Vietnam Luxury Experience
Hanoi's Old Quarter and Train Street, a night on a junk in Ha Long Bay, the Golden Bridge in the Ba Na Hills above Da Nang, lantern-lit Hoi An, and Phu Quoc's beaches and sea cable car to finish.
- Best time to go
- There is no single season. The north (Hanoi, Ha Long) is best October to April; the centre (Da Nang, Hoi An) February to August; the south and Phu Quoc November to April.
- Flying from India
- Non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City take about 4½ to 5½ hours, with seasonal non-stop routes to Da Nang and Phu Quoc.
- Visa for Indian passports
- E-visa for Indian passports, applied online through the official portal and valid for up to 90 days. Allow at least a week for approval.
- Currency
- Vietnamese dong (VND). Cards work in hotels and restaurants; carry cash for markets, street food and taxis.
Vietnam at a glance
Vietnam is long and narrow, so a good trip travels north to south by air. Begin in Hanoi, where motorbikes, street kitchens and French colonial buildings fill the Old Quarter, then spend a night aboard a junk in Ha Long Bay among almost 2,000 limestone islands. Fly south to Da Nang for the Ba Na Hills cable car and the Golden Bridge, and stay in Hoi An, whose yellow merchant houses and lantern-lit river make it the most charming town in the country.
Ho Chi Minh City is fast and modern, with the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta's floating markets nearby. Finish on Phu Quoc, an island in the Gulf of Thailand with white-sand beaches and a cable car that runs nearly 8 km over the sea to Hon Thom island. The ancient capital of Hue and the rice terraces of Sapa are worthwhile additions if you have more time.
Must-see
- Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
- Golden Bridge, Ba Na Hills
- Hoi An Ancient Town
- Hanoi Old Quarter
- Phu Quoc's beaches and Hon Thom cable car
Food to try
- Pho in Hanoi
- Bun cha, grilled pork with noodles
- Banh mi
- Cao lau noodles in Hoi An
- Egg coffee in Hanoi
Where to shop
- Made-to-measure tailoring in Hoi An
- Hang Gai silk street, Hanoi
- Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hoi An lantern workshops
- Phu Quoc night market
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Hanoi, Old Quarter and French Quarter
Colonial-era and boutique hotels
Restored colonial hotels near the Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake, or small boutique hotels in the Old Quarter's lanes, within walking distance of the street food and Train Street.
Da Nang and Hoi An
Beach resorts and riverside retreats
Resorts on Da Nang's long sandy beaches, 30 minutes from Hoi An, or riverside hotels on the edge of the Ancient Town. Both reach the Ba Na Hills easily.
Ho Chi Minh City, District 1
City hotels by the river
Hotels in District 1 near the Saigon river, the Opera House and Dong Khoi street, with rooftop bars for the skyline at night.
Phu Quoc
Island beach resorts
Villas and resorts on the island's quiet beaches, with sunsets on the west coast and calm water on the south for snorkelling and the Hon Thom cable car.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Vietnam journeys around
Kayaking in Ha Long Bay
From your junk, paddle into sheltered lagoons and under rock arches, visit a cave and swim from the boat before a seafood dinner on deck.
Hoi An's Ancient Town
Walk to the Japanese Covered Bridge, the merchant houses and assembly halls, get measured at a tailor in the morning and collect your clothes the next day.
Hue's Imperial City
A day trip or overnight in the former royal capital: the walled citadel, the Forbidden Purple City and the tombs of the Nguyen emperors along the Perfume River.
Mekong Delta floating markets
An early boat to Cai Rang floating market near Can Tho, where traders sell fruit and vegetables from their boats, then lanes of fruit orchards by bicycle.
Sapa's rice terraces
Two or three nights in the northern mountains for walks through Hmong and Dao villages and the Muong Hoa valley's terraces, best from September to November.
Hanoi street food by night
A guided evening of pho, bun cha, banh cuon and egg coffee from family stalls in the Old Quarter, seated on low plastic stools like everyone else.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Vietnam traveller
When to visit
February to April
The best compromise for a north-to-south trip: mild in Hanoi, dry in the centre and south.
May to August
Hot everywhere and rainy in the north and south, but ideal for Da Nang and Hoi An's beaches.
September to January
Good in Hanoi, Sapa and the south from November. Central Vietnam is wet in October and November.
Getting there and around
Arrival
Fly into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City or Phu Quoc to avoid backtracking. Hanoi airport is 40 to 50 minutes from the Old Quarter.
Between stops
Domestic flights of 1 to 1½ hours link Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc. Ha Long Bay is about 2½ hours by road from Hanoi.
Insider notes
Train Street access
Police regularly close Hanoi's Train Street cafés for safety. We check the current situation and take you only where it is permitted.
Golden Bridge early
Take the first Ba Na Hills cable car, around 8 am, to walk the bridge before the crowds and the afternoon mist.
Pick your Ha Long season
Winter (December to February) can be misty and cool; April to June and September to November are clearest.
Central Vietnam's rains
Hoi An and Da Nang get heavy rain and some flooding from October to December. Plan beach time there for spring or summer.
Vietnam: Common Questions
Ten to twelve days covers Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Add three nights for Phu Quoc or two for Sapa.
Plan your Vietnam journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our Vietnam specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
Journeys from here
Itineraries that include Vietnam
Journey · Culture & Heritage
Vietnam, Hanoi to the Mekong
Journey · Coastal & Culture
Ha Long Bay & Da Nang Shoreline
Journey · Nature & Culture
Sapa Terraces & Northern Highlands
Journey · River Cruise
Mekong River, Siem Reap to Saigon
Ready to plan Vietnam?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply with a costed, day-by-day plan you can change as much as you like.