I was part of a small group of dedicated people photographers. We wanted a truly "off grid" tour - and a good laugh at the same time. We got both! We specified "more off grid than your usual off grid tours" - and that was what was delivered. We also had a fun time. We could not have been looked after any better. We saw people and places which few others do. Mike and Huang were both great. We even had an extra guided day tagged on at the end of the tour, free of charge.

Where do I start! The logistics of this trip looked busy and complicated. Flights arrivals, multiple stays in varying accommodation, food provisions, travel by minibus, night train and river taxi. Nothing was too much for Vietnam in Focus team to handle. Every part of the trip was seemless. There were simply no issues with any of it, and if they were they were gently sorted out in the background as I never noticed any hiccups. With a trip like this, that is very unusual. The guide's we had, Mike and Huong were great. Superb company, knowledgable, experienced and professional. Above all they adapted and fitted in with all we wanted to do. We visited so many remote areas that we simply wouldn't have any access to without these guys. The photographic opportunities for street photography were endless on this tour. We visited a wedding, a funeral, peoples homes, many points of interest, and loads of traditional activities associated with Vietnamese culture. Thank you to all those involved with the tour - I would highly recommend Vietnam in Focus.

In February I went on Vietnam in Focus’s “Days of the Dragon” tour of northern Vietnam during the Tet holidays. I also took two half-day tour in and near Hanoi, plus the 3 day Coastal Traditions tour. All of the tours provided the opportunity to meet and photograph the people and their activities. For the most part we were well off the beaten tourist path. The villagers were friendly and welcoming. They were happy to have their photographs taken. In fact, many asked to have their photograph taken with us. Vietnam in Focus was wonderful: well-organized, helpful and supportive. Hai Yen, the tour coordinator, is a marvel. All the accommodations were excellent. Even in the more rural areas we had comfortable beds, functional bathrooms (flush toilet and shower), good wifi connections, and plenty of outlets for charging devices (mostly Type C. Some A). Food was plentiful and delicious. Places were closed for a day or two because of Tet, but our guide brought along packaged food and arranged for us to eat in a home, so we never went hungry. We took the night train from Hanoi to Lai Cai, but the rest of the time we rode in a comfortable car. Our drivers were excellent. We visited numerous festivals and markets and saw breathtaking scenery. The Coastal Traditions tour included facinating encounters with crafts people who welcomed us into their places of work and served us tea in their homes. People working difficult jobs in the fishing industry took a few moments to laugh and joke with us. This has been a fantastic experience that I will treasure—along with many, many photographs! I highly recomment these tours to anyone interested in the “real” Vietnam and who loves to take photographs.

Amazingly authentic travel accessing the "real Vietnam" - avoiding overtouristed spots and contrived photo experiences. I cannot speak highly enough of the incredible experience of my time on the tour with Vietnam in Focus. Never once did I feel like "just a tourist", but consistently felt I was a valued guest of Vietnam, being afforded the privelege of viewing and being a real part of Vietnamese life in rural Vietnam. Without the crowds! Yes, it was a photography tour, but the focus was not on having the fanciest camera gear nor photography skills. It was about supporting us to be in the most photogenic places with equally photogenic peoples. Even if it we were just using a mobile phone capturing those memories for life. Many times we just put all cameras down to watch in wonder and absorb the truly unique atmosphere of the places we visited. I am already planning to repeat this trip!!

My Golden Harvest 2025 photography tour with Vietnam in Focus was a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience! I went for the breathtaking scenery of the rice terraces, and it certainly did not disappoint. But the real stars of the trip were the lovely people we met along the way. From rice farmers and villagers to market stall vendors, people were welcoming, charming, often funny and always kind, generous and open to being photographed. We were frequently invited into people's homes as we wandered through remote villages, and offered tea and even invited to dinner. This trip was an opportunity to visit a world not normally available to western tourists, and I felt privileged to have been able to visit. The tour was extremely well organized. The locations were fantastic and the travel logistics were flawless. From her desk in Hanoi, Hai Yen was one step ahead of us all the way... smoothing our way, attending to details, and fixing any problems before we even knew there were problems. A very impressive and well-run tour in every way!