Browse through our itineraries for inspiration. This is just a starting point for your plans so please do get in touch to design one that will meet your exact specifications.

Accommodation and costs
Vietnam has a broad range of accommodation, from slick city hotels and pampering beach resorts to boutique and eco-hotels and simple home-stays in the countryside.  Vietnam is one of the most affordable destinations to do in luxury in Asia, so even with a modest budget it’s possible to include hotels of an excellent standard, and for those with more to spend there are some very high-end options designed for those wanting the very best. If you are heading North and into Sapa and the Tonkinese Alps then expect accommodation to be simpler in some places, as these are rural areas with significantly less development which of course is part of its charm.

How long to stay
With the time taken to get here, 10 days would be the minimum we’d recommend in Vietnam, although if you’re combing Vietnam with another destination and are happy just to dip into one region, then 5-7 days offers a good taster experience.  If flying indirect, a short city stopover on the way there or way back is also highly recommended in places such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to split the long journey and to add a fun city break in to the mix.

In two weeks, you can expect to see three to five areas along the length of Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh or vice versa, and 3-4 weeks would give you time to add in several harder-to-reach areas or extra stops on the way. The average itinerary includes either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh or both, as these are the easiest airports to fly in and out of.  Whether your itinerary focuseses on the North,  Centre  or South, or adds in elements from all areas of the country, depends on the time of year you’re visiting as weather is very different in each area.

Weather and when to go
Due to the sheer length of Vietnam,  the weather can be very different in the North and South than it is in the centre, which means there’s usually good weather in at least one part of Vietnam year-round, as the seasons hit different areas at different times.

The best time to experience pretty good weather across the whole country  is March-April, where on the whole there’s good weather everywhere.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Mekong Delta and southern beaches are all best from December to May when it’s generally warm and dry.   From May to November it’s the rainy season and sightseeing is still possible, just expect the odd downpour! Hanoi can get chillier in the winter months December to March but usually dips only to around 17C. The south remains warm all year round.

Central Vietnam (Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An) is best from February-August, with warm, dry weather. The region can experience Typhoons in the wet season so we’d generally suggest avoiding October and November in this area.

Sapa and the trekking areas in the North are best during October and November, and from March to May. We recommend avoiding this area during the winter (December-February) as it can get very cold but does look beautiful, and again during the rainy season May to September. Halong Bay is often too misty and rainy to be worth visiting during rainy season.

Going out of peak season in what we call ‘shoulder season’ (ie either side of peak season) means that you can avoid the crowds and also benefit from lower prices. The busiest times year to travel to Vietnam are March/April and July/August when the UK school holiday breaks happen. To get the best prices for peak season, it is advised to book at least 8-12 months in advance.