Tour Length:

3 Days

Location:

Bắc Hà

Departure Date:

June 9, 2023

Group Size:

6 People

TOUR TYPE:

Photography Workshop

Bac Ha Horse Racing

Join us for one of northern Vietnam’s most colourful and exciting festivals. The Bac Ha Horse Races draw thousands of ethnic minority spectators to this scenic mountain town, making for a carnival of colour and festivity. Jockeys come from H’mong, Nung and Dzao villages all over the province, and riding bareback, compete in both team and individual races. Our trip means a chance to explore and photograph this unique event, while learning how to create, pace and picture a photojournalistic story. We base ourselves at the homestay of our Tay minority friends on the banks of the River Chay, and the weekend also includes a journey by longboat and landscape workshop in the stunning nearby valleys.

Bac Ha

Some information on Bac Ha

Departure from: Hanoi
Date: 2024
Price: TBC per person

What to Expect

Day 1 - Hanoi - Bac Ha (Overnight train)

8:30pm – Meet on the steps outside Hanoi Railway station, Tran Quy Cap Street and prepare to board our train at 9pm. We’ll get to know one another, cover some camera and photography essentials and talk over the tour before turning in for the night.

Day 2 – Bac Ha

6am – We arrive at Lao Cai Station and after a quick breakfast board our minibus for Bac Ha. The trip takes around 2 hours.

8:30am – Time to drop off our luggage at the hotel and freshen up before a review of photography essentials like settings and composition. We then head up to Bac Ha town to capture the day’s action at the festival, including the final races and presentation of prizes.

12pm – We have lunch in Bac Ha town and a review of pictures before heading back to the homestay.

2:30 pm – After a short rest, we take a trip by longboat up the River Chay, with an opportunity for some fantastic landscape shots as well as a swim at Hang Tien (Fairy Cave)

4:30pm – We return to the homestay and have a picture selection session before dinner at 6pm.

Day 3 – Bac Ha - Hanoi (Minibus)

6am – An early start for sunrise in a valley near town.

8am – We return to Bac Ha for breakfast before exploring the Bac Ha ethnic minority market

12pm – We reconvene for lunch, followed by coffee and picture selection.

2pm – We climb aboard our minibus and head back to Hanoi, arriving in the capital at around 7pm.

Guiding Team

Eileen Sjoqvist

Photographer

Our photographers are no ordinary guides. We’re adventurers, teachers and assistants, as well as experienced shooters. We’re up at dawn to catch the best light, and always looking out for the unexpected moments and details that make for great photography. Our guides are committed to making sure you enjoy exploring Vietnam through photography as much as we do. Your pictures and your experience are always the priority.

Photographer Tung Phan will lead our 2024 tour to Bac Ha. Tung is a Hanoi-based photographer with a Master’s degree in International Journalism from Sussex University in the UK, With a solid foundation in journalism and broadcasting, Tung brings a unique perspective to his work, capturing the essence and stories of Vietnam through the lens of his camera

Image Gallery

People

Tour Information

Recommended Equipment

Digital Camera
Drone
Selections of lens
Cable release
Tripod
Memory cards
CPL & ND Graduated filters
Laptop/tablet
Storage device

What's included

Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
All transportation
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Daily activities and excursions as indicated in the itinerary
local guides and government permits
Photography Workshop with our photographer leader

What's not included

Gratuities
Alcoholic beverages
Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
Visas

Level of Difficulty

Moderate Physical activity (Walking)

Tour Length

3 Days
Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 minutes prior to this time

Seasonality

Horse Racing in Bac Ha is an annual event on the given dates. however Bac Ha is well worth visiting at any stage during the year and we are happy to arrange such tours on request.

FAQ

Do you offer any discount

Yes. We offer a 10% early bird discount on all featured tours if bookings are received 6 months in advance of departure.

What is the Payment Process

We take an initial holding deposit of $500 per person, which is non-refundable (unless we call off the trip for some reason). The remainder is due 3 months in advance of the departure date. We also confirm tour departure at this point, and people can go ahead and book flights.

What are you Cancellation Fees

Our Cancellation policy includes the following fees and cut of periods:

90 to 61 days before departure is 25% of the trip price.

60 to 46 days before departure is 50% of the trip price.

45-0 days prior to departure is 100% of the trip price.

What is the maximum group size

We take a maximum number of 5 guests per 1 tour leader. With larger groups we will split between 2 tour leaders.

Do I need insurance

Yes, you do. You will be asked to sign a legally-binding liability disclaimer before tour departure

Can my non-photographer partner and / or kids come along

Yes, they are most welcome.

What should I bring

Please see the What to Bring list included in each itinerary

Should I book my flight to arrive one or two days before the tour starts

It’s a good idea to do this, as you’ll have a chance to get over the jetlag and do a bit of exploring before the action begins. We can help you arrange accommodation and adventures.

Is everything included

Yes, apart from your own shopping and alcohol (but we’ll cover some wine and beer along the way, don’t worry)

How late can I book

As early as possible – tours book up fast

How late can I cancel and retrieve my payment

Please see terms and conditions included on each tour page

Vietnam in Focus Limited – License No: 0105989870 – 7th Floor, Hanoi Creative Building, no 1 Luong Yen street, Bach Dang, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi, Vietnam.