Indochina Photography Tour to Vietnam and Cambodia
Up-river and overland from Vietnam's picturesque Mekong Delta to the jungle-covered and evocative temples of Cambodia's Angkor
2-week guided photography tour to Vietnam and Cambodia
Our exciting and highly varied Vietnam and Cambodia photography tour takes you on a river and road adventure through the heart of Indochina, from Vietnam’s bustling Ho Chi Minh City (still Saigon to most locals) and picturesque Mekong Delta region, up-river to the fascinating Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, before heading west to the mysterious and dramatic, jungle-clad temples of Angkor.
The tour is fully accompanied by one of our highly experienced, professional travel photographers, Gary Latham or Jeff Perigois. It’s designed to provide beginners and keen amateurs with a wealth of travel photography tips and techniques as well as showing how to engage with their subject matter while for the more experienced photographers, we’ll ensure, to the best of our abilities, that they’ll find themselves in the right place at the right time.
In contrast to other photography courses and in keeping with the All Points East philosophy, this tour emphasises the ethics as much as the aesthetics of travel photography and aspires to have a positive impact on the places and people we visit. Correspondingly, the subject matter will attempt to focus on everyday life and local people – in a non-intrusive manner – as well as the region’s famous sites and beautiful landscapes.
Truly a photographers’ paradise with highlights ranging from the colourful street life and vibrant markets of Saigon and Phnom Penh to traditional floating markets of the Mekong Delta, and from the fabulous jungle-clad ruins of Angkor to the bucolic village scenes and exotic landscapes of Indochina.
Please note for those with more time an extended, 16-day, version of our Indochina photography tour (see here for full details) is also available, again starting in Saigon but returning to Phnom Penh via Battambang while, for those with less time to spare, both our Saigon/Mekong Delta and Cambodia sections are also on offer separately.
(Also note, our tour price is inclusive of a single room supplement.)
Itinerary
Here's an idea of what you can expect to do and see day-to-day.
Day 1 - Saigon - introductory walking tour
Morning arrival in Saigon, and transfer to a downtown hotel. Meet your photographer for an Introductory presentation outlining some of the techniques of travel photography, followed by a leisurely afternoon exploring the area or, for the jet-lagged, maybe relaxing on a cafe terrace and checking out the bustling street-life? In the evening a welcome dinner serves as an introduction to Vietnam’s celebrated cuisine.
Photo themes: – street life, architecture, city scenes
Overnight: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) Transport: Walk, Meals: D,
Day 2 - Saigon - tour of some of the City's sights
Day tour combining some of Saigon’s famous sites – the fascinating but sobering War Museum, picturesque Jade Emperor Pagoda and Saigon’s own Notre Dame Cathedral – with the opportunity to explore the local markets and discover the vibrant, everyday life of the city and its inhabitants.
Photo themes: – street life, markets, pagodas, architecture
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City Transport: Minibus, Walk, Meals: B,
Day 3 - The Delta - south to My Tho and Cai Be
Travelling south from Ho Chi Minh City into the Mekong Delta, our first stop will be My Tho, the lively commercial centre and unofficial Delta capital. Here we’ll check-out the photogenic fresh market and lively waterfront activity before continuing to the scenic riverside town of Cai Be. Overnight on an island in a beautifully preserved French period villa.
Photo themes: – villages, local markets, portraits, Delta landscapes
Overnight: Cai Be Transport: Minibus, Boat, Walk, Meals: B, D,
Day 4 - The Mekong Delta - Can Tho and Xe Quit
Early morning visit to capture the light at Cai Be’s floating market from where we’ll continue by boat through the Delta with stops at some of the region’s cottage industries and farms as well as a canoe tour of the former Vietcong jungle base at Xe Quit Afternoon drive to Can Tho with its bustling waterfront and time at leisure to hone your technique in this friendly riverside town.
Photo themes: – floating markets, historical sites, river life, cottage industries
Overnight: Can Tho Transport: Minibus, Boat, Walk, Meals: B,
Day 5 - Can Tho to Chau Doc - floating market & sacred mountain
Dawn boat ride to Cai Rang floating market – one of the busiest and most photogenic in the Mekong Delta. Afterwards, we’ll head west to the small riverside town of Chau Doc on the Cambodian border where we’ll visit nearby, sacred Sam Mountain with its myriad shrines, temples and spectacular sunset views.
Photo themes: – floating markets, river life, landscapes, pagodas
Overnight: Chau Doc Transport: Minibus, Boat, Walk, Meals: B,
Day 6 - Phnom Penh - by river up the Mekong
Back on the Mekong for a departure by boat for Phnom Penh. Lunchtime arrival and check-in to a small, comfortable, downtown hotel. An afternoon, introductory walking tour, gives you a first-hand feel for the vibrant street-life and takes in the old French Quarter and riverfront before perhaps sundowners at the famous Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC)?
Photo themes: river scenes, street-life, architecture, portraits
Overnight: Phnom Penh Transport: Boat, Walk, Meals: B, D,
Day 7 - Phnom Penh - tour of some of the City's sights
Day tour of Cambodia’s completely chaotic but great fun capital where again we’ll mix the famous sites such as the tragic Killing Fields, highly moving Khmer Rouge Genocide Museum at Tuol Sleng and picturesque Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda with venturing down the back streets to discover everyday scenes, people and local markets.
Photo themes: – street scenes, markets, people, architecture, historical sites
Overnight: Phnom Penh Transport: Minibus, Walk, Meals: B,
Day 8 - Phnom Penh - street-life and Silk Island
Morning street photography tour in the bustling lanes of the Olympic district before heading off to Koh Dach – Silk Island. Despite being just a short hop from the city, it can seem a world away and allows us to experience traditional village life plus as well as the traditional silk weaving methods still employed on this picturesque Mekong island.
Photo themes: – markets, street-life, village scenes, handicrafts
Overnight: Phnom Penh Transport: Minibus, Boat, Meals: B,
Day 9 - On the road - upcountry to Siem Reap
Time to head upcountry through Cambodia’s scenic countryside to Siem Reap in Western Cambodia. Stops on the way include the famous ‘spider village’ of Skuon, a rarely visited but well-preserved 11th-century temple and of course any other photo-worthy sights we may see on the road. A sunset visit to the atmospheric ruins of Prei Rup completes our day.
Photo themes: – landscapes, countryside, villages, rural life, ‘on the road’
Overnight: Siem Reap Transport: Minibus, Walk, Meals: B,
Day 10 - Siem Reap - dawn at Angkor Wat
Angkor’s vast, jungle-clad temples and mysterious stone carvings are certainly one of Asia’s most photogenic and spectacular sights. We’ll begin with sunrise at Angkor Wat followed by a comprehensive tour of the temple itself. After a pause in Siem Reap to avoid the midday heat we propose a walking tour of the temples of Angkor Tom including the dramatic Bayon with its famous faces.
Photo themes: – architecture, ruined temples, Angkor dawn, landscapes
Precise temple itineraries depend on light and weather conditions.
Overnight: Siem Reap Transport: Minibus, Walk, Meals: B,
Day 11 - Angkor - jungle temples
An easy morning forest hike to Bakheng to capture the spectacular hill-top views before moving on to the vast jungle-clad ruin of Preah Khan. Enormous roots and towering trees make this atmospheric temple one of everyone’s favourites. Our afternoon tour is a short jungle walk to Ta Keo via the remote, rarely visited Ta Nei Temple. with a visit to the famous Ta Prom ruins (the Tomb Raider Temple) concluding our ‘jungle day’.
Photo themes: – architecture, ruined temples, landscapes, jungle flora & fauna
Overnight: Siem Reap Transport: Minibus, Walk, Meals: B,
Day 12 - Siem Reap - Beng Melea and afternoon at leisure
A huge, atmospheric temple complex, overgrown by jungle, Beng Melea is one of the most impressive Angkor monuments while its remote location provides plenty of rural and village scenes en-route. The afternoon is at leisure to relax by the pool, check out the spa, explore the local markets with your camera or even check-out Apopo’s mine-detecting giant rats!?
Photo themes: – markets, villages, landscapes, jungle temples
Overnight: Siem Reap Transport: Minibus, Walk, Meals: B,
Day 13 - Siem Reap - morning at leisure and end of tour
A morning at leisure includes time for a discussion, debriefing and perhaps some post-production assistance before a transfer to the airport at your convenience.
Photo themes: – post-production, editing, street-life
Extra nights in Siem Reap after, or in Saigon, prior, to your tour are available on request.
Airport transfers are included if you purchase the 'with flights' package. If you purchased your own flights, airport transfers can be arranged.
Overnight: Departure Transport: Walk, Meals: B,
Details
The nitty-gritty, the things you need to know, the answers to your burning questions.
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Highlights
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Map
Departures
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Hotels
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Visa Info & Notes
Just a few of the many highlights
A photographers' paradise! Highlights go from bustling street life and vibrant markets of Saigon and Phnom Penh, Mekong Delta river life, fabulous jungle-clad ruins of Angkor plus bucolic village scenes and exotic landscapes
- Hands-on photographic assistance and advice from our experienced, professional travel photographers
- An introductory tour of Cambodia's completely chaotic and hectic, but great fun, capital city, Phnom Penh
- Capture the landscapes of the Mekong Delta region: a labyrinth of waterways and islands with traditional villages and floating markets
- Travel by boat up the mighty Mekong River from Vietnam's border town of Chau Doc to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh
- Explore incredible Angkor and vast ruined temples clad in steamy jungle, including sunrise and sunset visits
- Sample the country's awesome and varied cuisine and meet some of the region's friendliest inhabitants
Air Departures (UK) *From
Land Departures
Guaranteed Places Left Special Price Solo Traveller Closed
*Air departures are from the UK. Land departures start from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
*Land departure dates correspond to the FIRST day of the itinerary.
We choose our hotels based on a combination of location, comfort and convenience. Here is a *selection of the types of hotel/rooms you can expect to stay at on this tour...
Sonnet Hotel Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) view
- Smart, new and comfortable the friendly Sonnet Hotel
- Great location in the heart of Saigon City
- Convenient for our city tour as well as leisure time
Ba Duc Ancient House Cai Be view
- Our night's accommodation on a Mekong Delta island
- A delightful old, converted French period villa
- Comfortable rooms and superb local cuisine
Kim Tho Hotel Can Tho
- Greta riverside location for the Kim Tho Hotel
- Our first choice in the Mekong Delta's Can Tho Town.
- Don't miss sundowners at their wonderful roof-top bar!
Hotel 252 Phnom Penh view
- Small, boutique-style and low-key
- Quiet but central location near cafes and restaurants
- Garden setting with pool and cafe
Villa Langka Phnom Penh view
- Lush garden setting with pool
- Very convenient central but quiet location
- Helpful, friendly and efficient staff
City River Hotel Siem Reap view
- City River is out first choice in Cambodia's Siem Reap.
- Rooftop pool; spa, riverside location, super friendly staff
- Only a 5 minute walk from the bustling Old Market district
*This list should be considered a guide only, hotels/rooms may change (without notice) depending on availability.
Visa Info & Notes
Vietnam – visas: Most nationalities, including citizens of the UK, Nordic countries, Germany, France and Italy can enter Vietnam for up to a maximum of 15 days without a visa.
For visits of up to 30 days and most other nationalities, you can get an e-visa online (Vietnam e-visa) before you travel for $25 US. Use of the e-visa is limited to certain entry/exit points which you must select at the time of application. For land crossings please ask.
There are legitimate companies that can arrange visas on arrival, but you must organise this before you arrive in Vietnam. There are also a number of bogus companies claiming to offer this service. Several of our clients have used vietnam-visa.com/ with positive comments but they are entirely independent of us and we have no responsibility for them.
Cambodia – visas: For most nationalities, a visa on arrival is issued at airports and all land borders used on our tours. Visa fees and conditions are subject to change but are usually $30 payable in cash in US dollars. A passport photo is required. Tourist visas are issued for 30 days from entry into Cambodia. Alternatively, e-visas (so cutting down on queuing time at the airport) are now available for many nationalities https://www.evisa.gov.kh/
Both: When entering Cambodia or Vietnam make sure you get an entry stamp in your passport and keep your departure card. Passport validity: Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry. You may be refused entry if your passport is damaged or in poor condition.
Meals: While Vietnamese cuisine needs no introduction, the much lesser-known Khmer food shows both Thai and Vietnamese influences though with plenty of unique dishes too. Dishes in both countries are only mildly spicy and both vegetarians and vegans are very easily catered for. For any other likes and dislikes please remind your tour-leader at the start of the tour.
Accommodation: all choices fall into the comfortable 3* range and are en-suite and air-conditioned and, where possible, with pools. We have posted a selection of sample accommodation on the lefthand hotel tab but please note that as we try and avoid the larger hotels, availability, in high season particularly, means we use several options in each destination.
Activities: note that no activities are compulsory and that any offered can be tailored for various fitness levels or alternatives suggested.
Further info: detailed descriptions and photos can be found on the corresponding page of our travel blog.
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