Photographic Workshop - Northern Vietnam Ethnic Groups

PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR IN NORTHERN VIETNAM AMONG THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY ETHNIC GROUPS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY FROM 05TH TO 18TH MAY..

TECHNICAL ORGANIZATION - VACTOURS (HA US) WITH PHOTOGRAPHER RICCARDO CORNAGLIA

www.riccardocornaglia.it - www.vac-tours.it - info@vac-tours.it
info@riccardocornaglia.it

We’ll lose ourselves into the real culture of the several ethnic groups of Northern Vietnam, we’ll sleep in Homestay to be able to live the authentic life of these charming people, we’ll explore the typical markets of the area, the most traditional and the ones outside the beaten tracks and we’ll be able to admire breathless landscapes but, above all, we’ll live a fantastic and authentic photo experience all together. A qualified professional photographer, Riccardo, and an expert tour leader, Paola, will be staying with you during all the trip. The main purpose of the tour is to improve your photographic skills and technical knowledge to allow you to tell any kind of experience through the pictures you’ll be taking. We’ll help you to develop a unique and very personal style to distinguish yourself from the mass. Anyone with any level of photographic knowledge can be part of the workshop.

In this wonderful trip you’ll explore the natural beauties of Northern Vietnam. We’ll start our adventure in Hanoi, the country main city, where you’ll have the chance to test the hospitality of local people. We’ll then leave the chaos of the city heading to colored local markets, where people have thousands of stories to be told, but language won’t be a problem. This part of the country can give us many opportunities in terms of reportage photography: from the “black and white” to the coloured clothes of H’mong, you will be able to test your camera and choose the very best shots. Also Ba Be lake will offer us many chances, as well as Lan Ha (close to Ha Long but wilder). Here we’ll meet local fishermen living on floating villages.

May, 05th: FLIGHT EUROPE – VIETNAM

May, 06th: ARRIVAL IN HANOI

May, 07th: HANOI – SAPA

May, 08th: SAPA – TA VAN

May, 09th: TA VAN – BAC HA

May, 10th: BAC HA

May, 11th: BAC HA – HA GIANG

May, 12th: HA GIANG – DONG VAN

May, 13th: DONG VAN – QUAN BA – Nam Dam

May, 14th: NAM DAM – THAC BA LAKE

May, 15th: THAC BA LAKE – HANOI

May, 16th: HANOI – LAN HA BAY

May, 17th: LAN HA BAY – HANOI

May, 18th: HA NOI – RETURN FLIGHT

MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER PRESENTATION:

TRAVEL PROGRAM:

DAY 1 – MAY, 06TH – HANOI (Ce)
Welcoming by our local correspondent and transfer to the hotel. After the check-in, we’ll walk through Hanoi historical centre exploring the old part of the city, from Hang Be to Ma May with a short visit to the Patrimony House and a walk through Hang Bac Street, the jewelry street, Hang Buom and Lan Ong Street, known for medicinal herbs. Before reaching Long Bien and cross Paul Doumer metal bridge, buildt by Gustave Eiffel, we will visit Dong Xuan big market. We’ll be back on Hang Gai street to drink a coffee with egg and fruit juice at “Old Quarter” bar from where we’ll have a panoramic view on “Returned Sword” lake. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 2 – MAY, 07TH – HANOI – Sapa – Lao Chai, Ta Van (Co, P, Ce)
After breakfast, we’ll cover the route to Lao Cai through the mountain provinces running along Hoang Lien mountains, where ricefields and forests are full of colors. We’ll have lunch in Lao Cai, on the China border. After lunch, we’ll take the province route to Sapa (30 km) and we’ll reach Muong Hoa valley, passing through Lao Chai village, where we’ll meet H’mong ethnic group and Ta Van village, where Giay live. Overnight in homestay in Ta Van.

DAY 3 – MAY, 08TH – SAPA – TA VAN (Co, P, Ce)
After breakfast, we’ll walk around the villages surrounding Sapa, through rice fields. We’ll reach the village of Matra, where H’mong live, having lunch on our way. We’ll go ahead up to Taphin, where we will get in contact with H’mong and Red Dzao tribes, getting information on their habits and culture. We’ll get back to Ta Van, where we’ll overnight in homestay.

DAY 4 – MAY, 09TH – TA VAN – BAC HA (Co, P, Ce)
After breakfast, transfer to Bac Ha (3 hours). We’ll have an excursion (2 hours) to go through Ban pho village, tasting local wine and food. After lunch, we’ll have a walk around Thai Giang Pho (H’mong and Flori ethnic groups) and Na Hoi (Tay ethnic group). Overnight in homestay in Bac Ha.

DAY 5 – MAY, 10TH – BAC HA (Co, P, Ce)
Around 8, we’ll go to visit a local market, vivid and colorful (the actual location of the market will be confirmed depending on the day). In the afternoon, we’ll go up to Han Diu village, where flowered H’mong live and then we’ll come down to visit a typical local village where we’ll be able to see the local houses, generally with open spaces, walls made up of thick clay and raw floors. Coming our from the village, we’ll have the chance to admire a wonderful view of Na Lo valley and the slopes full of cultivated fields. this is a real mosaic made up of nature and local culture colors. We’ll reach Na kim village (Tay ethnic group), where we’ll take our minivan to come back to Bac Ha. Overnight in homestay in Bac Ha.

DAY 6 – MAY, 11TH – BAC HA – HA GIANG (Co, P, Ce)
Transfer to Ha Giang. We’ll visit Ha Thanh village where locals live on stilt houses, where we’ll sleep, too. This village is located under Tay Con Linh and its primary forests. Overnight in homestay in Ha Thanh.

DAY 7 – MAY, 12TH – HA GIANG – DONG VAN (Co, P, Ce)
Transfer to the “Paradise Gate” with some stops to admire Nui Doi and its carsic formations. We’ll reach Yen Minh by car, where we’ll have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, we’ll head to Sung La, where two ethnic groups live, H’mong and Lo Lo fiori. We’ll visit an old typical wood and clay house and Vuong Chi Sinh palace, inserted in the rocks, at the bottom of Sa Phin valley. Overnight in hotel in Hoa Cuong hotel.

DAY 8 – MAY, 13TH – DONG VAN – QUAN BA – NAM DAM (Co, P, Ce)
We’ll cross one of the highest passes in Vietnam, Ma Pi Leng (Horse nose ridge mountain). This road, 25 km long, connects Dong Van and Meo Vac,over Nho Que river, on the border with China. Vietnameses call this road “Happyness road” after the work done by 11 ethnic groups in 1965. We’ll head to Quan Ba, where we’ll have some spare time to visit Nam Dam village (Red Dzao tribe) to see locals dressed in traditional clothes. Overnight in homestay in Nam Dam.

DAY 9 – MAY, 14TH – NAM DAM – THAC BA LAKE (Co, P, Ce)
Transfer to Thac Ba lake. Along the way, we’ll have the opportunity to admire unique landscapes and palm hills, as in a postcard. We’ll arrive in mid afternoon at Vu Linh village. We’ll visit Ngoi Tu village, among palms and ricefields, where “White trousers Dao” tribe lives. Overnight in homestay.

DAY 10 – MAY, 15TH – THAC BA LAKE – HANOI (Co, P, Ce)
We’ll have a boat excursion on the lake (around 2/3 hours). We’ll be able to meet local fishermen with their wickers full of shrimps and fish. We’ll go back to Hanoi in the afternoon. Along the way, we’ll photograph villages and landscapes. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 11 – MAY, 16TH – HANOI – Lan Ha BAY (Co, P, Ce)
After breakfast, we’ll head to Cat Ba island. We’ll arrive around 12, to be able to go around Lan Ha bay (5 hours excursion). We’ll have lunch on the boat during the cruise in the bay. We’ll then head to Viet Hai, where we’ll be able to have a walk or a bike ride to reach Viet Hai village. We’ll come back to Viet Hai pier to have dinner and overnight on the boat.

DAY 12 – MAY, 17TH – LAN HA BAY – Hanoi (Co, P)
After breakfast, we’ll head to the local floating houses located among the majestic rocks of the bay. We’ll also visit a fish farm. After a short boat tour, we’ll have some spare time to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of this unique place. We’ll have lunch on the boat, leaving it around mid-day. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 13 – MAY, 18TH – Hanoi – RETURN FLIGHT (Co)
Pare time before the transfer to the airport for our return flights.

End of services offered by VACTOURS.

*N.B: Due to technical and logistics reasons, the timing of the excursions and the hotel staying can vary without changing the main character of the trip.

WORKSHOP PRICE – 1800,00 € – MINIMUM 6 PAX MAX 10 PAX.

RESERVATIONS ENQUIRIES MUST BE ADDRESSED TO: info@riccardocornaglia.it / paolamariatraspedini@gmail.com / info@vac-tours.it

MAIL ADDRESS

For payment we will give you all the information when registering for the workshop.
Subscriptions and payments must be done within 05/04/2020.

THE PRICE INCLUDES: - Homestay and hotels indicated in double or shared family room including breakfast - PRIVATE VEHICLE with A/C AND DRIVER according to the program - Meals mentioned (Co: Breakfast; P: Lunch; Ce: Dinner) - Tickets for the sites to visit - Private Italian speaking tour guide - The bike and boat tour - Vietnamese SIM for 24/7 assistance

THE FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE: - Other tours and meals not mentioned - Early check-in and late check-out at the hotel - International flights - Insurance, tips, drinks during meals - Entrance fees, permits, and guide service during free time - Expenses Banking - All items not indicated in the package includes.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS – INSURANCE

International flights to and from Hanoi are not included into the tour price and can be purchased by you in the way you prefer. Once you select the flights, please send all the related details to VACTOURS (https://www.vac-tours.it): flight number, date, time) to let them check if they are suitable with the tour program. Should you need any suggestion/help to find the best solution, please don’t hesitate to contact VACTOURS to make a reservation or to give advises only. Photograher Riccardo Cornaglia will leave from Milan.

LAST THINGS

To enter Vietnam, you need a passport with at least 6 months validity. Entrance visa is not necessary for staying up to 15 days and single entrance until June, 30th 2021. This photographic workshop won’t be just a trip, but a unique experience that will make us friends and part of a wonderful adventure! We’re looking forward to meeting you!