Holidays in Vietnam

Vietnam is a land of amazing contrasts. The fast-paced cities of Hanoi and Saigon are high-octane whirls of local life while the sleepy wonder of Hoi An is Vietnam at its most traditional and atmospheric.

The country isn’t just about urban delights – the fertile plains and bustling river life of the Mekong Delta is nicknamed Vietnam’s ‘rice bowl’ and the floating limestone karsts of Halong Bay are an otherworldly sight you just have to see in the flesh. Meanwhile, intrepid adventurers can get their fix in the mist-shrouded tribal valleys of Sapa. Collectively, the landscapes are just as dramatic as the history.

On a luxury holiday in Vietnam you’ll see many of the iconic images of a disappearing Asia – vendors in conical hats selling food from a shoulder yoke, endless emerald rice paddies being ploughed by water buffaloes, sampan boats gliding through narrow waterways and entire families being ferried around on a rickety cyclo.

Away from this sensory overload are plenty of island escapes and sun-soaked sands to wind down on. A top-to-toe trip is recommended for a full immersion of Vietnam but you could also base yourself solely in Hoi An, where its old-world charm dovetails perfectly with its nearby beaches. No matter how long you spend travelling in Vietnam, you’ll never think it’s enough.

A thin sliver of a country, there are a rich range of experiences as you explore Vietnam from north to south (or vice versa). One day you could be staying in a charming boutique in the UNESCO-listed town of Hoi An and the next you could be floating on a heritage cruise around the stunning Halong Bay. Your holiday could easily include both staying in the heart of busy cities like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi and unwinding in a beach hideaway on a golden coastline or tropical island like Phu Quoc.

Due to its long and thin shape, Vietnam’s weather patterns can be divided into three regions: the north, central Vietnam and the south. As a result, there is no bad time to plan a holiday to Vietnam – when one area is mid-monsoon, another is at its best.