The　second　generation　bandelet　transform　uses　the　two-dimensional　(2D)　separable　wavelet　transform　to　improve　its　image　denoising　and　compression　performance.　However,　the　2D　separable　wavelet　transform　is　not　a　shift-invariant　transform　and　therefore　cannot　capture　geometric　information　well.　The　authors　propose　a　hybrid　image　denoising　method　in　which　the　2D　separable　wavelet　transform　in　the　second　generation　bandelet　transform　is　replaced　with　the　non-subsampled　contourlet　transform.　The　results　of　the　application　of　the　proposed　method　to　several　greyscale　and　colour　benchmark　images　contaminated　with　various　levels　of　Gaussian　white　noise　and　Poisson　noise　indicate　that　the　proposed　method　has　good　peak　signal-to-noise　ratio　and　visual　quality　performance.