Vietnam Photography Expedition

Vietnam, the eastern most country on the Indochina Peninsula is no less than a photographers dream. Boasting rugged limestone mountains, misty bays, green and luscious rice fields, sparkling rivers and waterways, floating markets and flamboyant urban activity, Vietnam is a destination on every photographers “must-see” list. Vietnam is famed for its colorful people, contrasting lifestyles, turbulent history and breathtaking vistas. Whether your main interest is biodiversity, jungle, mountains, portraiture, ethnography, urban or geographical photography, Vietnam has to offer all that you could ever desire. The ethnic minorities with their bright and colorful costumes, bewitching eyes, fabulist faces and exciting ways of life truly are a sight that can never be forgotten. Photographers finding their way into the heart of Vietnamese landscapes and cultures not only will come away with a mind full of incredible images and work, but a new found working knowledge and first hand empathy for a largely forgotten people and extinct way of life. Vietnam is amongst a minority of countries throughout the world that still boasts a thriving community of tribal ethnic minorities, living out their existence in their own traditional style, away for the influences and pressures of modern life.

Vietnam Photography Expedition 12 Days/12Night

Day 1-9th August: Hanoi Arrive (D) Upon arrival at Hanoi airport. Pick up by guide & driver then transfer to hotel in downtown Hanoi, Free at leisure. In the afternoon will be your first street shoot in the colorful old quarter & historical Long Bien bridge. A sumptuous Vietnamese Welcome Dinner follows. O/N at hotel in Hanoi Day 2-10th August: Hanoi – Village - fly to Da Nang – Dawn to Hoi An (B) Heading out of town to reach local village, located on the outskirt of Hanoi. You will shoot at 2 photogenic villages where locals drying the red incense sticks. These sticks, after being shaped and dyed, will be brought to open field for drying. The red colors of the sticks make the whole scene really eye-cactching. Afterward we will meet lovely old people in the other village where they make bamboo fisht traps. By noon, we will go back Hanoi airport for short flight to Danang. On arrival Da Nang, the transfer to hotel in Hoian for checkin. O/N at hotel in Hoi An Day 3-11th August: Hoi An (B) The UNESCO World Heritage Site of old Hoi An was once the busiest port on the South China Sea,ruled by the Champa Dynasty for 14 centuries. Today’s shooting begins at a local fishing village, where nets wriggling in silvery fish glinting in the morning sun are raised from stilt platforms. Catch the colorful morning market in Hoian old town on return. Afternoon shoot w/ Viet gorgeous models clad in the quintessentially Vietnamese Ao Dai with yellow background of Hoian Town or shooting people in a small farming village. O/N at hotel in Hoi An Day 4-12th August : Hoi An – Da Nang – fly to Nha Trang – Doc Let (B) Sunrise shoot at lively fish trading market in Hoian. After breakfast at hotel, then will be a short drive to Da Nang and flight to the seaside resort of Nha Trang for lunch. Scenic drive north from Nha Trang to Doc Let. Free time this afternoon to explore the beach or catch up on your images. Free dinner at the hotel and to bed early to rest up for one of the most exciting shoots of the trip tomorrow. O/N at hotel in Doc Let Day 5-13th August : Salt of the Earth - Doc Let – Phan Rang (B) The salt ponds of Khanh Hoa are perhaps the most photogenic anywhere on earth. The scene of workers, salt and reflective pools is like a tropical arctic, and at its best borders on the surreal. Afternoon will find you at another great scene to the south, highlighted by fishing net weaving in a nearby village and a visit with a wonderful family of the now vanishing Cham tribe. O/N at hotel in Phan Rang Day 6-14th August: Phan Rang – Nha Trang – Fly to Hanoi (B) Later take an afternoon flight back to Hanoi for some street shooting in the old quarter, time permitting. O/N at hotel in Hanoi

Day 7-15th August: Hanoi – Mu Cang Chai (B,D) After a good night’s sleep & breakfast in our lux Old Hanoi hotel & spa, it’s time to hit the stunningly beautiful mountains of the north with their seemingly endless rice terraces and array of colorful tribal peoples still living in the traditional ways. They include Red Dzao, Nung, Tay, Hmong, etc. This afternoon photograph one of the two most spectacular terrace valleys of legendary Mu Cang Chai, and their inhabitants. O/N at lodge in Mu Cang Chai

Day 8-16th August: Mu Cang Chai – Sapa (B) Mu Cang Chai holds some of the most impressive rice terraces in the country and is listed as a Vietnam National Heritage site. Throughout the day, we will have plenty of occasions to observe the H’mong people going about their daily lives and working in the fields. This morning – not too early because of the mountains – photograph the second awesome rice terrace locations with Black Hmong and/or Red Dzao to add interest and scale. The scenic mountain road to Sapa also offers some excellent landscape opportunities plus exclusive (no tourists) visits to Lu tribe if the time is permitted. The day’s going to end with landscape & tribe’s people shooting at Muong Hoa valley. O/N at hotel in Sapa Day 9-17th August: Sapa – Hanoi (B) Sapa is the heart of the northern mountains, and it’s easy to see why with such a stunning location. Even though its growth over the years is largely due to tourism, we still love the place as a gorgeous respite with great food and a lot of charm. Plus it’s surrounded by myriad rice terraces and tribal villages! Morning shoot at the Vietnam’s most colorful tribal village of Red Dzao, followed by the scenic drive back to Hanoi. It will be tough to leave the remote area, but we must! Arrive back in Hanoi by mid-afternoon. Free time at our old quarter hotel. O/N at hotel in Hanoi Day 10-18th August: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D) After breakfast, we will depart for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karts’ landscape. On arrival, embark the the luxury junk at harbor. Then to legendary Ha Long Bay sailing in picturesque luxury this afternoon amidst 3,000 karst limestone rock formations jutting from the emerald waters. A sumptuous lunch will be served whilst we cruise into the untouched Ha Long Bay with its thousands of extraordinarily shaped limestone islands, considered by the Vietnamese to be heaven on earth. O/N onboard on Halong Bay Day 11-19th August: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B,D) Awake in your 4-star stateroom for sunrise on Ha Long Bay if your wish, or sleep in for a bit. On the shooting schedule this morning are fishermen casting nets from small boats, an interesting island cave, and of course the amazing, ever changing bay-scapes. Enjoy lunch served on deck on the return to the wharf. Then back to Hanoi. Farewell dinner at Vietnamese Restaurant in Hanoi O/N at hotel in Hanoi Day 12-20th August: Hanoi – Departure Free time to explore the capital city on your own till transfer to airport for departure flight. *END OF SERVICE* Note: You are going to travel in remote areas where sometimes the arrangement/logistic can slightly change due to weather condition fly delay and so. Vietnam Photography Expedition 12 Days/12Night. 3859 usd

Cost Includes:

§ Top English speaking guide § Private new model transportation with driver § All accommodation (based on double/twin sharing, single supplements 752usd) § In-country flights, airport & ground transport § Meals as mentioned in itinerary § Plenty of bottled water during tour § All entrance, zone and camera fees § Local model & village donations

In-country flights Hanoi - Danang VN175 at 14:00-15:20 Danang – Nha Trang VN1945 at 12:25-13:25 Nha Trang - Hanoi VN1556 at 13:20-15:15

Price Excludes:

§ International airfare § Insurance § Personal purchases…drinks at meals § Trip cancellation or medical insurance § Medical expenses § Gratuities for hotel porters, drivers or local guide § Vietnam visa fee

To bring

§ Comfortable trekking shoes § Flesh light § Sun block lotion § Cameras (if you are deep in photography we suggest you to consider to bring with you 14-24mm, 24-

70mm, 70-200mm lends) § Personal medicines § Sunglasses

Deposit and Final Payment A deposit is required at time of booking. Full payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Cancellation

• On cancellations more than 120 days prior to departure, all monies are refunded less a $350 administrative fee and less any monies spent on the participants behalf, such as airline tickets, etc.

• Less than 120 but at least 90 days prior, total deposit amount is forfeited. • Less than 90 but at least 75 days prior, 50% of trip price is forfeited. • Less than 75 days prior to departure, 100% is forfeited.

Notification by phone or email is acceptable, but please follow with written notice. In the unlikely event we have to cancel a tour, a full refund will be given. If RemotExpeditions ltd is forced to change or cancel a trip after it has started because of events and situations outside his control - “force majeure” - no compensation will be paid. Force majeure includes, but is not limited to war or threat of war, terrorist activity, strike, natural disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, epidemics and health risks. In case of cancellation of the planned trip due to force majeure, RemotExpeditions ltd will make every effort to provide clients with a similar alternative itinerary but do not guarantee it. Upon cancellation by RemotExpeditions ltd for any reasons other than force majeure, like not reached the min participant (4 participants) in the expeditions, 100% compensation will be paid. In case of shortening of a trip that has already begun by RemotExpeditions ltd for any reasons other than force majeure, 100% compensation will be paid for every lost day of the trip. Responsibility Remotexpeditions ltd and their agents act only in the capacity as agents in all matters pertaining to hotel accommodations, sightseeing tours, and transportation, and are not responsible for any loss, damage, theft, or injury to person or property resulting from a defect in any vehicle, or the actions of any persons who provide services for this tour or for the action or inaction of any third party. Baggage is at the owner’s risk entirely. The tour operator reserves the right to withdraw the tour at any time, to decline any person as a member of the tour for any cause at any time. All prices are based on current rates of exchange and, while every effort will be made to hold them firm, they are subject to change. All participants are required to submit a signed Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability form prior to the tour’s departure. See Terms and Conditions in the Expeditions page.

Insurance and medical Insurance Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all expeditions. You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a remote expedition and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy. Check-list. Please ensure that you check your insurance policy details and ensure they cover you for: Emergency medical repatriation (to home country) including any associated expenses abroad of at least $500,000. Activities – ensure that any activities carried out on the expedition are included, these could be trekking, horse riding, rafting, mountain biking etc. Geographical region - check the geographical region you are going to is insured (often the US and Canada or areas such as Afghanistan are not insured). Foreign Ministry advice –check your insurance is not sensitive to any travel warnings issued by your respective foreign ministry. Dates – make sure the period of cover begins at the departure and ends at the return to your home country. Many flights take a day or two and time zones vary. Insurance companies may prejudice your claims due to this. Pre-existing medical conditions – if you have any pre-existing medical conditions please ensure you disclose this to your insurance company. We also need to know the insurance company you are travelling with, their 24hr emergency number and your policy number. These details must be sent to info@remotexpeditions.com prior to travel. We are not able to comment on whether your cover is suitable for this expedition, if you have any doubts, please contact your insurance company for clarification. Vaccinations. Please seek advice from your health professional. Recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid and Diphtheria.

Risk Management Risk Management. Expeditions are inherently risky affairs; this is part of the appeal for participants. We do not make expeditions safe, as by definition that is impossible. We do construct and implement a risk management approach to reduce risk to what we perceive as a tolerable level. In doing so we: Risk Assess. Conduct a thorough risk assessment of potential hazards and threats that may be encountered on the expedition and provide recommendations to reduce the likelihood of harm occurring and reduce the severity if it does occur.

Safety Plan. As part of our expedition plan, we detail actions to be taken to implement and resource the recommendations of the risk assessment.

Deliver. The expedition leader is responsible for dynamic risk management on the expedition itself.

Incident management and medical. You MUST be aware that on this expedition you will be in a wilderness environment and any medical evacuation will take a long time (potentially over 24 hours) and may require wilderness extraction techniques. In-country search and rescue and emergency services are very basic or non-existent and the expedition will rely on internal resources for medical evacuation. Informed consent. It is your responsibility to understand the risks associated with adventure travel in remote areas. You also must understand that medical evacuation will take an extended period of time. By joining this expedition, you accept the risks associated with the venture. You are voluntarily participating on a adventure with RemotExpeditions, with the knowledge of the risks and dangers involved. You agree that I will not sue, or otherwise make any claim against RemotExpeditions or it employees, agents, and contractors, for any loss, injury or damage resulting from participation in this photographic adventure. You freely and voluntarily assume all risks of injuries and damages and notwithstanding such risks You agree to participate in the adventure. You are aware that by agreeing to this agreement You are waiving certain legal rights, including the right to sue. You agree of my own free will. If you require any more information on specific risk management for this expedition, please get in touch with us.

info@remotexpeditions.com