Fields of Gold - Vietnam Emerald North
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This meticulously crafted Photo Tour through Emerald North of Vietnam is a photographer's dream, welcoming all skill levels. Receive expert guidance and hands-on training as you chase the golden glow of cascading rice terraces, capture the ethereal mist enveloping majestic mountains, explore the timeless beauty of ancient towns, and feel the vibrant pulse of unforgettable cultural encounters. Elevate your photographic artistry amidst Vietnam’s most iconic vistas on an adventure destined to become a cherished memory.
Inclusions & Activities
Start
Hanoi
End
Hanoi
Duration
10 days
Physical rating
Moderate
Accommodation
5-star Hotels & best resorts in remote areas
Group size
1 to 12
Meals
9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners
Licensed & Certified
Tour operator license, Drone permits
Transport
- Private Mini-bus
- Motorbikes with Local Drivers
Destinations
Ha Noi, Phu Tho, Mu Cang Chai, Cao Bang
Premium inclusions
- Arrival airport fast-track & transfer
- Dedicated equipment space: 2 seats per photographer
- Tipping for accommodation & models
- Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
- 24/7 on-ground support
Mentorship Focus
- Camera Settings: Eliminate guesswork by controlling aperture, shutter speed, and ISO with ease.
- Composition: Using balance and perspective to turn ordinary scenes into extraordinary art.
- Visual Storytelling: Capturing the "decisive moment" to communicate powerful messages.
- Portrait Photography: Directing and posing subjects for a natural, high-fashion aesthetic.
- Landscape Photography: Harnessing natural elements to create mood-driven outdoor imagery.
- Aerial Photography: Expanding your creative horizon with cinematic drone photography.
- Post-processing: Mastering the fine art of retouching to enhance—not overprocess—your work.
Meet your Mentor
Tran Tuan Viet
- Wikipedia Listed Photographer
- National Geographic Contributor
- Google Arts & Culture Photographer
- Discovery Channel Featured Travel Photographer
- Canon Master · Ambassador
- Founder & CEO of Vietnam Photo Tours LLC
Itinerary
Meet at 8:00 am in the Novotel Hanoi lobby, allowing time for an Old Quarter exploration. We depart north for Cao Bang Province's striking karst scenery, with lunch served en route. Arrive at the magnificent Ban Gioc Waterfall by late afternoon. Sunset offers prime photography conditions. Overnight accommodation is at Ban Gioc Saigon Hotel. All lunches and dinners are provided.
Photograph Ban Gioc waterfall at dawn. Visit Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda, its architecture set against karst landscapes and rice paddies. Observe Tay and Nung communities in Phong Nam Valley. Capture sunset's human elements within the scenery. Accommodation is at Ban Gioc Saigon Hotel. Special permits are necessary for specific Vietnam-China border viewpoints, though others remain open. This permit facilitated photograph acquisition at restricted locations.
Dawn breaks over Phong Nam Valley, fog-kissed limestone and farmland ideal for telephoto shots. Explore God Eye Mountain's unique circular aperture and surrounding grasslands for scale and drone perspectives. Evening brings Vinh Quy Hill's rolling slopes and soft haze, offering uncluttered compositions focused on terrain rhythm. Overnight at Ba Quang Panorama provides prime sunrise access. This itinerary captures dramatic light and unique geological features, ensuring stunning photographic opportunities.
Witness a final Cao Bang sunrise from Vinh Quy Hill, refining compositions under the new morning light. Descend from the highlands to the Red River Delta, experiencing Vietnam's environmental diversity en route to Hanoi. Arrive in the capital, check into a five-star hotel, and enjoy a group dinner. This journey transitions from remote mountain vistas to the vibrant urban landscape of Hanoi.
Morning in Hanoi's incense village offers sensory photo opportunities with artisans crafting sticks. Capture intricate details or aerial drone shots. Transfer south to Ninh Binh Province, the "Ha Long Bay on land," characterized by limestone karsts. Stay at Ninh Binh Legend Hotel before exploring Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO site. Glide through waterways on traditional boats for unique perspectives. The afternoon light is perfect for capturing reflections, leading lines, and the human scale against dramatic geology.
Sunrise photography at Ninh Binh captures blooming waterlilies in soft morning light. After breakfast, we depart for Duong Lam, an ancient village renowned for preserved architecture. After lunch, we photograph local farmers and village routines. The day concludes with dinner, sharing photographic stories and cultural insights. This immersive experience balances natural beauty with authentic village life, offering unique visual narratives.
Depart early for Long Coc's misty highlands. Witness rolling tea hills emerge at sunrise, often veiled in fog—a highly photogenic northern Vietnam landscape. Proceed to Mu Cang Chai post-breakfast. After a midday meal, visit Tu Le viewpoint for late afternoon light and sunset, painting the valley with warm tones and dramatic shadows. Conclude the day at Garrya, a five-star resort in Mu Cang Chai, for dinner and a peaceful mountain setting.
Begin with a motorbike to Mam Xoi, Mu Cang Chai's premier viewpoint. Capture mist-shrouded, curved rice terraces bathed in soft morning light. After breakfast, explore a traditional corn house, photographing its rural architecture and agricultural insight. Continue to nearby terraces, where afternoon sun highlights field textures. This light optimizes landscape depth. Conclude with dinner, sharing photos amidst peaceful mountain surroundings.
Sunrise at Lao Chai’s terraces offers golden, layered vistas for wide and close-up photography. Next, explore Pung Luong’s bamboo forest, where light shafts create mystical, contrasting photographic opportunities. After a local lunch, witness horseshoe-shaped terraces, a rare natural formation ideal for landscape shots. Golden hour bathes these terraces in warm light, revealing depth and texture for unforgettable images. Return for dinner and relaxation.
Departing the north, the drive south towards Hanoi showcases remaining mountainous vistas and terraced fields. Capture lingering scenes of rural life. Enjoy a relaxed morning at Garrya, a 5-star resort, before the transfer to Hanoi airport. No organized sunrise shoot is planned, as your accommodation offers ample photographic opportunities. The tour concludes at Hanoi airport between 4-5 pm, marking the end of your Vietnam experience.
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