Calm water and limestone karsts in Ha Long Bay

Southeast Asia

Vietnam

A long, slender country where every region has its own landscape, its own history and, of course, its own dishes.

Photo: digitalarbyter / Unsplash

Vietnam stretches more than a thousand kilometres from the mountains of the north to the Mekong Delta in the south. Mornings in Hanoi's Old Quarter smell of pho and coffee, limestone pillars rise from the water in Ha Long and Lan Ha bays, and in Ninh Binh boatmen row between rice fields and caves.

In the centre lie Hue, the old imperial city, and Hoi An's old town, with its yellow merchant houses and lanterns along the river. In the south, Ho Chi Minh City hums with energy and life in the Mekong Delta flows along its canals. Travelling north to south is easy, but the weather differs by region, so the route is best matched to the season.

The Japanese Covered Bridge and yellow houses reflected in a canal in Hoi An

Experiences to consider

01
Hoi An's old town
Early morning by the Japanese Covered Bridge, a cooking class with a local family and a bicycle ride through rice fields to the coast.
02
Bays and karsts
A night aboard in the quieter waters of Lan Ha Bay, and rowing boats along Ninh Binh's rivers beneath the limestone hills.
03
Street food
Bun cha in Hanoi, cao lau in Hoi An, banh mi anywhere — an evening food walk with a guide is often the highlight of the trip.
04
The northern mountains
Terraced rice fields around Sapa or the mountain roads of Ha Giang — walks and overnight stays in minority villages.

Ways to travel

Ways to experience it

Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.

Culture & discovery
Temples, Hue's imperial citadel, craft workshops and food — through the people who live here.
Adventure & active travel
Treks in the northern mountains, cycling routes and kayaking among the karsts of the bays.
Family journeys
A night on a boat, cooking classes and bike rides through the fields — Vietnam delights children too.
Tailor-made journeys
Domestic flights, trains and transfers arranged so a long country never feels too long.

Sample journey