Northen Vietnam 10-Day Photo Tour 

Northen Vietnam 
10-Day Photo Tour 

Join Liam on an unforgettable photography journey through North Vietnam! Explore stunning locations across the far north Vietnam while learning the ins and outs of Liam's photography and editing process.

 

5 - 15 OCT 2026

 

11 days | 10 nights

 

Limited to 6 participants

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Trip Itinerary

Day 0 - Arrival

Arrive in Hanoi, where you'll be greeted at Noi Bai International Airport and escorted to our accomdation in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Settle in and join us for an introductory photography session to kick off your journey.

 

Accommodation: At VIF’s airbnb partners (Centraltique Downtown Homestay in Hang Bo; or the Centraltique Veranda Apartment in Lien Tri)

Day 1 - Craft Villiage Colours

It’s an early start to follow the rice paper trail on the banks of the Red River. Step back in time at Tho Ha village, a traditional Red River community renowned for its ancient architecture and rice paper products. In charming backstreets, we’ll explore busy workshops, and photograph bamboo frames stacked with drying rice paper. 

 

After a relaxing lunch, we will discover Northern Vietnam’s Living Craft Artisans - Explore Hung Yen’s rustic craft villages. In Ban Yen Soy Sauce Village, the rich textures of fermentation jars and artisans at work create striking visual compositions, while aerial shots showcase the area’s unique layout. Then we head to the home of a traditional fish-trap maker and his family for a working portrait session. 

 

After an early dinner, we transfer to Hanoi Railway Station and board a comfortable overnight train to Lao Cai. Time to rest and dream of the northern highlands.

 

Overnight Train: Vietnam Railways soft-sleeper cabin (capacity 04 berths in each cabin)

Day 2 - Tribal Traders & Sunset Terraces

We will arrive early in Lao Cai and, after breakfast in Sapa, hit the road west, winding through misty valleys and jagged mountains toward Lai Chau province. Along the way, we stop to photograph harvest scenes in the fields—farmers wading through golden rice paddies with sickles in hand—and do impromptu portraits with tribal traders on the roadside in bold traditional dress.

 

After lunch in Lai Chau city, we take the winding road up to Sin Suoi Ho, passing through beautiful valleys of rose plantations and rice terraces. After checking into our accommodation, we’ll enjoy a gentle photo walk down through this quiet Hmong village. Late afternoon golden light on the rice terraces at the edge of the village provides stunning opportunities for wide- angle landscapes.

 

Accommodation: Hoa Lan Bungalow, Sin Suoi Ho & Homestay Chan Nui

 

 

Day 3 - Misty Mornings, Waterfalls & Village Life

We rise early to capture a vast sea of clouds (weather-allowing) stretching out across the valley under our accommodation. Mountain peaks and distant treelines poke out of the white cloud. After breakfast, we’ll take a walk through the village, visiting some local houses along the way. This is a good opportunity to capture images of daily Hmong home life, with signs of the rice harvest - tools, threshing machines and bulging bags of rice - in evidence everywhere. In the afternoon, we’ll venture out further to an enormous bowl of low-lying paddies, surrounded on all sides by towering peaks. 

 

The air is cool and clear, and locals are at work in the fields—offering beautifully lit scenes perfect for capturing motion, symmetry, and interaction with the landscape. This is also a fantastic spot for drone photography, capturing the cell-like patterns of the golden paddies. 

 

Accommodation: Hoa Lan Bungalow, Sin Suoi Ho & Homestay Chan Nui

Day 4 - Sin Suoi Ho, Lai Chau and Muong So

We enjoy a relaxed morning to review images or take a final stroll through Sin Suoi Ho before departing for our accommodation in Lai Chau. 

 

On the way down, we’ll stop for photo opportunities in the tribal villages and at the many vantage points by the road. We’ll have a couple of hours to relax at our hotel in Lai Chau before heading out again in the afternoon. This time, we’re following the river valley towards the town of Muong So. We’ll park the minivan and explore this beautiful area on foot as the sun sets, with roadside chess-players, kids cycling home from school, and of course the fertile fields busy with harvesters. 

 

Accommodation: Hoang Nham Luxury Hotel

Day 5 - Sin Ho Market & Rice Valley Photography

This morning, we will head into the mountains to Sin Ho, capturing many incredible high- altitude landscapes along the way. In Sin Ho we’ll visit the small minority market, a gathering of Dao, Tay and Hmong people. You’ll work on environmental portraits, motion, and expressive detail. Look out for the tribal traders selling herbs for traditional medicine via smartphone and the wonders of e-commerce. 

 

In the afternoon, we visit Pa Tan, a valley filled with rice paddies, where farmers in conical hats move like brushstrokes across the fields. As the sun drops, we’ll get in amongst the action, capturing images of the locals bringing in their crop. 

 

At night we’ll also swing by Lai Chau’s night market, a chance to capture lowlight shots of folk enjoying the amusements, food stalls and musical performances.

 

Accommodation: Hoang Nham Luxury Hotel

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Day 6 - San Thang Tribal Market & Lai Chau

Sunday means San Thang market, an authentic tribal market on the edge of the city. 

 

It’s a kaleidoscope of color and culture—Hmong, Ha Nhi, Dzao, and Lu ethnic groups in full regalia. Make sure to explore all corners of this bustling bazaar, including smoky food alleys, backstreets packed with gossiping grandmas, and the local drinkers enjoying a cup or two. This is a photographer’s dream for capturing portraits, interaction, light and shadow, and documentary series.We then travel back to our hotel, where we’ll have lunch. 

 

In the afternoon, we’ll head up towards Dao San, with many opportunities for rice terrace landscapes and images of frontier village life. 

 

Accommodation: Hoang Nham Luxury Hotel

Day 7 - Hmong Forge and Epic Landscapes

We’ll enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the hotel before hitting the road south. On the way, we stop by a Hmong blacksmith’s workshop to capture images of the craftsmen fashioning knives in their forge. 

 

After lunch among the tea hills of Tan Uyen, we climb higher into the mountains, taking a detour to a remote valley offering jaw-dropping views. A river tumbles down the mountainside, through volcanic rock formations and scattered villages, and we’ll get as far as we can by car to capture images of Hmong life among the crags. 

 

We arrive in Mu Cang Chai in the late afternoon, hitting a spectacular spot for sunset over the iconic stepped terraces.

 

Accommodation: Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge

Day 8 - Iconic Rice Terraces and Family Visit

Dawn finds us high among the terraces again, capturing the morning light on towering golden rice fields. Breakfast is back at the ecolodge before we head out for a visit and portrait shoot with a Hmong family. 

 

We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch at their home too. In the afternoon, it’s time for another late afternoon shoot in a village deep in the valley. Along the way, we stop for spontaneous portraits and field scenes in the dwindling light. We’ll have a truly delicious home cooked dinner with our local friends in their house overlooking the paddies.

 

Accommodation: Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge

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Day 9 - Rest, Review & Return to Hanoi

After a relaxed morning and group photo review session, we focus on building out your harvest season story—refining selections, receiving feedback. We check out at noon and hit the road back to Hanoi.

 

Tonight we have our farewell dinner in the Old Quarter. 

 

Accommodation: At VIF’s airbnb partners (Centraltique Downtown Homestay in Hang Bo; or the Centraltique Veranda Apartment in Lien Tri). 

Day 10 - Departure Day

A full free day in Hanoi / departure day. Flights and onward travel depart at various times.

Price

$4900 USD - per person


Initial Deposit - $500

 

First installment: 50% of the total amount

Due 3 months prior to departure

Payment link will be provided via email

 

Second installment: 30% of the total amount

Due 1 month prior to departure

Payment link will be provided via email

 

Final installment: Remaining balance

Due 7 days prior to departure

Payment link will be provided via email

What to bring

Gear:
–  camera with tripod and remote shutter release
– A wide angle lens. For example, Sony 16-35mm
– A middle-zoom lens such as a 24-70 mm
– A telephoto zoom lens, such as a 70-200 mm.

- A small prime lens for street photography 

  • drone is recommended

 

Clothing:

 

– Casual clothes for dinners and lunches and photography workshops
– Summer clothes
– Light jacket for morning photography (19-20 C)

Whats Included

Photography Itinerary

 

English speaking Photographer Guide

 

Minivan transportation with excellent driver

 

Entrance fees to local villages, workshops

 

Mineral water along the way

 

Double Occupancy in nice hotels and ecolodges.

 

Meals as noted in itinerary

 

Hotel pickup & Drop off as noted in itinerary

 

Airport transferUpon arrival & departure

Not Included

Travel Insurance

 

Visas

 

Personal expenses or shopping

 

Flights to Vietnam

 

Single suppliment - extra $300

Interested in joining the trip?

The best next step is to book a 15 min video call with Liam (@7th.era). He will go through the trip together, answer any questions you have, and see if it’s the right fit for you. 

 

This trip is intentionally kept small, a maximum of 6 participants, so everyone gets plenty of time to shoot, learn and connect.

 

If it feels like the right move, you’ll be able to secure your spot with a deposit.

Book Call

Alternatively, you can reserve your spot now

If you’re ready to join us on the trip, you can secure your spot now by clicking the button below. It will take you to the page where you can place the $500 deposit to lock in your place.

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