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.
Departure from: Hanoi
Date: 2024
Price: TBC per person
What to Expect
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.
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
Image Gallery
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.
