In my opinion, this is a country that really does tick all the boxes. There’s spectacular scenery, exciting and dynamic cities and Vietnam has a rich history and a fascinating culture. Plus the Vietnamese are really friendly people and the food is delicious. And there are numerous glorious beaches to relax after you’ve finished touring. It's also a great value destination - so you can get more tour for your money!
When to go and for how long? Vietnam is a very long country – it’s 1650 km from North to South (think London to Barcelona!) with very different weather patterns dependent on the region. November to April is when there is the least rain, but February and March are ideal months when the weather patterns line up to mean it’s dry through the whole country.
I’d recommend at least 12-14 days to get a feel for this wonderful destination. And more if you want a few days at the beach or would like to combine your Vietnam tour with a visit to the fabulous Angkor temples in Cambodia – both options are very easy to organize. You can even take a luxury cruise up the Mekong River from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh in Cambodia.
Escorted Tour or Private Journey? As with many South East Asia destinations, you’ll need to decide whether to go on an escorted tour or embark on a private journey. In my view, a private journey is by far the best way to see the country. It’s designed to reflect your particular interests and preferences and provides you with ultimate flexibility in terms of dates, length of the holiday and style of accommodation – and, perhaps most importantly, the pace of the trip is absolutely up to you. Many escorted tours pack in several short stays in different places to try and cram everything in – which can result in a very rushed and superficial experience. On a bespoke private journey, all your tours and excursions will be just for you and you’ll be transferred from place to place using private transfers. No trailing around after a group of 20-30 people (and sometimes more!) A private journey also enables you to visit the path less travelled.
North Vietnam – Hanoi. Combining canary-yellow French palaces with colourful and chaotic market streets dating back to the imperial dynasties, Hanoi is the place to soak up the atmosphere of old Vietnam. Hanoi still retains the flavour of Vietnam in the early twentieth century. This is particularly true of its Old Quarter, where rows of old-fashioned guild shops sell everything from copper pots to cakes, while live music drifts out of grungy bars into alleys crowded with plastic stools and street-food carts.
Hanoi isn't short on impressive monuments (the 11th century Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh’s brutalist mausoleum are two very different, but equally impressive, examples), but for me the Vietnamese capital is really all about soaking up the atmosphere of an old-style Asian city.
North Vietnam – Halong Bay/Lan Ha Bay. The unique beauty of Halong Bay, with its towering limestone karsts, make this a natural wonder worthy of a UNESCO World Heritage listing. South of Halong Bay, the karst islands and limestone outcrops of Lan Ha are just as beautiful but feel more isolated and untouched. Both are best explored on an overnight boat tour, which usually includes a stop at a beach and the chance to get out on the water to kayak.
Tours can also include activities like hiking and rock climbing, as well as homestays on some of the islands.
Northern Vietnam – Tonkinese Alps, Sapa and Mai Chau. Sapa has been a favourite mountain retreat since the colonial French built a hill station here in the early 20th century to escape the sweltering heat of the lowlands. This is the quintessential Asian landscape of mist-cloaked peaks, where lush green rice terraces climb the mountainsides and the greenery is only occasionally interrupted by the grey, pitched roofs of farming villages. Visit the villages and markets of the local Hmong, Dao, Tay, Thai, Nung and Giay minorities where the locals still typically wear traditional costumes.
If you have less time, or you want a more off the beaten track experience, Mai Chau is a fantastic option. Nestled into the Mai Chau valley you’ll see beautiful rice paddies and explore local villages.
Central Vietnam – Hoi An. Hoi An is Vietnam’s most atmospheric and delightful town. Once a major port, it has fascinating architecture and a lovely riverside setting and traffic and pollution are almost entirely absent. With its Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples and ancient tea warehouses, Hoi An is a wonderful place explored on foot. And at night, stroll the streets and be delighted by the many hanging lanterns. This is particularly special on the 14th day of each lunar month when the Old Town turns off its electric lights and is lit solely by colourful lanterns for the Full Moon Festival.
Central Vietnam – Hue. As the former capital of the last royal dynasty of Vietnam, Hue is easily the best place in Vietnam to soak up a bit of imperial history – and it’s a great jumping-off point for visiting the war sites at the former border of North and South Vietnam. Best known for its royal mausoleums, imperial citadel, and iconic pagodas, but with a fantastic and rich cuisine, Hue is also a mecca for foodies.
South Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City. More modern and cosmopolitan than Hanoi yet this city still retains a distinct sense of its own character and history — with 1920s French villas, red-brick Notre Dame cathedral, and the vaulted ceilings of the 19th century Central Post Office. A blend of old and new, it definitely merits two or three days’ exploration. Crossing the road here is a great adventure – but you soon get the hang of it!
South Vietnam – Mekong Delta. Buzzing with longtail taxi boats and crowded with barges piled with mangoes, pineapples and fresh fish, a trip to the Mekong Delta is all about getting to know the rhythms of life on the water. Nicknamed ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’, the Mekong Delta yields a large proportion of the country’s fresh produce. You can see the region’s flourishing agricultural trade at one of the many floating markets where stalls take the form of boats that converge at trading posts on the water in large numbers. Cruise along the river in a converted rice barge visiting villages and temples en route.
Beaches. Vietnam has a great choice of beach destinations that can be easily added to the end of a touring itinerary
Con Dao- An archipelago off the South East Coast, 45 minutes away from Ho Chi Minh City.
Phu Quoc
- An island in the Gulf of Thailand, a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City.
Nha Trang- Fishing village with its own microclimate in Central Vietnam – 300 days of sunshine a year!
Mui Ne- 4 hours by road from Ho Chi Minh City, one of the driest places in Vietnam.
Qui Nhon and Lang Co in central Vietnam are also beautiful, hidden away, and great for a beach escape away from civilisation.
Eating and Drinking. Thai food may be the most heralded of all the Southeast Asian cuisines, but true connoisseurs would go for Vietnamese food every time. Light, subtle in flavour and hugely varied, dishes are boiled or steamed rather than stir-fried, with an emphasis on herbs and seasoning – no great surprise in this land of diverse climates.
Vietnamese food is so much more than bowls of pho noodle soup and banh mi sandwiches. Each region has its own specialties based on local produce and local cooking techniques.
Shopping Vietnam is a delight if you like to bring back handicrafts from your travels. There’s beautiful lacquerware, lovely textiles from hilltribe villages and Vietnamese silk and tailoring in Hoi An. If you like shopping for housewares, you’ll be very tempted by the gorgeous pottery and ceramics and the vast array of basketware. Or pick up a colourful paper lantern as a souvenir of your trip - you'll see them everywhere in Hoi An.
Special Experiences There are numerous opportunities to get under the skin of Vietnam or off the beaten track with interesting tours and excursions.
Cyclo tour - explore the streets of Hanoi or the countryside of Hoi An by cyclo. This is a great way to see the city and avoid the traffic!
Street food tour - the cuisines of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are distinctly different. Sample food with a local blogger, or jump on the back of a vespa and see the city whilst sampling delicious food!
Homestay - this is one of the most authentic ways to get deeper into Vietnamese culture. Stay with a family, eat incredible food (and help out with cooking if you want to), and have unforgettable conversations.
Countryside cycling - a wonderful way to see more of Vietnam’s beautiful countryside. Ninh Binh, Phong Nha, and Mai Chau are great places to do this.
Boat trips - whether over a few nights or just a few hours, spending time on the water is a must in Vietnam. This is possible all over the country, but especially so in Halong Bay and the Mekong Delta.
How much will it cost? I work with your budget, tailoring everything to your requirements, interests, and how much you want to spend. And of course if you travel outside the peak season, flights and accommodation will be better value.
A 10 day holiday , focusing on one region will start at around £3000 per person.
For a 10-14 day holiday, travelling across multiple regions, you can expect to pay from £3500 -4000 per person. And if you want to add in a bit of extra luxury or beach time prices would start at around £4500 per person.
Any quote will include flights, transfers, accommodation, tours and private guides, breakfast (and sometimes lunch and dinner).
Why book with me?
I pride myself on my customer service and will look after you from the time you first contact me until the day you arrive home. If you don’t believe me, check out my reviews on Google which are consistently 5*. I’m a safe pair of hands – I’ve done it, been there, got the T-shirt. Vietnam is one of my favourite destinations – not only have I travelled around the country myself, I’ve arranged numerous successful trips for clients – who always come home saying it was the trip of a lifetime!
“We found the whole trip completely stress-free, with fantastic planning, organisation and communication. Thank you again for sorting the best trip we could have had!” Liz and David
Get in touch, and let's start planning that Bucket List trip to this fantastic destination.
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