VIETNAM
Vietnam is a country that rarely does things by halves. Cities are gloriously chaotic, landscapes swing from limestone karsts to endless rice terraces, and centuries-old traditions sit comfortably alongside skyscrapers, scooters and cafes serving coffee that tastes like tiramisu but hits like jet fuel.
We went beyond the usual stops to discover the places that deserve more than a quick tick on the itinerary. Ninh Binh is often squeezed into a day trip from Hanoi, despite being a favourite weekend escape for Vietnamese travellers and well worth slowing down for. For rice terraces, we skipped the better-known Sapa and made the slightly heroic journey to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, using Mai Chau as a base. It turned out to be the best leg of our trip. Throw in day trips to the Mekong Delta and UNESCO-listed sites My Son Sanctuary and Hue and you’ve got a route that delivers the icons, culture and spectacular scenery.
We spent over 3 weeks travelling Vietnam from south to north, taking in everything from the energy of Ho Chi Minh City and the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An to the limestone landscapes of Ninh Binh and the remote rice terraces of Pu Luong.
Mix and match legs to create your ideal 10-day trip or a 2 or 3-week Grand Tour. Follow our itineraries south to north in spring, or north to south in cooler months, swapping northern chill for southern sunshine.
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Is Vietnam worth visiting?
Is Vietnam worth the long haul? Absolutely. From buzzing cities and lantern-lit towns to endless rice terraces and limestone karsts, it’s a country that keeps changing character.