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Exploring Vietnam Holidays

How To Spend Your Time

It is best to look at Vietnam as three distinct regions; the north, the centre and the south. All three have their own unique appeal and are easily reached by affordable and quick internal flights.

Two key highlights of the country include cruising the incredible Halong Bay in the north on a traditional wooden junk, where hundreds of islets jut out from emerald coloured water for miles on end, and visiting the quaint city of Hoi An in the centre, which has it all – quaint architecture, fabulous tailors and shopping, incomparable food and a great beach. If you only have a week in Vietnam we’d recommend combining these two with a day or two in the beautifully chaotic capital of Hanoi.

If you have a few more days or a second week you could also visit the fascinating hill tribe communities and endless rice paddy terraces of the north in Sapa or Mai Chau – or you could head to the Mekong Delta in the south, where miles of canals, rivers and streams blur into one big watery mass of floating markets, mangroves and succulent fruits. You may also wish to stop off at Hue, in the centre, which is the country’s old Imperial capital boasting dozens of Royal tombs and the impressive Imperial Palace.

Of course no trip to Vietnam would be complete without a little bit of beach time, which we think is the perfect place to round off any holiday. Our favourite beach destinations are the islands of Con Dao and Phu Quoc, off the coast of Vietnam, which offer crystal clear still water and miles of stunning sandy shores. On the mainland you will also find Nha Trang, a lively beach town with some incredibly luxurious resorts and Mui Ne, which is sleepier but perhaps all the prettier for it, as well as Da Nang and Hoi An in the centre.

No matter what time of year you visit, there will always be somewhere with the sun and the sand; being a long tropical country the climate varies enormously from north to south. If you have longer than a week we recommend flying into Hanoi in the north and out of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the south, or vice versa.

Take a look at our sample itineraries to give you a flavour of what your Vietnam holiday could look like. But rest assured, we specialize in tailor-made holidays so anything can be crafted to suit your unique tastes.

Hanoi
This vibrant capital of Vietnam has a fascinating display of street life, food and architecture in its charming Old Quarter – let us take you on a walking tour down its winding alleyways, weaving through hundreds of motorbikes and fruit sellers. It's our favourite city and we've found a selection of fabulous boutique hotels. More
Mai Chau & Pu Bin
This glorious rural corner of the country offers a mountainous landscape full of rice paddies, greenery and tribal groups. We love it because it's a bit more off the beaten track than the more popular Sapa area and have even established our very wooden stilt homestay in a local community. This is the place to head for hiking, cycling and just observing a more simple life. More
Sapa
The ultimate mountain retreat in Vietnam - Sapa is a night train away from the capital, Hanoi. Those who venture here are rewarded with the image of colourful tribal groups set against a backdrop of green mountains and terraced rice paddies. Some of the most beautiful scenery of Vietnam is on offer - although the tourist traffic can be high in peak season. More
Halong Bay
The must-see attraction of Vietnam: Hundreds of islets pierce through the waters of an emerald green bay. We have a fabulous selection of one and two-night cruises on offer, which are without a doubt the best way to see this area of outstanding beauty. More
Ninh Binh
A lovely slice of rural life is on offer here. We especially love Ninh Binh during the summer butterfly and rice harvest seasons. Expect gorgeous caves, wooden boat rides and pretty cycle rides. We especially love the Emeralda Resort here. More
Hue
The old imperial capital - this is the place to head for an insight in the ancient kings and dynasties of Vietnam. Set on the banks of the idyllic Perfume River, you can explore magnificent royal tombs of Kings gone by and the old Imperial Palace (that despite suffering in the American war is still well worth a visit). And we have discovered a fabulous selection of hideaway resorts. More
Hoi An
This is the place that has it all; arguably the best architecture, cuisine, shopping (tailors aplenty) and beaches of all of Vietnam. Most who make it here never want to leave - this Unesco World Heritage town is full of fabulous old Japanese merchants homes, French colonial homes and classic Vietnamese styles. Pick up a bike and explore on two wheels. More
Nha Trang
Home to some of our favourite beach resorts in all of Vietnam, Nha Trang offers a little piece of Paradise on the coast of Vietnam. The town itself lacks a little inspiration but if you're looking for sand, sun and luxury then look no further. More
Mui Ne
Sun, surf and sand, oh my! This lovely little fishing-cum-beach town has a plethora of fabulous resorts and boutique hotels. World renowned for kite surfing and waterspouts, Mui Ne is a great beach destination. More
Dalat
A popular weekend getaway for the Vietnamese, Dalat offers a cooler climate in the mountains. Lovely walks along with more adrenalin-fuelled activities like canyoning and mountain biking are on offer here. More
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
The mad, modern metropolis of Vietnam is alive with the sound of a thousand motorbikes. Officially named Ho Chi Minh City but affectionately know as Saigon by the locals, this city is fun and fast paced. It's the ideal base from which to explore the infamous tunnels of the Vietnam War where guerrillas and there families lived for many years. More
Mekong Delta
This enormous waterway of canals, streams and rivers is a lifeline for the locals - and people watching is perhaps the best activity of all on the Mekong Delta. Get up early for the floating markets or perhaps watch it lazily with a beer in hand from the sun deck on one of our cruises. More
Phu Quoc Island
Attention all beach lovers! This is the penultimate beach destination in all of Vietnam. Whether you are taken by its serenely calm waters, long sandy beach or cute cottage-like accommodation, Phu Quoc is stealing hearts across the world. We especially love it after sunset when lanterns and candles are lit on tables along the beach. In fact, we can't think of a more perfect setting for a seafood feast, while digging your toes into the sand. More
Con Dao Islands
If the budget can stretch to it, the Con Dao islands offer one of the most luxurious and beautiful beach experiences in Vietnam. Leave the rest of the world behind you when you enter Six Senses Con Dao, which feels like an ultimate private-island getaway. More

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