Vietnam

Let Us Plan Your Travel to Vietnam

Vietnam is pure exoticism. Whatever the mind conjures for a trip to southeast Asia – buzzing cities, atmospheric temples, delectable street food, idyllic white-sand beaches – it’s all here in Vietnam…and here in abundance.

In recent years Vietnam has exploded as an upmarket tourist destination. Once primarily a fixture on the southeast Asia backpacker circuit, it has lately seen a catalogue of high-end hotel openings, coupled with an emerging wealth of keen and knowledgeable guides, drivers, experience hosts, restauranteurs, hoteliers…all passionate about their home, and passionate to present it at its finest.

Many of course will have complex associations with Vietnam. You may have grown up in a time when Vietnam featured heavily on the nightly news – rarely if ever in a good light. The Vietnam of the past however bears no relation to the Vietnam of the present. Today it is fast becoming Asia’s next great ‘tiger economy’; its cities are vibrant hives of entrepreneurial activity, pulsating day and night, with a work-hard, play-hard mentality clear to see.

This stands in stark contrast to rural Vietnam. Head out of the cities to find stillness and tranquillity amongst emerald green rice terraces, karst hill ranges, and tropical backwaters. In northern Vietnamese rural destinations such as Sapa, Pu Luong, and Mai Chau you’ll also find a kaleidoscopic patchwork of hilltribe villages, each with distinct dress and dialect, often displaying a lifestyle which has experienced little change for centuries.

As to the future of Vietnam – it’s among the most dynamic and rapidly-developing nations on the planet, and continues to excite and surprise us here at UTC. All we can say is “go now” – Vietnam certainly won’t be waiting around for you.

Our Luxury Tours of Vietnam

The possibilities really are endless with Vietnam. There’s a lot of ground to cover and a consistently high level of accommodation and service in even the remotest corners of the country, so whether you’re focusing solely on Vietnam itself, or looking to use it as the centrepiece of a wider Indochina tour, the question isn’t where to go – it’s where to stop!

Choosing what to include in your luxury tour of Vietnam will largely depend on the pace of travel you prefer and how much time you have to do it in. A whistle-stop highlights tour – covering principal destinations Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City – could be completed in a short but sweet 10 days. A more complete tour – with the odd extra day in these destinations and also taking additional time to see more of culturally and scenically rich rural Vietnam – would demand around 14-16 days. Options to combine with neighbouring Cambodia or Laos are endless, are we really wouldn’t encourage trying to do too much – you can always come back again after all! – but a comprehensive Grand Tour of Indochina would be around three weeks.

Our specialists have put together a brief selection of sample tours, picking out the most efficient routes and highlighting some of our favourite hotels and experiences. This is the just the tip of the iceberg: whatever style of traveller you are, however long you’re planning to travel for, and whoever you’re travelling with, we’ll come up with an epic Vietnam tour to suit.

With its stunning landscapes, idyllic beaches, magnificent colonial buildings, colorful culture, and friendly people, Vietnam is an especially seductive destination for honeymooners. Enjoy everything from spending your days on the sand to discovering UNESCO World Heritage Sites and private candlelit cave dinners. The cuisine is exquisite with its perfect blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. Plus, it can all be done at a rather budget-friendly price with the country being one of the most affordable destinations in Asia.

It’s the little details that matter most

When it comes to planning your dream honeymoon it is the little things that make it truly unforgettable, like private experiences, complimentary couples’ massages, champagne sundowners, candlelit dinners, and sunset sails. Our travel experts can help create these unique experiences and even add a little extra through our contacts for that extra special honeymoon.

Our guide on the best places to visit in Vietnam

Most first-time tours of Vietnam will focus on 5 or 6 key locations. Vietnam’s two principal cities of course: capital Hanoi in the north, and buzzing metropolis Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the south. The dramatic scenery of Halong Bay and neighbouring Lan Ha Bay are unmissable. In the central regions, the former Imperial capital Hue offers superb historical sightseeing, while nearby Hoi An is Vietnam’s great all-round destination: a charming heritage town packed with great shops and eateries, a perfect white-sand beach, a wealth of activities on offer in the nearby countryside, and some of the country’s best hotels. If time permits a night or two down in the sultry Mekong Delta south of Saigon offers alluring tropical scenery and fascinating slice-of-life cultural sightseeing.

Vietnam’s elongated coastal shape lends itself to straightforward runs north-to-south – Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City – or vice versa, and we can’t lie that this routing will the backbone of most itineraries. If you’ve a sense of adventure and a little more time on your hands however it’s easy to split away from the coast and discover Vietnam’s rural and often dramatically scenic interior. To the north, the mountainous highlands of Sapa, Mai Chau, and Pu Luong are rich in unspoilt hiking routes and tribal minority villages. Phong Nga National Park in central Quang Binh province is one of the worlds most impressive but barely-known caving destinations. Cat Tien, Lak Lake, and Dalat in the Central Highlands offer jungle treks, bucolic escapes, and a former French mountain retreat respectively. A week could be spent in the vast Mekong Delta visiting cottage industries and floating markets well away from the tourist trail. All of these places can be folded into a wider itinerary with minimal fuss.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a luxurious beach extension at the end of a busy trip, then Vietnam boasts a medley of alluring options. Mainland destinations include Mui Ne, Qui Nhon, and Nha Trang, or a short domestic flight can take you out to offshore islands Phu Quoc or Con Dao. All of these locations offer outstanding accommodation and beaches to rival anywhere in the wider region.

Best places to go in Vietnam

We’ve put together introductory notes on Vietnam’s most well-known destinations below. If you find this list a little limited though and you’re keen get off-the-beaten-path then please let our specialists know, and they’ll respond enthusiastically!

NORTHERN VIETNAM

Hanoi

NORTHERN VIETNAM

Halong Bay

NORTHERN VIETNAM

Pu Luong

CENTRAL VIETNAM

Hue

Set along the banks of the Perfume River in Central Vietnam, Hue is one of the country’s most historic towns, , and former home of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. Although Hue suffered heavy bombing during the ‘American War’, most of its cultural treasures thankfully still stand, and it remains a pleasant, laidback city with an easy-to-explore center and enticing riverside night market. It blends old and new with chic modern hotels soaring over crumbling 19th-century citadel wells, with majestic palaces, temples and gates. There’s also an active Buddhist monastery, built in 1601, and just outside the city are a number of Nguyen Emperor tombs, including Minh Mang Tomb, the final resting place of one of the Nguyen Dynasty’s staunchest Confucians.

CENTRAL VIETNAM

Hoi An

Explore both the Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia on our example itinerary

SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is among Asia’s most dynamic and enthralling cities. Older travellers will know it by former name Saigon – it was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976, although you’ll find many locals still use the former name. Today’s HCMC is a dynamic metropolis of skyscrapers and shopping malls, juxtaposed with sprawling traditional markets and ancient temples. The former colonial centre is especially charming, with French institutions such as the Opera House, Post Office, and Cathedral still standing in all their gothic splendour. Shopping enthusiasts will find practically an endless number of options, while foodies will delight in sampling an endless array of outstanding food outlets – both out on the street or in high-end refinement. HCMC has seen all sorts of comings and goings over the years and as you’d expect it’s a treasure trove for history lovers, with impressive collections of artefacts at the HCMC Museum, and sobering exhibits on the ‘American War’ in the War Remnants Museum.

Cover off all of Vietnam on our Complete Vietnam example itinerary

SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Mekong Delta

Starting around an hour south of Ho Chi Minh City, and sprawling all the way to the southernmost reaches of Vietnam and up to its border with Cambodia, the Mekong Delta is a sultry patchwork of busy waterways and picturesque canals, busy waterside market towns and tiny rural hamlets, and gorgeous tropical scenery. The largest towns – Can Tho, My Tho, Ben Tre, Chau Doc – have a few excellent hotel choices, but the spending time on the water itself is best way to discover this fascinating and scenically stunning region. River cruises have become increasingly popular, rightly so, with several well-stablished operators offering an enticing mix of immersive experience and high service. Crucially however the Mekong Delta is yet to succumb to over-tourism; your experiences here still feel authentic, untouched, and truly exotic.

SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Nha Trang

A coastal resort town, Nha Trang offers an idyllic beach escape with a laid-back atmosphere perfect for end of trip r&r. The “Golden Coast” of Vietnam is famous for snorkelling and diving, and also offers the full range of water-based activities – jet-skiing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, and parasailing. On land, you can explore waterfalls, cycle, hike or possibly even arrange a round of golf. As the seafood is excellent here, be sure to sample some of it in one of the excellent restaurants nearby. Nha Trang is also well known for an abundance of health and wellness experiences. You may be able to take advantage of your hotel’s spa or head to another spa for a blissful mud bath, massage therapies, facial and body treatments.

SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Phu Quoc

A large island, much of which is still undeveloped coast or jungle, Phu Quoc offers a peaceful beach escape just an hours’ flight across from Ho Chi Minh City. Your time here is spent enjoying the white sandy beaches and soaking in the tropical ambiance: it’s the kind of destination where you can enjoy doing nothing but relax and gaze out at the scenery. However if you’re keen to get out and explore there’s plenty of dense jungly interior to get stuck into, or spend the day swimming in seductive clear blue waters, dive the reefs, embark on a kayaking excursion, feast on fresh-caught seafood and hire a motorbike to explore the backroads. Guided tours can be arranged to visit pepper farms and factories that process anchovies for Vietnam’s famous fish sauce.

Our guide on the best places to stay in Vietnam

As far as Southeast Asia goes, Vietnam is now second only to Thailand in the breadth and depth of its tourism industry. This is reflected in the accommodation on offer: from backpackers to boutique hotel junkies, value-seekers to lovers of luxury, there’s an ideal hotel choice for everyone in pretty much every corner of the country.

The Vietnamese are outstanding hosts: wherever you stay you’ll find the warmest welcome and service levels which are second-to-none. Staff are thoughtful and professional, but crucially you’ll find Vietnamese people never take themselves too seriously – a warm smile and laugh is never far away.

Exceptional Vietnamese hospitality continues into that most important part of any hotel – the kitchen! Vietnamese cuisine is often a new taste to western travellers: fresh, zingy, well-balanced, and distinctly different to more widely-known Thai or Chinese flavours. Restaurant and kitchen staff will ensure this mouth-watering cuisine is properly and comprehensively presented to you.

Whether it’s an exclusive 5-star exclusive beach retreat, a charming boutique property in the heart of the city, or an atmospheric and beautifully finished junk cruise, you’ll find accommodation excellent throughout Vietnam and – better yet – excellent value. A five-star property in Vietnam will generally have a similar room rate to a three-star in Europe or America, so be ambitious – and consider ‘going large!’

Our guide on the best things to do in Vietnam

Most visitors will begin their tours of Vietnam in one of the two principal cities: Hanoi to the north, or Ho Chi Minh City to the south. These breathless cities will be your first taste of Vietnam and advise that you just dive in! With our excellent guides to show you around, you’ll find yourselves totally absorbed with a wealth of heritage sightseeing, thrilling walking tours, and outstanding shopping, dining, and nightlife.

Secondary cities such as Hue, Hoi An, Ninh Binh, and Can Tho all have their own attractions– Hue is especially rich in UNESCO heritage sites – but are also excellent locations to take an extra day and explore the wider area. Hiking, cycling and mountain-biking, vintage jeep rides, caving, bird-watching, fishing trips, cooking classes, farm tours – our specialists have all of these experiences and more up their sleeves, ensuring you’ll experience Vietnam beyond the typical tourist trail.

No trip to Vietnam would be complete without time on the water. Halong Bay is Vietnam’s jewel in the crown, and our luxury small ship cruises are the best way to witness its staggering karst scenery. Neighbouring Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bays are both equally stunning but see much lower visitor numbers. Meanwhile, deep down in the far south we can arrange short cruises or private overnight charters throughout the mesmeric waterways of the Mekong Delta – combining time on the boat with short walks or cycle rides through its alluring tropical scenery.

What we love best about Vietnam is that it has something for everyone. Honeymooners looking for an exclusive luxury escape? Talk to us about Ninh Vanh Bay and Con Dao. Sightseeing junkies wanting to gorge on history and culture? We’ll make sure your itinerary is bursting at the seams. Families seeking out an timeless trip with that perfect mix of adventure, cultural insight, and precious family time? Vietnam can provide endless combinations, adaptable for any holiday period year-round.

Best activities in Vietnam

Below you’ll find a sample of guided tours and activities we offer across Vietnam. This is just the tip of the iceberg: using our first-hand experience and extensive local contacts we can cater for all manner of interests. Let us know what intrigues you most about Vietnam and we’ll map out the perfect itinerary.

FOOD & DRINK

Search for Vietnam’s best Pho in Hanoi

Pho – pronounced ‘fuh’ – is a Vietnamese staple. This simple, hearty dish is made of rice noodles, a protein (most commonly beef or chicken, but pork and veggie versions are also found) and most importantly a rich, luxurious stock. A selection of herbs, seasonings, and dressings are then added to taste. Pho is served everywhere from fine dining restaurants to street stalls, but arguably the best is found in Hanoi – the so-called ‘capital of pho’. Each eatery has its own version, making it fun to search out your favourite. The best restaurants will have been making their stock in the same urns for years – just think of the layer-upon-layer of flavour that’s been built up over time!

LANDSCAPE

Luxury cruise through Halong Bay

A cruise on Halong Bay is a must when in Vietnam, a bucket-list destination with some 2,000 limestone karsts rising from crystal clear emerald-hued waters. You’ll be able to soak up the scenery while relaxing on the sundeck or take part in activities like swimming and snorkelling or even paddle in a kayak to caves with stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations. You should also ask our specialists about cruises to neighbouring bays Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha – equally stunning, but seeing much fewer visitors.

Enjoy an overnight cruise on Halong Bay on our Highlights of Vietnam example itinerary

BEACHES

Relax on Phu Quoc

The tropical island of Phu Quoc offers plenty of tranquillity, largely undeveloped with some of the country’s most stunning white beaches, dense forests and romantic sunsets, providing the ideal destination for those who want to escape the bustling cities. Kayak the bays, dive the vibrant reefs, or just lounge on the fine sands. All can be followed up with a fabulously fresh seafood dinner.

SHOPPING

Visit Hoi An’s world-famous tailors

One of Vietnam’s must-visit cities, Hoi An is effortlessly atmospheric, with a vehicle free centre and cobbled streets lit with lanterns and loaded with history. Explore on foot, enjoying the majestic architecture and centuries-old buildings, browsing enticing shops, including tailor shops with custom-made services at bargain prices. Don’t miss the Hoi An and Diep Dong museums, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. A must during any stay in Hoi An is visiting one of it’s excellent tailors, who can produce made-to-measure garments in just 24 hours, and at excellent prices. Ask your specialist for a recommendation!

HISTORY

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels

This network of tunnels provides a sobering yet fascinating look at history, located near Ho Chi Minh City, initially dug in 1948 to assist the locals in their battle for independence against the French. They were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, and also served as supply and communication routes, weapon and food caches, and living quarters.

LOCAL LIFE

Marvel at the floating markets of the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is a fertile agricultural region, sometimes called “Vietnam’s Rice Basket,” thanks to the maze of waterways fed by the Mekong River. Its blanketed with rice fields and mangroves while hosting the famous floating markets. They can be visited by hopping on a boat, providing a glimpse of local daily life while browsing offerings like mangoes, coconuts, turtles and snakes.

Experience the heart of the Mekong Delta on our Complete Vietnam example itinerary

ACTIVE

Cycle around historical Hue

Located about midway between Ho Chi Min City and Hanoi along the Perfume River, Hue is the former imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty. The perfect place for a cycling tour, from Vong Canh Hill enjoy a panoramic view of the river and then ride to Tu Hieu, an enchanting pagoda nestled in a pine forest, before exploring the UNESCO-listed Imperial Citadel.

ACTIVE

Hike across Cat Ba island

Located along the south-eastern edge of Lan Ha Bay in Northern Vietnam, Cat Ba island is breathtaking but has managed to remain unspoiled without having attracted the tourist masses just yet. A fantastic hiking destination, a 45-minute trek will bring you to Ngu Lam Peak, with your reward one of the best views of the island, a panorama of jagged emerald mountains.

HISTORY

Visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum in Hanoi

Reminders of the ‘American War’ are found throughout Vietnam, particularly in it’s larger cities Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City. In capital Hanoi, situated in central Ba Dinh Square, you’ll find the final resting place of ‘Uncle Ho’ – thought by many to be the father of modern Vietnam. His embalmed body is held in a glass case within the mausoleum and, although heavily guarded, can be easily visited during your time in the city.

ADVENTURE

Camp overnight in the world’s largest cave

Central Vietnam’s central Phong Nga Ke Bang National Park is home to the world’s largest (Son Doong) and third-largest (Hang En) caves. Sitting within dense interior jungle just 20km from the border with Laos, the cave network was only discovered in 2009 and made open to the public in 2013. The caves have since been thoroughly explored and mapped by the British Cave Research Association who, with a network of experienced local adventurers, now run epic overnight adventure tours which culminate in a night under canvas inside the huge entrance chamber. In a few short years Phong Nga has gone from total tourism obscurity to its present status as ‘Asia’s Adventure Capital’.

Best time to visit Vietnam

Vietnam has a peculiarly complex climate. A thin, elongated strip of country, exposed to coast from tip-to-toe, it border China at its northernmost point and looks across to the Gulf of Thailand at its southernmost. It’s three distinct regions – north, central, and south – each have their own individual climates, with their own best and worst times to visit. Getting your head around these overlapping climate cycles can be tricky but rest assured our specialists are well versed and have put together a brief overview below.

A big advantage of Vietnam’s complex climate is that at any one time there is a region of the country which is ‘in season’, so as such it is year-round destination. If you only have a limited window to travel to Vietnam then we can definitely make the most of your time whenever it is you’re planning to visit.

If you’re totally flexible on dates and wish to see the whole country and at the very best time to do it, then we’d suggest planning for late spring to early summer: late February through to end of May. At this time rainfall is low and temperatures are typically warm without being unbearably hot nationwide. If you’ve a specific region or time of year in mind though, please read on for our detailed guide on when and where to travel.

Vietnam season-by-season

Vietnam is a year-round destination, with something to offer whatever time of year you choose to visit. We’ve put together an overview of climate season-by-season and region-by-region below.

BEST PERIOD FOR TRAVELLING TIP-TO-TOE

March to May

Easily the best time of year to travel Vietnam as a whole, with limited rain and temperate climate countrywide. By late February any cool weather in the north of Vietnam – Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Pu Luong – will have burned off, leading to pleasant spring like conditions. Central and southern Vietnam remain warm throughout, but remember an important rule of thumb: it will get warmer as you travel further south in country and later in season. If you’re planning to spend a large bulk of time around Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, particularly on a luxury river cruise, we suggest looking well towards February and early March. All of Vietnam’s beaches are in good condition in these months, particularly Con Dao which can be windswept in other times of year.

Take in the Highlights of Vietnam on our example itinerary

SUMMER HOLIDAYS IN CENTRAL REGIONS

June to August

The summer months arrive and with them come the monsoon rains which are typical in this part of the world. A climatic quirk however sees the central region of Vietnam experience its rainy season arrive much later in the year. So while summer months see a thorough drenching for northern and southern Vietnam, the central areas are typically ideal. The heritage sites of Hue, dynamic port city Danang, the old town of Hoi An, and the many excellent beaches which line this section of coast are warm, clear, and dry – handily coinciding with summer holiday and honeymoon season, giving Vietnam a unique advantage for these kind of trips.

IDEAL FOR ADVENTURES OUTDOORS

September to November

As we move into September the rains – and occasionally typhoons – arrive in central Vietnam, making this region decidedly unfavourable right up until early December. The north and south are right back in season however, experiencing ideal touring conditions once more. Furthermore, having just experienced a thorough soaking, Vietnam’s rural areas are lush, fresh, and carpeted in emerald green. Now is a fantastic time to out and about in the waterways of the south or the mountains of the north. Trekking areas Sapa, Pu Luong, and Mai Chau are particularly resplendent at this time of year.

PERFECT CRUISING CONDITIONS

December to February

It may come as a surprise that Vietnam does experience a winter, but the northern regions are far enough north – bordering China remember – to become noticeably cool in December and January…with mountainous Sapa and Ha Giang even seeing occasional snowfall! Central Vietnam is warm and clear, although Hoi An’s beaches may be a little cool for a Christmas beach getaway; beaches further south however – Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Phu Quoc – are pleasantly tropical. Water levels in the Mekong Delta are still high right through to February and early March, so this is an ideal period for river cruising through to Cambodia.

Explore both the Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia on our example itinerary