The Photographic Society of Singapore

PSS Photography Trip to North Vietnam

(Hanoi/Halong Bay/Sapa)
3rd to 8th September, 2008
(5N/6D)

The Photographic Society of Singapore is organizing a photographic trip to North

Vietnam as above. The highlights of the trip are visits to Halong Bay and Sapa in
North Vietnam. In Sapa we will visit two major market places for the minorities. They
are colourful and rich in photographic subjects. The Itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: 3rd Sept (D, G)

Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport (Terminal 2 ) to board Singapore Airlines SQ
176 leaving for Hanoi, Vietnam at 10:00 AM.
Arrived at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi by SQ176 at 12:30, you’ll be met and
Key
driven to your hotel. In the afternoon, your guide will take you to the Temple
B = Breakfast
of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century, L = Lunch
you’ll then drive to the excellent Ethnology Museum for an overview of D = Dinner
Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups in anticipation of your trip to Sapa, and G = Guide
other popular attractions including the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest DP = Driver pickup
in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West) Lake and the bustling Old
Quarter, is a magnet for visitors – it’s noisy and hectic, but definitely a ‘must-see’
attraction. The Old Quarter is a maze of shopping streets and restaurants with a
hotchpotch of architecture - traditional tube houses, religious buildings, artisans’
workshops and cottages, colonial houses and modern concrete edifices. Your
overnight stay will be in Hanoi.
In the evening, you’ll have dinner in a colonial building. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 2 (Thurs, 4th Sept 2008): Hanoi/Ha Long/Hanoi/Lao Cai (B, L, D, G)

Your morning will be your own for shooting. After breakfast, you’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of
the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone
‘karst’ landscape. There you’ll board a traditional-style boat for four-hour cruise on the bay to visit
some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. You’ll be served a seafood lunch on the boat. In
the late afternoon, you’ll return to your hotel for your check in and refreshment. You’ll have dinner
before a private vehicle will arrive to take you to Hanoi railway station in time to board the 10
p.m. overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai.

Day 3 (Fri, 5th Sept 2008): Lao Cai/Sapa (B, L, D, G)

You’ll arrive in the early morning, where you’ll be met and taken up into the mountains by a 30-
seater to Sapa, a small town perched on the mountainside opposite Mt. Fan Si Pan, Vietnam’s
highest peak. After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be driven along a scenic Muong Hoa valley to
visit some of the H’mong ethnic minority villages. After a stream-side picnic lunch, you’ll visit the
Red Dao ethnic minority people of Giang Ta Chai village. Later in the afternoon, you’ll return to
Sapa for your overnight accommodation.
Day 4 (Sat, 6th Sept 2008): Sapa/Can Cau ethnic market (B, L, G)
After breakfast, your transport and guide will arrive to take you to visit Can Cau market
frequented by ethnic minority peoples. The first part of your journey will take you through Lao
Cai, which is a border crossing point, and alongside the river marking the boundary with China.
After lunch, your time will be your own for easy shooting! You’ll spend the night in Bac Ha.
Although it’s quite a long drive, the landscape is attractive and the ethnic markets are a
fascinating experience. Unlike those in the tourist areas, the markets that we choose are for not
only buying and selling, but also meeting places for ethnic minority people to meet and exchange
news. There will be plenty of colour and authentic costumes, but very little to buy as souvenirs
unless you want to barter for a water buffalo or a sack of fertiliser!

Day 5 (Sun, 7th Sept 2008): Bac Ha ethnic market/Lao Cai/Sapa (B, D, G)
After an early breakfast, you’ll visit Bac Ha market near by your hotel. Your time will be your own
for easy shooting!
In the late afternoon, you’ll check out and be driven to Lao Cai station to catch the overnight train
to Hanoi.

Day 6 (Mon 8th Sept 2008): Hanoi departure (B, G)

You’ll arrive in Hanoi railway station in the early morning where you’ll be met and picked up to a
hotel for check in and refreshment. After breakfast, your time will be your own for shooting
photos in the Old Quarters, Markets in Hanoi and whatever takes your fancy until your driver
arrives to take you to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight at 13.30. Tour ends.

Cost per participant

Twin sharing: Members: S$ 1,288. Non-members: S$1418.

Supplement for single room occupancy: S$ 210.00

Fee includes:
Breakfast and accommodation sharing in double or twin rooms
Day used on Day 2, early check-in on Day 6 in Hanoi
All pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above
Return train tickets: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi, good local standard four-berth cabin in Tulico or
Polerstar carriage (air-conditioned soft four-berth cabin)
Boat cruise as per programme.
Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicles with an experienced, safe driver.
The services of an experienced English-speaking guide as indicated in the itinerary Entry fees for
all sightseeing as mentioned in the programme
Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the best local restaurants and on the boat in Ha Long Bay
VAT and other taxes

Fee does not include:

Lunches and dinners except as specified above
Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
Visa services
Travel Insurance
Hotel list for Mid-range standard:
Hanoi: Nam Hai I Hotel (** mini-hotel in the heart of the Old Quarters – Superior room)
Sapa: Bamboo Hotel (***local standard hotel standing on terraces on the side of the mountain –
good views – Superior room)
Bac Ha: Cong Fu Hotel (Basic accommodation - small hotel in the centre of Bac Ha, about
110km from Sapa)

Cancellation charges:
1. The trip will be cancelled if there are less than 10 participants. Fees paid will
be refunded in full.

2. When trip is confirmed, cancellation will be subject to 50% of the fees paid.

Registration:
1. As there are limited vacancies, please register with full payment, as soon as
possible. Members are encouraged to arrange for travel insurance.

Inquiries:
1. For inquires contact William Teo at +65 8128 0500 or via email:
jwteo8@gmail.com

Or Edward Cheong at +65 9665 9512 or via email:

cheong_edward@yahoo.com