The beauty of Vietnam and Cambodia is so alluring that it is hard to capture them with a photo; their majesty is bursting from terraced mountain ranges and overflowing from the gregariousness of the people within the hill tribes and cities. On this custom tailored tour you will find the remarkable nature illuminated within the photos you take, as an acclaimed photographer mentors you within the diverse streets of Hanoi and the intricate reliefs of Angkor Wat. If a picture is worth 1,000...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Hanoi – The Beginning Sights
Welcome to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. The city is energized in equal parts from its cultural traditions and modern movements. The skyline rises around serene lakes fringed with blossoming trees. The streets roar with cars and motorbikes but also overflow with bicycles ridden by people in button down shirts and conical hats. The contrast fits beautifully, an organic mixture of the evolution of the city that represents the vast differences of the country, from the rural to the urban landscape. From the airport you are met by private transfer and taken to your hotel. The wonder of the city is immediately apparent; the gregarious culture of the people is set within the sleepy town surrounded by a big city.
What's Included:
Day 2
Hanoi – Uncapping the Lens
Day 3
Sapa – Capturing Culture
Day 4
Sapa – Village Life
Day 5
Ha Long Bay – Mountaintops to Karsts Tops
Day 6
Ho Chi Minh City – Imagery Abounds
Day 7
Mekong River – Early Delta
Day 8
Mekong River – Images of the Mekong
Day 9
Phnom Penh – A Pace Change
Day 10
Siem Reap – Focused Temples
Day 11
Siem Reap – Temples in Backlight
Day 12
Siem Reap – Returning the Lens Cap
Trip Highlights
- Witness the diverse cultures of Vietnam and Cambodia with a photography mentor renowned for his landscapes
- Experience the hill tribes that live along the mountains on the Vietnamese/Chinese border
- Spend time traversing the stunning scenery of Ha Long Bay
- Cruise through the Mekong Delta which creates life and culture throughout Southeast Asia
- Explore the tremendous history and architecture within the Angkor temple complex
- Journey through the modern history of Vietnam in Hanoi
Detailed Description
From the smile on a child’s face beside the meandering waters of the Mekong Delta to the berth of a cave hidden beneath an island on Ha Long Bay, both equally majestic and captivating, there is never a lack of images to capture on this 12-day tour through Vietnam and Cambodia meant for professional photographers who want to witness culture in pure detail or for amateur photographers who have never held a camera heavier than a disposable Panasonic. You will find breathtaking nature and friendly people, persistent culture and tremendous architecture, all ready to be immortalized within the click of the camera, but more importantly, within the memory of your trip.
Your photographic Vietnam vacations journey begins with your arrival in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. You venture through the city on a tour of its remarkable splendor that has mixed the iconic images of a modern landscape, complete with skyscrapers, with the peaceful stretch of countryside, from lakes to greenery. The following day you will make your way north towards the border of China to Sapa, known for the surrounding landscape and hill tribes whose cultures persist in the wake of expanding modernism. The hillsides are decorated with terraces, brimming with colorful garments, and are where you will find the diverse villages of Black H’mong and Red Dao.
Once in Ha Long Bay you will venture out onto the water to witness the magnificent karsts that rise from the emerald surface of the sea. Natural caves tunnel through the variety of islands in wondrous procession. From the bay you will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, once known as Saigon, and now the pillar of modern Vietnam. For two days you will cruise along the Mekong Delta, weaving through the water and the landscape to witness the people’s daily lives and the rising palms that rush along the riverbanks, before you venture across the border to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On your Cambodia tour, explore the varied streets of Phnom Penh, from its colonial past to its present still healing from history. Once in Siem Reap you will spend two days experiencing the grand temples of the Angkor Complex, from Angkor Wat to Ta Prohm, indulging in their grandeur and making sure that every picture tells a story that words never could.
Starting Price
$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.83 stars based on 780 reviews.
The trip was well organized by Zicasso's travel company. We had nice hotel accommodations we liked the guides a lot.
Reviewed By Guillermina M.
Amazing! Zicasso's travel agent worked with my son and me to plan the perfect trip in celebration of his college graduation. She arranged for friendly and knowledgeable tour guides and went out of her way to ensure we were happy.
Reviewed By Jennifer S.
Our trip was seamless from start to finish. We were thoroughly impressed by the expertise and attentiveness of our local guides—their knowledge, perfectly timed tours, and the thoughtfully planned itinerary by the Zicasso trip planner made for an exceptional experience.
Reviewed By Bernadette B.
We had an amazing, nearly three-week trip throughout Southeast Asia. Zicasso's tour operators did an incredible job planning all of the details of the trip. In general, I am not easily impressed and I tend to be pretty upfront with my criticism. In this case, I was truly impressed. I really don't have any criticism about the whole experience.
This was a very complicated trip, with eight cities/locations and six internal flights. We had great communication in the months and weeks leading up to the trip. They were receptive to all of our requests and they gave very good advice when we had questions.
All of the guides were great. The hotels were amazing and all of the details of the activities, transfers, and internal flights were well thought out and well coordinated. I was so impressed by their attention to detail. They were also willing to be flexible and able to make changes, even during the trip. I was able to reach them throughout the trip by WhatsApp and they responded quickly every time. I would recommend them wholeheartedly.
Reviewed By Jeffrey W.
We traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia from May 8 to 22, 2025. This was my fifth trip through Zicasso. As expected, the itinerary was excellent and exactly what we were looking for. I did double my budget from what I initially sent to Zicasso.
All of the lodging selections were outstanding. Along with the tours of the Ho Chi Minh complex, Hue Imperial City, the Angkor Wat complex, and numerous other temples and pagodas, we experienced a cable car ride to a mountain summit, a walk through an ethnic village, a water puppet show, a Cambodian circus, a Vietnamese cooking class, an evening lantern boat ride in Hoi An, and dinner in one of the top 50 restaurants in Asia. The water puppets are an ancient Vietnamese art (11th century) and the show was extraordinary.
Reviewed By Marcia H.
Zicasso's travel specialist arranged a wonderful trip and was extremely responsive to our interest in all art forms, culture, cuisine, and the American war in Vietnam. She was very receptive to revisions, even during the trip.
Reviewed By Marlene H.