VIETNAM

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We love Vietnam, and that’s why we’re back with our fifth photography expedition!

Get ready for an unparalleled photography expedition from September 6 to 18, 2024, designed for photographers and videographers of all levels, where each click of the camera will bring us closer to the very essence of Vietnam.

Led by internationally renowned photographer John Quintero, this expedition offers a unique combination of travel photography, ranging from portrait, street and landscape to documentary, among others. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced photographer, you will be able to capture the vibrant culture, ancient traditions and hidden gems of this country.

John Quintero’s experience as the leader of this expedition will elevate your photography skills, ensuring you can have amazing images and create great stories.

Are you ready to immerse yourself in an exciting photography expedition through the wonders of Vietnam, a captivating Asian country, known for its impressive landscapes, its ancient cultural legacy and its exquisite gastronomy?

Do you have a new camera and want to get the most out of it? Don’t worry! We will help you and guarantee that you will return with an impressive portfolio. We will guide you in capturing the light while you immerse yourself in a dream trip.

Vietnam is an essential destination on any photographer’s list, not only for its stunning landscapes but also for its rich ancient culture and fascinating history. All this is complemented by its exquisite gastronomy, one of the most varied and delicious in the world.

This expedition has been meticulously designed for you to spend your time capturing stunning images of the tribes in the northern mountains, the colourful Indigenous markets, the beautiful rice terraces, the ancient Buddhist temples, the landscapes that look like something out of a painting and the lively streets of the capital.

No other tour will take you to the places we will visit at the perfect time to guarantee the best photographs and videos.

The expedition will be accompanied throughout the entire time by an expert professional local guide, with extensive experience in photographic trips. The guidance will be in English and Spanish.

From the moment we arrive in Hanoi, the photography opportunities are endless. With the professional experience of our leaders, you will only have to worry about taking photographs, everything else will be covered.

The expedition is limited to only 10 participants. John Quintero’s goal is to work closely with each photographer on location, analyzing the available light to capture amazing photographs and create great visual stories in each situation. More than an expedition, it is a 13-day photography workshop, where John will be available to help you answer questions related to the image, and advise you on the best camera settings, composition, and give you useful tips on location.

Are you interested in making a video? You will surely achieve stories with great visual impact in each of the locations visited. Remember that our expedition has been designed with light in mind!

To reserve your spot and for more information, write to us info@johnquintero.com or call us at +44 7984608576. (Also WhatsApp)

WHY IN SEPTEMBER?

This expedition has been planned to coincide with the rice harvesting season in northern Vietnam, a country known for its impressive landscape of ancient rice terraces.

The weather in September is perfect, we will not have much rain and the temperatures will have dropped enough to enjoy the trip without the excessive summer heat.

In September you can see some of these rice terraces still green, while in some other places, they begin to take on a golden colour, indicating that the rice is ready to harvest, which means that there will be great activity in the fields, with the tribes of the mountains wearing colourful ancestral costumes in the rice harvests, buffaloes everywhere and a perfect atmosphere for photography in each location.

In the famous Halong Bay, the light will be beautiful at sunset, perfect for photographing the karst mountains from the bow of our boat, where we will spend the night. 

September is also low season, which means that fewer tourists will be visiting the country.

ITINERARY

13 days from September 6 to 18, starting and ending in Hanoi.

We recommend arriving on September 6 at noon in Hanoi. If you arrive earlier or decide to stay after the expedition and need help with hotel reservations and tours, we will be happy to assist you.

DAY 1

September 6, 2024

• We expect all the participants to have already arrived in Hanoi.
• John and a member of the team will pick you up at the hotel to take you to dinner and the welcome meeting.
• First night in a hotel located a few meters from the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake in the old town of Hanoi.

DAY 2

September 7, 2024

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• After breakfast, we will leave for the town of Bâc Hà, in the north of Vietnam. 
• Lunch on the way.
• Check-in at the hotel in Bac Ha.
• In the afternoon, we will tour the surroundings to photograph the ancestral communities of this region.
• Dinner and rest at the hotel in Bac Ha.

DAY 3

September 8, 2024 

• We will leave very early for the Bac Ha market, one of the most colourful in the whole of Asia, famous for being the place for Flower Hmong communities gather to sell beautiful handicrafts and livestock.
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• After breakfast, we will leave for the magical city of Sa Pa, crossing by the stunning mountains of Ngū Chī Sòn.
• On the way, if we have time, we will stop at a Red Dyao community. They are part of the Yao ethnic group of China and share many similarities with the H’mong people. 
• Arrival and registration at the hotel in Sa Pa.l
• Dinner and rest at the hotel in Sa Pa

DAY 4

September 9, 2024

• Breakfast at the hotel
• After breakfast, we will take a scenic train and then a cable car to the top of Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam, known as ‘The Roof of Indochina’ at 3,143 meters above sea level. Get ready for stunning views of the mountains and rice fields surrounding Sa Pa.
• Lunch in Sa Pa.
• In the afternoon, we will visit one of the villages near Sa Pa, to document all the rice harvesting activity in the middle of a landscape of mountains and terraces with local communities wearing their traditional costumes. You won’t want to leave!
• Dinner and rest in Sa Pa.

DAY 5

September 10, 2024 

• You can photograph the stunning landscape around Sa Pa at sunrise, from the hotel rooftop. Perfect for taking a sunrise timelapse. We will teach you how.
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• After breakfast, we will visit a tea plantation near the city to photograph the beautiful tea fields that look like they were carved by artists. 
• Lunch in Sa Pa.
• After lunch, we leave for  Mu Cang Chai, another of the highlighted locations of our expedition, from where the landscape of rice terraces and mountains serve as a background to portray Hmong women. This is the iconic landscape that identifies northern Vietnam and one of the reasons why we travelled in September.
• Arrive and register at our homestay with a local family
• Dinner.

6TH

September 11, 2024

• Very early we will go out to photograph one of the most beautiful rice terrace landscapes in Mu Cang Chai.  With its unique beauty, this landscape has entered the top 10 of the most beautiful terraced fields in the world.
• Breakfast.
• After breakfast, we will visit a local community, before starting our journey towards Tú Lệ.
• Arrive and register at the hotel.
• Dinner and rest at the hotel.

DAY 7

September 12, 2024

• Breakfast.
• Departure to Hanoi, stopping on the way to photograph another impressive scene of the rice fields, with their shades of greens and yellows, the smoke from the crops that are already burning and the workers with their buffaloes in the field. The composition options here are endless.
• Arrival and check-in at the hotel in Hanoi.
• Dinner.
• Rest at the hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 8

September 13, 2024 

• We will leave very early to tour the old town of Hanoi, to capture street scenes with local people on bicycles and their traditional conical hats, colourful markets and the ancient architecture of this city.
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• After breakfast, we will take our private transportation to the incense factories, a wonderful place where you will surely capture beautiful photographs of this very traditional Asian process.
• We return to the hotel for lunch.
• In the afternoon, we will visit the Temple of Literature, built in the year 1070. Every corner of this temple is a work of art. There we will have a portrait photo session.
• Return for dinner and rest at the hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 9

September 14, 2024 

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• After breakfast, we will leave the city to visit an artisanal soy sauce factory to photograph the process of making this sauce the traditional way.
• Lunch.
• After lunch, we will travel to another village to photograph the traditional fishing traps, now little used in the country. A great opportunity to document a custom that is disappearing! This location is one of our favourites.
• Return to Hanoi.
• Dinner and rest at the hotel.

10TH DAY

September 15, 2024

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• After breakfast we will visit a nearby town, characterized by its old houses, to photograph the traditions and customs of this community. 
• Return to Hanoi.
• Dinner and rest at the hotel.

DAY 11

September 16, 2024 

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Travel by private transportation to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in the northeast of Vietnam and is known for its emerald waters and thousands of imposing limestone islands topped by tropical forests.
• Around noon we embarked on our Halong Bay cruise.
• Lunch on the cruise.
• Visit Sung Sot Cave, an incredible natural wonder, with a large number of stalactites and stalagmites, but the best thing about this location is the view of Halong Bay when leaving the cave. Amazing!
• Photograph of the impressive landscape from Titop Island at sunset.
• Dinner and rest on the cruise.

DAY 12

September 17, 2024

• We wake up on our cruise to see the sunrise at one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Truly impressive.
• Breakfast on the cruise with a spectacular view.
• Visit a water cave on a bamboo boat. Optional, kayak tour.
• Lunch and check out.
• Return to Hanoi and check into the hotel.
• Farewell dinner in Hanoi.

DAY 13

September 18, 2024

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Check out at noon.
• This day you can shop or visit other sites in Hanoi, on your own, depending on your flights.
• Hotel-airport transfer.

End of the expedition.

This itinerary is subject to last-minute changes due to weather conditions or external situations.

FAQ

What are the dates of the Photography Expedition to Vietnam?

The expedition last for 13 days, starting on September 6 and finishing on September 18, 2024.

What is the cost of the expedition?

The expedition costs $4,200 US Dollars. If you have attended any of our workshops or expeditions, you have a super discount, contact us now!

What includes?

• 13 days of photographic expedition with John Quintero.
• All meals starting with the welcome dinner on September 6 and end with breakfast on September 18.
• 1 soft drink or 1 beer with each lunch and dinner.
• 12 nights of accommodation, including the night of September 6 and the night of September 17.
• Accommodation in hotels with double occupancy. Individual accommodation has an extra price of $650 US Dollars.
• Private ground transportation throughout the expedition.
• One night in double accommodation on the Halong Bay cruise.
• Kayaking in Halong Bay.
• Bamboo raft tour and transportation in Ninh Binh.
• Cable car transportation in Fansipan.
• Scenic train ticket in Sa Pa
• All tickets and entrances to nature reserves and temples.
• Guide in Spanish and English.
• Permanent hydration.
• Snacks.

What expenses will not be covered by the price of the expedition?

• Vietnam entry visa (USD 25).
• International flights.
• Drinks and food outside of the 3 meals a day.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Tips for drivers, guides and bellboys 
• Minibar and laundry expenses.
• Travel insurance.
• All services and items not specifically mentioned in the ‘included list’.

What payment methods are accepted?

We currently accept payments with all credit cards, through PayPal (credit card payments can be made with or without a PayPal account), PayU or by bank transfer in the United Kingdom and Colombia. For any other payment method, please write to us. 

Please note that payments by credit card and PayPal have an additional charge of 5%.

What is the payment policy?

To reserve your place on the Vietnam 2024 Photo Expedition you must make a payment of USD$1000.oo as soon as possible. The balance must be paid in full 15 days before starting the expedition.

Do I need a visa for this expedition?

Yes. Most citizens of the world need a visa to enter Vietnam, it costs USD$25 and can be ordered online. The process takes approximately 1 week. If you need help in this process, we will gladly advise you.

What equipment do you recommend I bring for the photography expedition?

• Any camera, digital or analog regardless of model or brand.
• Lenses: All types of lenses. We recommend a wide angle, a 24-70 mm, 70-200 mm or similar and a 50mm or 85mm lens.
• Tripod.
• Sufficient memory cards and/or films if you are shooting analogue.
• Spare batteries.
• External hard drive.
• Laptop (optional).
• A comfortable camera backpack.

Regarding clothing and other suggestions, we will send you an expedition welcome pack in plenty of time before you travel, giving you more details and suggestions on what to bring.

Do I need to be an experienced or professional photographer to participate in this expedition?

This experience is for photographers of any level or for those who want to learn photography while enjoying remote locations at the perfect times for photography. This will never be achieved on a trip designed for tourists.

Can I bring a companion to the expedition, including children?

The expedition is designed to visit locations at the best times of day for photography, however, and based on experiences in previous workshops and expeditions, this expedition can also be enjoyed by someone who is not a photographer. Visiting places at times when no tour generally takes you is a wonderful experience. We only ask that your non-photographer companion adapt to our schedules and be patient when we take our photos. Children under 14 years old are not accepted.

Do I need to be fit or have very good physical condition to join this expedition?

Travelling for 13 days without much rest can be exhausting. However, we know that as photographers are used to carrying heavy equipment, it is necessary to follow a different pace. Therefore, although you will find walks in the itinerary, at no time will we have to walk for long hours without a break. These walks will be at a photographer’s pace, stopping every so often, with enough time to take photos. We have had participants who are over 70 years old without the slightest inconvenience.

Do I need to speak English to be part of this photography expedition?

No. The expedition will be conducted in Spanish and English so that you do not miss any information in these two languages.

Will there be an opportunity to take this photography expedition to Vietnam on another date?

At the moment there are no dates for the next expedition to Vietnam. 

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for?

If you don’t find the answer here, contact us by writing to info@johnquintero.com or by calling +44 798 460 8576 in the United Kingdom (also for WhatsApp) in Colombia at +57 3114316573.

Para reservar tu cupo o para mayor información, escríbenos info@johnquintero.com o llámanos al +44 7984608576. (También WhatsApp)

To reserve your spot or for more information, write to us info@johnquintero.com or call us at +44 7984608576. (Also WhatsApp)

All photographs on this page have been taken during past expeditions to Vietnam. To see the work done by attendees of our photography expeditions to Vietnam and other countries, visit our group on Facebook.

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