Luxury Tours in Vietnam

With 1,600 limestone towers rising from its turquoise waters, Halong Bay is rightly considered one of Vietnam’s most beautiful spots. As a result, it’s on every visitor's list – and hundreds of boats offer cruise trips every day. The bay is huge, but it can still feel crowded.

Bai Tu Long Bay, just a few miles away, offers the same jaw-dropping scenery but sees only a fraction of the visitors. Here, you can explore uncrowded caves and tiny beaches, and feast on super-fresh succulent seafood.
Boat trips to Bai Tu Long Bay leave from the crowded dock at Halong City, just like the ones to Halong Bay. But you'll head off in the opposite direction, to where the islands are a little less taller and a little more spread out – but, according to locals, are just like what those in Halong Bay used to be like.

Here is the full Ha Long Travel Guide

Every Tết (Vietnamese New Year), Hoi An is transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour and light for its Lantern Festival. The celebration lasts for seven days, with the road from Hoi An Bridge to the Hoai River Square adorned with thousands of colourful lanterns.

Over 50 workshops take part in the event, each trying to create the prettiest lantern. The colours are bright and the designs are strictly traditional.

The heart of the festivities is in the old town, between the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Cau An Hoi Bridge. It’s crowded, chaotic and festive, with spontaneous singing and food stalls at every turn. It is as much a celebration for locals as it is for visitors. 

The most breathtaking sight is thousands of lanterns floating on the river; hire a sampan boat to get a closer look. For a small sum, you can buy a lantern and set it afloat too. 

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to Hoi An for New Year: smaller lantern festivals are held every full moon. In 2020, Vietnamese New Year fell on 25 January. In 2021, it will be celebrated on 12 February, and on 1 February in 2022.

Here is everything you need to know about Hoi An Lantern Festival

Quang Binh province is a wild region of barely penetrable jungle in Vietnam’s skinny middle, close to the border with Laos. The area is riddled with hundreds of deep caves, including one of the largest in the world – Hang Son Doong. It contains a cavern so tall that a skyscraper could fit inside it.

The small town of Phong Nha is the epicentre for the area’s caving adventures, its eponymous cave another UNESCO-listed wonder well worth exploring. Here, you can hire both the guides and the gear you’ll need to descend into the caves.

If going underground doesn’t appeal, the area is also famous for trekking. The surrounding jungle is peppered with stunning waterfalls and an active (and noisy) population of monkeys and flying foxes.

Halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Hue marked the divide between the north and the south during the Vietnam War. Set upon the pretty Perfume River, it has always played an important part in Vietnamese history and is dotted with important historical sites.

It is also a great place to cycle. Set off in the cool of the morning and head three kilometres out of town to the Tiger Fighting arena. It was Vietnam’s version of the Colosseum, a place where elephants and tigers would fight to honour the strength of the monarchy. Next, head to Tu Duc Tomb before reaching Vong Canh Hill – the best spot for panoramic views of the Perfume River.

From Vong Canh Hill, it’s downhill to one of Hue's most atmospheric pagodas, Tu Hieu, which is located in a tranquil and picturesque pine forest. Swing by the tomb of Minh Mang, the second emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, before heading back to town.

Upon reaching the walled fortress of the Imperial Citadel, you have two choices: take a leisurely cycle through the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Vietnam's version of the Forbidden City, or enjoy a relaxing drink next to the Perfume River.

Sound too much like hard work? You find any number of cyclo drivers nearby to do all the effort for you.

Often called ‘Ha Long Bay on land,’ Tam Coc is best explored on a boat. With Ngo Dong River snaking through the lush rice fields, towering limestone karsts and caves, the surrounding scenery is jaw-dropping.

In recent years, alongside the stunning landscape, boats that the locals row with feet have become a major attraction in the area. The flourishing tourism industry in Vietnam brought large numbers of curious travellers to the mythical Tam Coc.

The development presented Vietnamese guides with a chance to earn a living from rowing boats along the river. But the daily rowing also led to painful backaches. That’s when the locals invented boat rowing with their feet, which is surprisingly more effective than the traditional rowing technique.

You can either take a day trip from Hanoi or stay in Tam Coc for a couple of days to explore, which we highly recommend. The best way to reach the village is by catching a taxi from Nim Binh.

Most of the boat tours include a trip to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam, Tràng An and Mua caves which you can climb for fantastic panoramic views (on a clear day).

If you decide to stay in Tam Coc, you can catch a sampan boat at the picturesque Tam Coc lake where the local guides will row your boat with feet.

Off the coast of Cambodia lies the idyllic Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc: a haven for travellers hoping to get away from the hustle and bustle of Vietnam's cities.

There's no shortage of things to see and do on Phu Quoc. Wildlife lovers can head to Vinpearl Safari Care and Conservation Park, to meet, elephants, white Bengal tigers, macaques and silver langurs, among others. Head out into nature, with a hike through the dense forests of Phu Quoc National Park, and admiring the gentle trickle of Suoi Tranh Waterfall.

Once you're all walked out, ride in the incredibly long cable car to Hon Thom Nature Park, or sit back and relax on the pristine white sands of Sao Beach, Ong Lang or remote Khem Beach. Surrounded by palm trees and forest, you'll feel like you're sitting on the edge of paradise.

If it’s culture you’re after, or a bit of historical flair, then you certainly can’t go wrong with the former Vietnamese capital and modern-day city of Hue.

The Imperial Citadel here is UNESCO-listed and well worth a day of your time exploring and realising the grandeur of the former royal family.

There’s also a number of Royal tombs to explore around and a combination entrance ticket here is a great way to keep costs down.

Otherwise, just enjoy strolling along the riverside of this much quieter and more relaxed Vietnamese city – a night here is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Vietnam if you feel like relaxing.

The second best way to get to know Hanoi is to eat your way through Vietnam’s capital. Vietnamese food is delicious and flavoursome, but it can be very hard to know where and what to eat on your arrival in the country.

Therefore, the easiest way to find the best places to eat in Hanoi is to join a food tour right at the start of your visit. This way you’ll get to know the local cuisine, discover your favourite dishes and the best local food spots.

Otherwise, if you are an adventurous eater, simply point to the menu to choose your dishes, or even better, eat the food prepared on the streets. You’ll have many such options in the Old Quarter and beyond.

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Hanoi, consider booking a ticket to see the iconic Water puppet show.

Dating back to the 11th century, water puppetry originated in north Vietnam. The tiny puppets are lacquer to make them waterproof and have a wooden stick attached to them making it easy for the puppeteers to move them in the water.

To see the show head to Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi. For the best experience and the best seat, pre-book your skip-the-lines ticket in advance

Clinging to the coast and almost marking the midway point of Vietnam you’ll find the picture-perfect fishing village of Hoi An.

With its UNESCO status, the well preserved narrow streets of the old town area draw visitors here to experience a past vision of Vietnam. There’s much to see and do in Hoi An’s old colonial town so be sure to stick around for a couple of days if not more.

One of the best ways to experience Hoi An’s beauty is to explore it at sunrise when the streets are still free from tourists. Take a seat at one of the street stalls and join locals for breakfast or coffee.

As well as a charming UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An is also one of the most reputable places to visit in Vietnam for updating your wardrobe with tailored garments.

It’s a truly amazing experience to have something custom made for you. The tailors here are known for speedy delivery, high finish, and competitive prices.

Depending on the clothing you are after, it can take from 24 hours for shorts to a few days for a 3-piece suit to be made. And with tailors on-site, alterations can be made here and now. In our case, the pieces were made so well we didn’t even need any changes.

If you can spare extra pennies, shop around for silk produce too. It’s fabulous.

Further south from Da Nang, on the coast of the South China Sea, Mui Ne is another beach destination that you’ll want to explore when visiting Vietnam. The white-sand beaches, clear waters and good wind conditions attract many water sports aficionados as well as sun-seekers.

Both Ganh and Suoi Nuoc beaches are studded with resorts and restaurants if you are looking to have some downtime on the coast.

But the most impressive part of the area is the giant white and red sand dunes. The white sand dunes are the most popular with plenty of activities such as quad bike rides available for adventurous travellers. The dunes are also the only place in Vietnam where you can have a hot air balloon experience.

bThe troubled Vietnam of the past is brought crashing into the modern age in the cauldron of sights, smells and sounds that is Ho Chi Minh City. Even the briefest of stays here and you’ll feel the energy of this lively metropolis embracing its bright new future.

We’d recommend heading out at night to soak up the city’s atmosphere and enjoy a cheeky beverage or two. There are two main ‘Walking Street’ areas with a real buzz to explore.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street – this is a wide plaza area in the middle of District 1, with the beautiful City Hall at one end, stretching down to the river at the other. It’s flanked on either side by some beautiful French colonial architecture and is a popular spot for locals to hang out in the evenings.

When we last visited at night time there were several folks whizzing around on flashy hover-boards or just sitting in groups and enjoying the vibe. Make sure you pop into the old tower block building at No.42. It’s now full of funky cafes which provide the perfect spot to people watch from several floors above the street.

Bui Vien Walking Street – is the Saigon’s equivalent to Bangkok’s Khao San Road, packed with rowdy bars, spots to eat and regular offers of massages. It’s a fun area to have a wander through even if loud music and cheap booze isn’t your thing, just stay alert to the usual tourist scams on offer.

If you’ve had your fill of noodle dishes then we’d recommend Baba’s Kitchen at No. 274 for some world-class curry dishes.

When visiting HCMC, don’t miss the French-influenced Notre Dame Cathedral and the striking Post Office building. The latter, built by Gustave Eiffel, is still in operation at full capacity.

Sending a postcard to your friends or family could be one of the fun things to do in Vietnam. Although the postcards are a little overpriced, it’s not every day you get to send a message from Saigon.

Saigon’s Notre-Dame was built between 1863-1880 and is an unusual sight to see in Ho Chi Minh City. Mostly due to the fact that the materials to construct the cathedral were shipped all the way from France.

As we’ve already mentioned, one of the best things to do in Vietnam is to learn about the culture, and a great way to do this is to join a guided tour in some of the coolest places in the country.

You can enjoy this tour in some different cities of in Hoi An, Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.

Hopping on the back of a Vespa scooter and riding along the banks of Thu Bon River stopping off at local villages we met local families, learnt about weaving, boat building and of course ate lots of local dishes.

We highly recommend this Vespa tour in Hoi An, or anywhere else in the country. 

Riding a Vespa is a fun and popular way to explore many of the Vietnam tourist attractions.

Immersing yourself into the local food is a great way to learn more about a country, and luckily Vietnamese food is some of the best in the world!

There are cooking classes all over Vietnam, and each class will offer different dishes and experiences. There is such diversity in the food from North to South, so you can literally do one in each major town and you’ll probably learn a new dish each time.

Some of the cooking classes will take you to the markets where you can buy the ingredients and cook it together. We love this type of class as you get to be part of every step of the process.

Coming home from your holiday and knowing how to cook some different dishes is a win, and will ensure you’re forever popular with your friends and family!

You go on holidays to see the new place but also to meet people. Don’t be shy to chat with locals. Practice your Vietnamese and they can practise their English.

It is amazing who you can meet by putting your guard down sometimes. It can be hard to have a real, authentic experience with locals when you travel, so do everything you can to be open to genuine invitations.

If you are interested there are local university students in the bigger cities that have groups where you can contact them for a time and day.

They love chatting with foreigners, just buy them coffee or lunch. Check out Saigon Hotpot in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi Kids in Hanoi.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both very busy cities, and one of the best places to admire the hustle and bustle is from above on a rooftop.

We found a lot of great bars and cafes near busy intersections or roundabouts, and watched day turn into night with the thousands (and thousands) of scooters zipping around below.

It was crazy watching all the traffic take on the large roundabout and the occasional scooter bumps which causes some quick arguing, looking and then they move on.

Check out the EON51 Restaurant and Lounge on level 50 of the Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City. This has a great view, but you do play for with the prices of the drinks and food.

The rooftop views are some of our favorite things to see in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s third-biggest city is quite awesome, so don’t be surprised if you end up spending more time here than you expected.

Da Nang is in the centre of the country and has a wonderful cultural vibe about it. The food is amazing, the people are cool, and there’s so much to see and do!

If you love beaches, then Da Nang has you covered. There are long stretches of sand perfect for swimming, surfing or sunbathing, and you can find lots of cheap hotels and resorts along them.
The peninsula is a great spot to spend the day, with lots of cool little hikes and coves to check out.

But one of our favourite places in Da Nang is the Marble Mountains, a collection of hills that have been mined for marble over the years and are now left rising out of the flat city landscape.

You can climb them to visit some temples and get gorgeous views over Da Nang. Definitely worth visiting!

Don’t forget to include this highlight on your list of what to see in Vietnam!

We bet you didn’t know Vietnam had its own version of Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway! Well, now you do, and it’s definitely one of the most unique things to do in Vietnam.

Ganh Da Dia in the south is a spectacular rock formation that juts out from the coast and into the sea.

Thousands of hexagonal basalt columns come out of the earth in mesmerising ways, often with not even a millimetre of space between them.

It’s pretty off-the-beaten-path, so chances are you’ll have this entire site to yourself.

There are so many beautiful and iconic pagodas to visit throughout Vietnam. These pagodas are full of traditions, beliefs and interesting architecture, with the stunning decorations.

Some of the most famous pagodas to visit are Perfume Pagoda and Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi, One Pillar Pagoda near HCMC, Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Linh An Pagoda and Van Hanh Pagoda in Dalat.

When visiting the pagodas please be mindful to respect the culture. Walk into the pagodas on the right and exit on the left, take off your shoes when entering, be respectful of people praying, don’t point your feet at the alter or statues and dress conservatively, so no hats, no exposed shoulders and no shorts.

The best time to visit a pagoda is in the morning before the crazy crowds come in.

Vietnam isn’t known for being a Mecca for diving, especially with hotspots like Indonesia and the Philippines close by, but if you love getting under water then there’s some good spots to do it.

Nha Trang in the south is quite a popular place for Russian tourists, and if we are completely honest with you, it really isn’t that nice.

It’s busy and the beaches are quite developed, but there’s a couple of good reasons you should go here anyway.

First of all the motorbike ride from Dalat to Nha Trang is amazing, and well worth checking out.

If you’re a certified diver then once you get to Nha Trang why not head out for a couple of fun dives?

We did two dives in Nha Trang and were pleasantly surprised with how good it was. We weren’t expecting much, but it turned out to be really enjoyable, with a couple of caves to swim through and a decent amount of fish.

Vietnam has a number of beautiful tropical islands, which are all worthy of taking a relaxing island getaway to.

Check out Con Dao Island in the south. This is a quieter option compared to Phu Quoc, which is very overdeveloped. The Con Dao Archipelago is one of the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam.

You will find stunning mountains, thick canopies of forest and amazing marine life. Yep, it is a diving paradise. If you are in the north check out Cat Ba Island, which is the bigger island of Halong Bay.

There are 3 lovely beaches located near the main town on Cat Ba and a gorgeous national park for exploring.