Overview
Discover classic lowland northern Vietnam on this one-day photo adventure to Ninh Binh province. Our trip includes a two-hour boat journey at Tam Coc Nature Reserve, ‘Ha Long Bay on land’, a photographic exploration of the historic Bich Dong Pagoda, and a climb to Hang Mua for incredible views over the paddies and river valleys of this beautiful region. We’ll also be exploring some of the area’s fascinating craft villages to photograph the production of traditional ceramic art and stone carving. Learn the art of great travel and documentary photography while exploring one of northern Vietnam’s most scenic and culturally-rich provinces.
What you will be doing
We start at 6 am, with hotel pick-up and departure by minibus for Ninh Binh. Arrival at Tam Coc around 7:30, and we’ll start with a boat trip through the valley and caves. We have time for short walks up to various vantage points, which is where we’ll be shooting some fantastic landscapes. We’ll also be able to shoot portraits of the rower-women of Tam Coc, with their permission, of course.
We'll explore the historic Bich Dong Pagoda, a World Heritage-listed site, and a great spot for atmospheric photos of crumbling architecture against a backdrop of mountains and rivers.
We’ll head to Hang Mua, and it’s a steep climb up 500 steps to shoot one of Vietnam’s most iconic landscapes. It’s worth the sweat, and we’ll take our time, with plenty of breaks along the way.
After lunch and coffee, we travel north to visit two fascinating craft villages. First stop is Ninh Van stone carving village, where we’ll capture images of locals carving incredible statues and headstones by hand. The stone is sourced from Ninh Binh’s many limestone karst mountains, and the villagers have carried on this craft for nearly a century. Then, it’s time to document the action at Gia Thuy ceramic village. We’ll photograph the traditional manufacture of pots using local clay, providing us with rich, atmospheric imagery.
There are many villages in the area near the reserve, offering plenty of opportunities for pictures of rural life as the sun goes down. Farmers will be bringing in their cattle, buffaloes taking a dip in the rivers and schoolchildren cycling home along the dykes. It’s a fantastic way to wrap up this adventure through classic lowland Vietnam.
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: We will pick you up from your hotel
🗺️ Instructions: We will pick you up from your hotel
Things to know
Accessibility:
Not wheelchair accessible
Fitness requirement
Moderate fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
Bring your own camera, with a fully charged battery
Recommed to bring: wide-angle or zoom lenses, cable release, a graduated Neutral Density Filter, a Circular Polariser Filter, Variable Neutral Density Filter, Telephoto Zoom, and Tripod
Wear comfortable shoes or hiking shoes
Inclusion ✅
Pick up and drop off transport
Tour guide
Entry fees
Private transportation
Exclusion ❌
Gratuities
About your host
Vietnam in FocusWe run acclaimed private and small-group photo tours throughout north, central and south Vietnam. Whether you are a beginner, serious amateur or professional photographer, we can help you to capture incredible shots, and enjoy an unforgettable, authentic experience of this fascinating country. Our photo tours have been recommended by Lonely Planet, The Guardian and Le Petit Fute, as well as holding a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor for over a decade. We are officially licensed by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to run tours and workshops, and have led groups from National Geographic and the Travel Channel. We also love to make a difference. We work with local NGOs like Peace House Shelter, Change, and the Centre for Women and Development to raise awareness about social and environmental challenges in Vietnam.
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.