Cruise past the karst islands of Halong Bay
Explore the ancient citadel of Hue
Take a bite out of Vietnam's delicious cuisine
Gaze at the pretty lanterns stalls in Hoi An
Soak up the culture of Hanoi, including the famous Opera House
Explore the streets of Hanoi in Vietnam
Stroll along the river in Hoi An
Learn about Vietnam's history in Ho Chi Minh City
Discover your own Vietnam highlights as you pack in the best bits of this truly exciting country. Travel North to South starting with history and culture in Hanoi, beauty and peace in Halong Bay and creativity and colour in Hoi An. Visit temples, museums, pagodas, and a crumbled citadel as you travel on through Danang and Hue before reaching Ho Chi Minh City. Still known fondly as Saigon by the locals, this city will keep you on your toes! It’s a cosmopolitan melting pot of old and new, with delicious food, a fast pace and plenty of history.
This itinerary can be tailored to suit your requirements please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.
Depart the UK from your chosen airport. Your journey to Asia will be overnight, with a transfer in a major Asian gateway.
Meet your guide on arrival and transfer to your hotel to check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and re-charge – enjoy some delicious street food, wander the narrow streets or head to the lake for some tranquillity.
Experience the highlights of the city with a guide; the country’s first university Quoc Tu Giam with its fantastic architecture and well-manicured gardens, the mausoleum of Vietnam’s father figure Ho Chi Minh, the One Pillar Pagoda which is an iconic temple, the West Lake and nearby Taoist temple and the Old Quarter with its narrow bustling streets and local businesses touting for custom!
Finish the day with a water puppet show, a traditional performance depicting scenes from rural life.
Spend your day out of the city – first of all exploring rural Hoa Lu, the first capital of Vietnam. The site is home to an ancient Citadel, and there are temples to wander and a nearby limestone karst to hike which will reward you with spectacular views.
After lunch take a boat through an area known as ‘Halong on land’ – Tam Coc. Enormous karsts jut out of the land as you gently cruise past. A great retreat from the frantic pace of city life!
Depart for Halong Bay today – a must visit for any trip to northern Vietnam. Thousands of limestone karsts rise up out of the sea and you can marvel at the beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage site as you cruise the area aboard a junk boat. Enjoy all meals onboard and the services of a local guide.
Enjoy sunrise over the Bay and eat breakfast on deck – a glorious way to start your day!
After disembarking you will travel to a palace which was home and studio to one of Vietnam’s most celebrated painters. View some remarkable artefacts before continuing on to the airport to take the short flight to Danang. From the port city you’ll then drive south to Hoi An, a firm favourite on the Vietnam tourist trail – with a relaxed lifestyle, good food, colourful artwork and tailors aplenty it’s an enjoyable place to slow it down.
Visit nearby My Son, home to crumbling red brick towers in a lush green valley. The site is located a short distance outside of the city. A walking tour of Hoi An itself will follow in the afternoon – a great way to see the special port town.
Driving back through Danang today you’ll stop at a museum before climbing a spectacular pass that leads down into Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Explore museums and mausoleums of the last emperors and learn about their years of rule, scarred with turmoil and full of pomp and ceremony!
Enjoy a full day tour in Hue, including a ride in a cyclo! Following a day of history and culture you’ll finish the day in the colourful Dong Ba Market – see how everyday life operates and take in the sights, sounds and smells!
This morning you will take the short flight to Ho Chi Minh – still known as Saigon by the locals. Take in a full day tour of this fast moving, cosmopolitan city, a real gem in South East Asia’s crown.
Head out to Cai Be this morning, the colourful Delta market town surrounded waterways and vast emerald rice fields. Pass the floating market and experience the life led by local villagers. Lunch will be local - ‘mekong style’ before you head back to the city late afternoon.
Your flight home will depart today so make sure you’re up early to cram in some last minute exploring at the market – grab a Bahn Mi, a strong coffee and get ready to haggle!
International flights can arrive back in the UK same day, however some are overnight with a very early arrival the following morning.
Why not add in a stopover in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok?
The climate in Vietnam varies dramatically depending on the region you are visiting and is incredibly diverse with weather ranging from snow and frost in the northern hills to tropical conditions in the south. There are two monsoons in Vietnam; the winter monsoon arrives between October and March and brings cold and wet winters to the north and dry and warm conditions in the south. From April to October the summer monsoon brings humid weather to the whole country apart from those regions sheltered by mountains. For the best balance we recommend visiting in either April, May or October. Singapore has a tropical climate and stays hot and humid throughout the year, temperatures average around 31c with little seasonal variation although its slightly hotter in April and May and cooler in December and January.
This itinerary is purely a suggestion, and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact us with your dates and requests and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.
10 nights in twin share 4* accommodation (1 night in a cabin on the Halong Bay junk boat)
Hotels in this category include:
