Leonie Norton
Art is my profession, my interest, my pastime and my passion. I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember and I am also a professional botanical artist. Sketching is the balance in my life. I love to travel and what better way to do it than to record the people and places in my sketches. Travel sketching combines a holiday with sketching.
Teaching others and sharing my skills and knowledge gives me enjoyment and satisfaction. As well as teaching workshops I also take sketching groups away, both in Australia and overseas. I have been the only Australian artist invited to teach at the renowned and prestigious Marlborough College in Wiltshire, England. My sketches have also been published in magazines.
Sketching is about capturing your memories of people and places and recording these in your sketchbook. When looking back over your sketches, you will find they can bring back instant recall – of the type of day it was, aromas from local cooking, and even people you have met and the foods you have eaten.
Day 1 - Hanoi, Vietnam (31 Oct 2026)
Arrive to Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, Vietnam
NOTE we will collect you from the airport whatever time you arrive - day or night.
There is no programme on Arrivals Day - our guests come from all over the world.
Hotel check-in available from 2.00pm.
Day 2 - Hanoi (1 Nov )
Hanoi Morning
Our hotel is in the Old City not far from Hoàn Kiếm Lake, try and fit in at least one 6.30 am walk to the lake – this is optional, but it is the best time of the day at the Lake.
All the locals are doing Tai Chi, dancing and having fun, go the first day and you will be hooked.
We will meet at 9.00am for an introductory session with Leonie before heading out for the day.
The National Art Museum has a lovely collection, especially their old Buddhist Art and they are happy for visitors to sketch.
We will take our time, look and sketch and then meet in their cafe for lunch.
The Temple of Literature is a stunning structure as well as having an impressive history.
Founded in 1070 under Emperor Lý Thánh Tông, it later became home to the Imperial Academy - Vietnam’s first national university - from 1076 to 1779.
It’s a wonderful place to linger, sketch, and observe: students arriving to seek blessings and admirers like us simply soaking in the atmosphere.
In the evening let's celebrate our coming adventure together over dinner.
inc B,L,D
Day 3 - Mai Chou (2 Nov)
Today we are heading to the White Thai Minority area of Mai Chou.
Think green rice fields, bamboo covered hills, a winding stream and White Thai handmade wooden stilt houses - you will find plenty to catch your eye to sketch.
We will arrive in time to have lunch with Dui, a fabulous local woman and great cook, then settle into our hotel.
Afternoon session with Leonie and inspiration from our stunning location.
The pool might be a distraction or a good refresher before you pick up your pencil again!
Inc B, L ,D
Day 4 - Mai Chou (3 Nov)
Let's explore our local area a little and find a spot to sketch.
Slow Travel today and lot's of creative time with Leonie there to offer suggestions and support.
inc B,L,D
Day 5 - Tam Coc (4 Nov)
We are heading across country to Tam Coc, the area is often called the Ha Long Bay of the ricefeilding with its array of stunning Karst Rocks dotting the landscape.
Lunch will be home-cooked by a family we have been visiting since Leonie's first sketch trip to Vietnam with us in 2008!
The home is by a little river, you might like to make a quick sketch here or take a walk after lunch along the river path.
We reach Tam Coc mid-afternoon.
Tam Coc, meaning ‘three caves’ or ‘three grottos’, is named for the neighbouring caves of Ca, Hai and Ba. The region is celebrated for its breathtaking scenery - limestone mountains, winding rivers, rice fields, and limestone caves.
In the afternoon, we will be rowed gently along the river. Keep your sketchbook on your knees to capture quick impressions as the landscape unfolds slowly around us.
inc B,L
Day 6 - Hanoi (5 Nov)
In the morning we will visit Thai Vi Temple, it is a peaceful place to sit, contemplate life and sketch.
In the afternoon we will head up to Hanoi and a free evening
inc B,L
Day 7 -Hanoi (6 Nov)
In the morning we will visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, situated near West Lake,
take your time and sketch we will meet at a local cafe for lunch togather and to work with Leonie.
Afternoon is free - why not head to the beautiful Red Bridge in Haon Liem Lake just near our hotel?
Enjoy the Water Puppet performance this evening, it brings out the inner child in us all.
inc B, L
Day 8 - Lan Ha Bay (7 Nov)
Today we are heading to the World Heritage Ha Long Bay and we will baord and sleep on a beautiful wooden boat.
Relax, sketch, behaps kayak or be rowed into a grotto, it is peaceful and creative time.
inc B,L,D
Day 9 - Hanoi (8 Nov)
A slow morning cruising, we will visit a fisherman's village on Cat Ba Island and then head back to Hanoi.
and afternoon round up session with Leonie and then a Farewell Dinner to celebrate our lovely adventure.
B,L,D
Day 10 -Departures (9 Nov 2026)
Depart from Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, Vietnam
NOTE we will drop you to the airport whatever time you arrive - day or night.
inc B
Materials List
MATERIALS LIST
➢ HB Pencil or clutch pencil 0.5mm HB
➢ Pencil sharpener
➢ Black Pigment Liners or Drafting Pens
0.05mm water resistant (Staedtler is one brand)
➢ White plastic eraser
➢ Grey kneadable eraser
➢ Waterbrushes (available at art shops)
➢ Coloured pencils, can be aquarelle but will be used dry and can be used in conjunction with paint. Optional.
SKETCHBOOKS
These are available in all shapes and sizes. Use cold pressed 300gm (smooth not rough) paper.
o 8 x 5 in is a good size.
o You can purchase an A4 pad and have it cut in halves and bound at Officeworks for an excellent sketchbook.
➢ DO NOT bring cartridge paper in your sketchbooks. This will buckle.
WATERCOLOURS
➢ Pan sets or 5ml tubes. Compact Pocket Travelling Watercolour Pan sets eg. Winsor & Newton Cotmans brand.
➢ Waterbrush Pens. Has reservoir for water and nylon brush. Available Art Shops in small, medium or large. Medium is a good all round size.
➢ Small box Tissues
USEFUL WATERCOLOURS ARE:
Various palettes will have different colours. This is not a problem.
Just bring what you have. T
here are also empty palettes you can buy and fill them with tube watercolours if you already have tube colours.
Cadmium Lemon
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ochre
Cadmium Red
Permanent Rose
Alizarin Crimson
Winsor Violet Quinacridone Magenta
Burnt Umber
Burnt Sienna
French Ultramarine
Cerulean Blue
Sepia
Naples Yellow
COLOURED PENCILS
If you would like to use coloured pencils, bring a selection of colours. It does not matter if they are water soluble or not. These can be used for sketching, or in conjunction with watercolour.
They can also be purchased individually.
Some useful green coloured pencil colours are:
Sap Green, Olive Green, Pine Green, Cedar Green, Apple Green
Fitness
Physical Fitness for Sightseeing
This adventure is designed for enthusiastic, active travellers with a good general level of health and mobility.
To make the most of your experience, you’ll need to be comfortable walking for 3 to 4 hours a day - sometimes over uneven ground, up hills, and a few flights of stairs.
Getting in and out of local transport and navigating occasional over-the-bath showers may also be part of the journey.
If you’re up for a bit of daily movement and love immersing yourself on foot, you’ll thrive on this tour.
Just a heads-up - it is not be the best match for those who like to take things very slowly or need lots of rest stops along the way.
