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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Traveling to Viet Nam...looking for suggestions.
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 02/06/2006 10:40:07 AM · #1
Does anyone have any experience with the Tamrac 5258 Cyberpack 8 or have any other suggestions for other camera bags?
I have a pelican hard case but we're traveling overseas (to Viet Nam) in several months to pick up our newest family addition. We'll be traveling, probably around Hanoi, for 20'ish days with a toddler so I need something I can carry comfortably. Keep in mind I plan to bring my 17" Powerbook, 20D body, 3-4 lens and our video camera.
I found one of the aforementioned packs on eBay for a good deal cheaper than retail. Is it worth it?
Oh, also, I've read in other forums about the horrors of traveling through customs with a computer, any suggestions on that?

Thanks in advance!
~Nicole
02/06/2006 12:32:29 PM · #2
No one with any overseas traveling experiences to share??

~Nicole
 02/06/2006 02:49:32 PM · #3
I travelled Vietnam 3 months ago with pretty much that kit. I carried everything in one large Crumpler bag as hand luggage on the aeroplane, with a smaller photo Lowepro photo runner bag in my cargo luggage. I ended up carrying around the smaller bag most of the time with just a couple of lenses.

I am not sure what your travelling plans are inside Vietnam, but most of the photographs that I took were on the street outside and the odd shot inside a temple. I managed with my walkaround 17-85mm IS for 99% of shots, but had my 300mm zoom for the odd photo here and there and 50mm for the odd portrait/low level shot. I hardly used my flash (only for a bit of fill occasionally. I only took the big bag of lenses, flash etc out when I knew we were going to shoot some challenging scenes (sunset/sunrise, night, lots of inside or macro shots).

I did not take my laptop. I am not sure what your plans are for the laptop, but I cannot imagine needing to take it out anywhere. In fact, there are a lot of photo shops that will burn you a CD from CF if you needed some storage on the go when on the street. You may be able to leave it in your room (where are you staying? We stayed at the Sofitel Metropole, which was v nice and was v secure seeming/trustworthy from a "leaving valuables in room" point of view).

Not much help in bags, I am afraid, but Vietnam was great photographically. I recommend the street markets, getting photos with lots of conical hats in the frame (they are more iconic for the country than any building!), Halong Bay (north of Hanoi), walking around the French quarter, taking the rickshaws everywhere (cheap, easy, excellent fun).

Have a great trip!
 02/06/2006 03:10:45 PM · #4
Hi Nicole,

I went to Vietnam this past summer. I can't really help you out with the backpack. I didn't bring nearly as much stuff as you are going. I was actually afraid of it getting stolen or something. I'm known to not be careful enough so I only brought my D70 a 18-70mm lens, a tripod, and my portable photo storage unit and I did not find myself needing any more than that. But if you are staying up north definitely check out Ha Long Bay. It's awesome and there are a lot of tour companies that will take you out there on a boat trip complete with meals. It can either be a day trip or an overnight trip, staying on Cat Ba Island. I went with a tour company called Sinh Cafe. They were good.
 02/06/2006 03:26:22 PM · #5
Thanks for the advice guys. I was unaware about the photo places being able to burn discs from CF cards! Thats great! We're going there to finish an international adoption and pick up our toddler so I was wanting to bring my laptop to transfer from the CF card as well as the MiniDV camera we have.
I believe that we will be staying at the Somerset Grand in Hanoi so we'll have the opportunity to hook up to the internet in our room/apartment. I'd really like to keep up our blog with photos and stories for our family since we'll be there nearly 20 days.

Thanks for the locale advice too!

~Nicole
 02/06/2006 03:32:49 PM · #6
Originally posted by coley3:
Thanks for the advice guys. I was unaware about the photo places being able to burn discs from CF cards! Thats great! We're going there to finish an international adoption and pick up our toddler so I was wanting to bring my laptop to transfer from the CF card as well as the MiniDV camera we have.
I believe that we will be staying at the Somerset Grand in Hanoi so we'll have the opportunity to hook up to the internet in our room/apartment. I'd really like to keep up our blog with photos and stories for our family since we'll be there nearly 20 days.

Thanks for the locale advice too!

~Nicole


Congratulations on your new addition it must be a wonderful time for you. Wishing you all the best in the future.
 02/06/2006 04:49:53 PM · #7
Lowepro Computrekker. It fits my 17" laptop... 20D body with battery grip, 4-5 lenses, both 580ex flashes, and a bunch of misc. stuff. I think mine was about $150 on ebay.
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