Top 10 places for Photography Tours in Northern Vietnam

04, November, 2019

Top 10 places for Photography Tours in Northern Vietnam

The beauty of Northern Vietnam – Don't Miss Taking a Snap
The splendid and enthralling Northern Vietnam welcomes travelers to its rich culture, natural beauty, and lip-smacking cuisines for an unforgettable trip. Abounding with coastlines, rocky mountains, green paddy fields, this red river valley is a feast for the photographers. Here are some of the best places you can visit in Northern Vietnam, which are great for Vietnam photography tours.

1.    Mu Cang Chai
Beautiful rice fields going round and revolving the hills are a splendid treat to watch. A paradise for photographers, the view is magnificent in all seasons.  The ripened rice stems give a lovely green hue to the hills in summer and a beautiful golden yellow in early autumn. The waters in winters create rows of reflective pools on the mountains, and spring brings the beauty of new crops to the hills.

The most beautiful rice fields can find in De Xu Phinh and Che Cu Nha. Mu Cang Chai is home to the Black Hmong, an ethnic group of Northern Vietnam and one of the largest ethnic groups in Vietnam. You can find the Black Hmong dressed in their traditional attire always.

Some of the villages like Le Pan Tan, Mo De, Mang Mu, and Sang Nhu are a must-visit for culture enthusiasts. Hiking and mountain biking are great for exploring the beauty of the rice fields and the ethnic villages.

How to reach: The nearest Noi Bai International Airport is 290 km from here. From Hanoi, you can reach Mung Cang Chai in 6 to 8 hours by road.

mu cang chai photo tour

2.    Sapa:
It is yet another beautiful place in Northern Vietnam rich in spectacular rice fields. The mountain town, Sapa, is one of the most visited locations in the area for its natural beauty and cultural diversity of ethnic minorities.

Sapa is also home to 5 ethnic minority groups, and the majority are farmers. We cannot find more information about the first inhabitants of Sapa, and the first record inhabitants of Sapa are Yao and Hmong.

UNESCO has included the area of Old Carved Stone in its tentative list from 1997 as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sapa is rich in heritage, and you can find around 200 boulders with ancient engravings here. Beginning from early French military settlements, Sapa has grown into a travel destination, and thousands of tourists visit this beautiful place every year.  It is one of the best trekking locations in Vietnam.

How to reach here? The Noi Bai International Airport is 292 km from here. By train, it will take about 8 hours to reach Lao Cai, and from there, a 6-hour journey by bus can take you to Sapa.

sapa photo tour

3.    Y Ty:
The tourist destination, Y Ty, is located in Bat Xa and is blessed with moderate weather throughout the year. Young people find it an excellent trekking spot with an out of the world beauty and its dense forests and rugged mountains. Another importance of Y Ty is the heavy concentration of the Ha Nicommunity.

Medicinal plants and fruit trees are in plenty here, and the rice fields give it a natural beauty as well. When azaleas bloom in March and April, Y Ty looks stunningly beautiful and picture-perfect for the camera. September to April is excellent for hunting. The dry festival of Ha Nhi is colorful and exuberant and happens in the 6th lunar month, a great time to visit Y Ty.

How to reach Y Ty? The nearest airport is Noi Bai International Airport, which is 333 km away. From Hanoi, you can reach Lao Cai in 8 hours by train and 5 hours by car. Y Ty is only 80 km from Lao Cai and can reach by renting a motorbike or car.

y ty vietnam photography tour

4.    Bac Ha Market:
It is a lively and colorful market displaying the culture of Northern Vietnam highlands. Textile lovers can have a gala time here with selections ranging from brightly colored scarves, brocade, wraps, lacquer wear, skirts, children's hats, wall hangings, and even silver jewelry.

Food is another attraction of the Bac Ha market with mouth-watering local cuisine to try out, and the best dayto visit the market is Sunday when you can catch it with its full colors.

How to reach Bac Ha Market? The Noi Bai International Airport is 289 km from here. Located close to Sapa, you can reach the market in 2 hours from Lao Cai by taxi.

bac ha market photo tour

5.    Hoang Su Phi:
It is one of the most beautiful travel destinations in Northern Vietnam with spectacular rice fields,mountains, lovely forests, and tea plantations. The place is breathtakingly beautiful during September and October rice harvest season. It is home to the minority communities of Nùng, Mông, Tày, Dao, La Chí, and Cờ Lao.

How to reach: The Noi Bai International Airport is 269 km from here.  Hanoi is 300 km away, and you can easily catch a bus or rent a car from Hanoi to Hoang Su Phi.

hoang su phi photography tour

6.    Ha Giang (Dong Van, Ma Pi Leng, Nho Que River):  
It is a beautiful place in Northern Vietnam, which is less visited by tourists. But the beauty of the area is increasing its popularity. The magnificent picturesque hills, valleys, and the ethnic minorities make this place a must-visit for photography lovers.  Rich with culture, the region’s excavations confirm a rich civilization dated back to 3,000 years.  Ha Giang is the homeland for 14 ethnic groups, which is part of the Dong Van District.

Dong Van is a famous market town to visit for its fruits like Hau Plums and peaches and plants like cinnamon and anise. Ma Pi Leng is one of the most spectacular mountain passes in Vietnam and nicknamed as the King of Vietnam's pass for its mind-blowing beauty, and Nho Que River, with its turquoise blue color, is the most beautiful river in the region. The 192km river nestled between the northeast mountain of Vietnam flows through the rocky limestone mountains and is instrumental for the global geological park known as the Dong Van stone.

How to reach: The Noi Bai International Airport is 266 km away.  Locate 300 km from Hanoi; you can easily find a bus, motorbike ride, or a car to take you to Ha Giang.

ma phi leng photo tour

7.    Cao Bang (Ban Gioc):
The major part of this remote province is a protected Global Geopark of UNESCO. Diverse geography and home to several geo-cultural sites, the history of this place evidences back to the Bronze age.  It offers tourists a plethora of natural wonders like limestone caves, beautiful lakes, karsts, minority villages, and waterfalls. The alluring natural miracles are indeed something you should not miss to experience.

You can explore the Ban Gioc waterfalls,   the 4th largest in the world. The ideal time to visit is between  October and April to experience the beauty of this fall set in the stunning valley and jungles. The Ngườm Ngao Cave and Pác Bó Historical Complex are also worth a visit.

How to reach here?  From the Noi Bai International Airport, you have to negotiate 263 km by road. It is 280 km from Hanoi, and from Hanoi, it will take 8 hours to reach by road.

ban gioc waterfall photo tour

8.    Ba Be Lake:
The freshwater lake, Ba Be Lake, was formed 200 million years back and is a recognized national tourist site in Vietnam.  It is part of the Ba Be National Park and has three parts Pe Lu, Pe Leng, and Pe Lam. The small islands and freshwater fish are the attractions of this lake. The lake is one of the 20 beautiful freshwater lakes that enjoys state environment protection measures. The lake looks like a picture-perfect water painting with its surrounding limestone mountains and jungles and, no doubt, a fabulous location for amateur and professional photographers.

How to reach Ba Be Lake? The nearest transit point is Noi Bai International Airport, which is 213 km away from Ba Be Lake. Private transports are available from Hanoi and can reach in 5 hours.

ba be lake photo tour

9.    Ninh Binh:
It is not a frequented destination like most other places in Vietnam, but it is a perfect place for nature lovers to enjoy the natural limestone carvings.It has the most impressive landscapes in Vietnam. Many consider it as the Ha Long Bay on land, which is a literal perception carries a full meaning to understand the tourism potential. Tourists will have the rare opportunity to experience rural life.

Visiting Ninh Binh and enjoying its best natural beauty, it would be better to have your own transport arrangements, and the best option is to hire a motorbike. It can let you explore through the paddy fields and exploring Tam Coc, another beautiful location. Ninh Binh is an ideal base to stay and explore the surrounding places, like Bai Dinh Pagoda and the rural parts of Vietnam.

How to reach there? The Tho Xuan Airport is 94.6 km away from Ninh Binh. From Hanoi, you can take a train or bus to Ninh Binh and reach there in 2 hours.

ninh ninh photo tour

10.    Ha Long Bay:
Halong Bay is a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site since 1994 and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in northern Vietnam.  It has an area of 1553 square kilometers and the bay consisting of 1960-2000 limestone karsts and islets. The location is equally famous for its biodiversity and breathtaking sceneries.

Many limestone karsts are tall and unique in shape and worn down by millions of years of tropical rains, surrounded by thick jungles. Don't get surprised when you find huge hollow lime caves. Your tour operator can arrange guided tours into the caves.  Many islands have serene lakes, rich with flora and fauna.This enticing beauty has found its way to the list of the New Seven Natural Wonders in 2012.

How to reach Ha Long Bay? Noi Bai International Air port is the nearest transit point for air passengers who want to travel toHa Long Bay and the air port is 30 km away from Hanoi. Afr the opening of the new highway, the distance from Hanoi is only 125km, which was otherwise 175 km and can cover within 2.5 hours.
These spectacular tourist destinations in Northern Vietnam are abounding in natural beauty and are indeed a photographer's paradise. The rice fields, tall mountains, limestone cliffs, and colorful ethnic culture all come together to give a unique experience to the traveler. Each of the places is well worth a visit and to carry back beautiful pictures of the journey. Get ready with your camera to visit these magnificent locations in Northern Vietnam.

halong photo tour