, cable release, headlamp, and any other gear you’ll need to experiment with some lowlight photography in this area. 

Remainder of evening and dinner on your own.

Meals: B, L

9:00 am TRANSFER to DAD for our 12:00 pm flight to SGN (time subject to change). 

1:30 pm Upon arrival in Sai Gon, we’ll be met by our local guide and driver and TRANSFER to LUNCH at a local restaurant.

3:00 pm After LUNCH we’ll be TRANSFERRED to enjoy a GUIDED ORIENTATION TOUR where you’ll admire several of Sai Gon’s historic landmarks, including the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from its Paris namesake (it’s only possible to visit the interior of the church when no services are being performed).  

Then we’ll head right across the square to the impressive Central Post Office, designed by the French architect, Gustav Eiffel (yes, of Eiffel Tower fame).  

Continue on for a visit to the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Sai Gon government during the American war, revealing the history of Sai Gon during its turbulent recent past. 

4:00 pm After we’ll TRANSFER to our hotel and hope to check in and you can have a bit of a rest. Remainder of afternoon, evening and dinner on your own. 

Sai Gon is a very cosmopolitan city with many types of restaurants available to choose from, so if you have a taste for an Argentinian steak, or some sushi, or anything in between, this is the place to look for that type of restaurant.  

Also consider going up into one of the many rooftop restaurants/bars for spectacular views of the city, just ask at the front desk for recommendations.