Vietnam Holidays
Colourful markets, dramatic mountains, cosmopolitan cities, golden beaches – Vietnam enjoys the full spectrum and is blessed with an intoxicating mix of cultures and stunning natural beauty.
Beaches of Vietnam
Vietnam is blessed with thousands of miles of beautiful beaches and as the country’s tourism infrastructure improves, so the number and quality of delightful beach hotels increases.
Located in central Vietnam, the sun-washed town of Nha Trang hugs a seven-km-long stretch of golden sand, with clear blue seas dotted with offshore islands offering excellent diving, fishing and snorkelling.
Phan Thiet is a large fishing village and the gateway to nearby beaches such as Mui Ne, a nearby town with a 21 km stretch of sandy beaches lined with hotels, resorts and restaurants. Mui Ne is subject to onshore winds from the South China Sea and is especially breezy from November to May, which may not be ideal for swimming but is popular for wind and kite surfing.
Set off the tip of Vietnam’s south west coast, Phu Quoc is a haven for nature and sea lovers looking for a place to unwind. The island remains fairly undeveloped with virgin forests and pristine white beaches. The infrastructure remains reasonably basic with dirt roads and a couple of four-star properties. This offers a relaxing beach getaway on a nice quiet island.
The Con Dao Islands are a 16-island archipelago off the far south east coast, and one of Vietnam’s best kept secrets. Once the preserve of political prisoners, the archipelago now offers stunning virgin forest, deserted tropical beaches and unique sea life.
Hoi An:
The Nam Hai
Fusion Mai
Life Heritage Resort
Nha Trang:
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay
Evason Ana Mandara
Phan Thiet & Mui Ne:
Anantara Mui Ne Resort
Princess D’Annam Resort
Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort
Con Dao Islands:
Six Senses Con Dao
Phu Quoc:
La Veranda
Halong Bay
Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, and just three hours drive from Hanoi, Halong Bay is a truly stunning seascape of over 3000 thousand limestone islands that rise out of the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Known within local folklore as ‘The Dragon Descending to the Sea’, the area’s tiny islands are dotted with caves, grottoes and beaches and the surrounding scenery of towering mountains and lush forests is one of Vietnam’s most dramatic natural sights.
The best way to explore the area is to relax on one of the delightful junks (boats) and float amongst this awe inspiring scenery and it’s a wonderful way to experience local life going on around you as the fishermen ply their trade. The area is also renowned for its excellent hiking with paths meandering through the surrounding mountains.
Our preferred Junks are:
Ginger Junk
Jasmine Junk
Violet Junk
Hanoi
Located on the banks of the Red River, Hanoi is the delightful capital of Vietnam where the exotic style of old Asia blends with the dynamism of the new. With its ochre-coloured colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes, it retains the charm and allure of a beautiful provincial city, yet at the same time this is a thriving hub of commerce.
Key sites of interest are the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument lavishly built using marble and granite, and where the preserved body of ‘Uncle Ho’ resides. The lotus shaped One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong and resting on a single stone pillar is another highlight. The Temple of Literature gives an overview about Hanoian culture and appreciation for ancient Vietnamese architecture, whilst the Museum of Ethnology offers a fascinating insight into Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups.
To wander through the tangled web of streets in the Old Quarter and relax in a coffee shop whilst soaking up the hustle and bustling of local life is another joy. And a great way to cap off a day is to take in a show at the water puppet theatre – a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes of rural life and episodes of national history. Vietnamese water puppets were invented a thousand years ago by farmers in the Red River Delta region near Hanoi as entertainment when the rains flooded their paddy fields.
Our preferred hotels are:
Sofitel Legend Metropole
Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)
Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh is the country’s commercial centre and a lively city with over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes! This is the city that never sleeps and a place of boundless energy with not only great hotels and wonderful cuisine, but a fascinating history, rich culture and a seamless blend of the ancient and modern where one minute you can be wandering down bustling little alleyways and next you find yourself staring up at sleek, shiny skyscrapers. This is a city that is fast developing into one of the most metropolitan cities in the Far East.
Despite the well-documented hustle and bustle, Saigon retains its connections with the past and the city’s historic landmarks include the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick neo-Romanesque edifice built between 1877 and 1880 with twin spires and based on the original construction from Paris. The former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the Vietnam war, reveals the history of Saigon during its turbulent recent past.
Cholon is the bustling Chinatown region of the city well known for its markets, restaurants and pagodas, whilst a wander down the lovely tree-lined avenue of Dong Khoi street, offers some of the most exclusive shopping in the city.
To the north west is the Cao Dai Great Temple, which houses not only the temple, but also a hospital of traditional medicines, which is frequented by people from all over the south of the country.
Also to the northwest of Saigon, through the typical lush southern Vietnamese countryside, are the famous Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnel complex was initially started in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as communication routes, storage facilities for food and weapon caches as well as hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the war. A visit to the underground villages provides a good understanding of the tunnels’ history, the hardship of life in the tunnels and the Vietnamese resilience during combat.
Our preferred hotels are:
The Park Hyatt
The Caravelle
The Majestic
Hoi An
Between the 17th and the 19th Centuries, Hoi An was a prosperous centre of trade and one of the most important in South East Asia. Today the town no longer enjoys such influence, yet this World Heritage UNESCO listed ancient town oozes charm and history with its well-preserved buildings, pedestrianized streets and unique cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past.
The narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour and there is plenty to visit including the old merchant’s houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with outstanding wood carvings; and the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two.
Our preferred hotels are:
The Nam Hai
The Life Heritage Resort
Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort
Hue
Once the imperial capital to the Nguyen Lords, a feudal dynasty which reigned from the 17th to the 19th Centuries, with the Perfume River winding its way through this fascinating city, Hue is an architectural delight full of cultural gems including the Imperial Citadel, emperors’ tombs, historic temples and ancient pagodas.
For many years the monuments were allowed to slowly crumble away, until the 1990’s when they were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and gradually have been restored ensuring the city’s future as one of the most important cultural hotspots in the country.
Principally designed by the Emperors themselves and spread along the banks of the Perfume River, the royal mausoleums such as the Tu Duc and Khai Dinh Royal Tombs were wonderfully elaborate and built on principles of feng-shui and showcase elements of eastern art and western designs.
A boat trip along the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda is another of the city’s highlights. Standing on the riverbank with its seven-storey tower, the pagoda is a sight to behold and Hue’s best-preserved religious monument.
The Museum of Royal Fine Arts is perhaps Hue’s most important museum and where the lost splendour of the Nguyen dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 until 1945, is displayed in the old royal Long An palace, a beautiful all-wood palace built in 1845. The museum is notable for its atmospheric setting and sumptuous royal artifacts, including ceramics, paintings, furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl, ceremonial weapons, and silk gowns.
Our preferred hotels are:
La Residence
Mekong Delta & River Cruises
As the Mekong River heads towards the South China Sea in Vietnam, it splits into nine smaller rivers and innumerable streams that form the huge, fertile region known as the Mekong Delta, and often referred to as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam. This is one of the most agriculturally productive areas in Southeast Asia, growing enough rice in its endless lush green paddy fields to feed the whole of Vietnam as well as producing a wide variety of fruit and fish.
This whole region is a lush, gleaming water world of streams and canals where bustling floating markets just outside Can Tho are a daily focus for people to buy and sell their goods. A boat ride through the markets and canals to experience the incredible diversity of river life or a bike through through the paddy fields are a real highlight.
For those with a little more time available, a week long cruise up the mighty Mekong River, one of Asia’s most exciting and enigmatic rivers, offers a fascinating insight into the very different, but inextricably linked rural communities of Vietnam and Cambodia. This is a world of floating markets, canals, floating villages, catfish farms, Cham communities and the stilted ‘waterworld’ of Kampong Chhnang.
Lazy days can be spent watching the world go by as you cruise upstream from the bustling Vietnamese delta into Cambodia, culminating with the great Khmer Temple of Angkor. Daily land-based excursions offer an intriguing diversion as you explore some of the more remote villages and other highlights in this extraordinary region, whilst enjoying all the comforts of a thoroughly comfortable boat.
Our preferred hotels are:
Victoria Can Tho
Victoria Chau Doc
Our preferred Mekong Cruise Boats are:
The Jahan
The Jayavarman
Bassac cruises
Private sampans
Sapa
The far north-west of Vietnam is a world of towering peaks, lush river valleys and colourful hill tribes such as the Dzao and H’Mong scattered amongst the hills. Sapa itself was established as a hill station by the French in 1922 and offers spectacular views of jagged mountain ridges, terraced rice paddies and wonderfully colourful markets.
Sapa is reached by an overnight train from Hanoi and offers the most dramatic and interesting trekking in the country. It is the launch pad for treks to see the various hill tribes and their villages. Each group has its own distinctive style of dress and from early childhood, girls learn to grow and weave hemp, to dye cloth with indigo, to sew the family’s clothes, and to decorate items with traditional embroidery motifs.
Our preferred hotels are:
The Victoria Sapa Resort
Anantara Mui Ne Resort
Location: The Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa is located on a beautiful sweeping beach in the old fishing village of Mui Ne. It is also close to the town of Phan Thiet and a 4 hour drive from Ho Chi Minh.
Rooms: 89 rooms, suites and pool villas
Facilities: 2 Restaurants and bars, laundry, Library, Boutique shop, tour desk
Activities: Fitness centre, Spa and wellness centre, outdoor swimming pool, cookery classes, Golf course nearby
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: The Anantara Mui Ne is a delightful beachfront resort offering world-class facilities and the perfect place to relax for a few days on a lovely beach. The Anantara brand is renowned for its high standards and this resort is no exception. A great hotel on a lovely beach!
The Caravelle
Location: Overlooking Lam Son Square and the Opera House, the Caravelle Hotel is located right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh and the perfect base from which to explore the city.
Rooms: 335 rooms & suites
Facilities: 2 restaurants, 3 bars, laundry, casino, lounge
Activities: Fitness centre, massage, jacuzzi, sauna, steamroom, spa, outdoor pool
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: This is one Ho Chi Minh’s most historic hotels having first opened in the late 1950′s and was famous as a base for journalists in the Vietnam War. It is now one of the city’s finest hotels with good rooms and amenities including its iconic roof top bar with great views out across the city.
The Majestic
Location: Located on Dong Koi Street in the centre of Ho Chi Minh’s shopping and entertainment district with great views out across the Saigon River.
Rooms: 122 rooms & suites
Facilities: Restaurant, 3 bars, Lounge, excursion desk
Activities: Sauna, fitness centre, spa, swimming pool
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: First built in the 1920′s, The Majestic boasts a wonderfully impressive facade as well as a great location. This hotel offers typical, charming Vietnamese service and style and good value compared to other hotels. One of our preferred options for a stay in Ho Chi Minh.
Evason Ana Mandara
Location: Located directly on the beach in Nha Trang, the Evason Ana Mandara overlooks the beach and enjoys stunning views out across Nha Trang Bay
Rooms: 74 rooms, suites and villas
Facilities: Restaurant, lobby and poolside bars, laundry, coffee shop
Activities: Spa, sauna, steamroom, fitness centre, dive shop, water sports, kids club, tennis court
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: Built in the style of a traditional Vietnamese village, the Evason Ana Mandara is a wonderful 5 star beachfront resort. Great facilities and a Six Senses spa to relax the most stressed of guests!. We think it’s the best in Nha Trang and certainly our favourite beach in the area.
The Jahan
Location: The Jahan is the baby sister to the Jayavarman cruise ship and offers 7 night cruises along the Mekong River connecting Vietnam and Cambodia.
Rooms: 26 cabins
Facilities: Restaurant, bar, observatory, pool bar, wheelhouse deck, lounge, boutique shop
Activities: Steam/sauna, gym, spa & beauty centre, swimming pool
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: This is a new cruise boat and sister ship to the Jayavarman. It takes its inspiration from the days of the British Raj and offers guests a luxurious and sophisticated cruising experience. Combining the features of a boutique hotel with the highlights of a river cruise, there is no better way to enjoy the highlights of the mighty Mekong River.
Jasmine Junk
Location: The Jasmine Junk offers luxury cruises around Halong Bay
Rooms: 24 cabins and suites
Facilities: Restaurant, lounge, shop, laundry, jacuzzi
Activities: Walking tours, spa and massage treatment
Children: Children are welcome on board
Our View: Jasmine junk is sister ship to the excellent Violet and Ginger junks and is one of the largest and finest junks that cruises around Halong Bay. Also built in a 1930′s style, it boasts large cabins, great service and comfort. Definitely one of our favourite junks for our clients.
The Jayavarman Cruise
Location: The Jayavarman is a boutique cruise boat operating cruises along the Mekong River between Siem Reap and My Tho in the Mekong Delta.
Rooms: 27 staterooms
Facilities: Restaurant, bar, library, Wellness Spa, boutique
Activities: Spa & massages, cookery classes, onboard lectures
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: Inspired by the legacy of King Jayavarman, the revered monarch of the Khmer empire, this cruise boat is stylish and regal yet small enough to remain intimate. It offers cruises up to a maximum of 7 nights and is one of the most relaxing and luxurious ways to enjoy some of the highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia. Sit back and watch the world go by in true style.
La Residence, Hue
Location: Set in beautiful gardens on the banks of the Perfume River in the ancient city of Hue, this former Governor’s residence looks out across the water to the city’s Imperial Citadel.
Rooms: 122 rooms and suites
Facilities: Restaurant, 2 bars, library, room service, travel desk, business facilities
Activities: Spa, swimming pool, fitness centre, boat trips, tennis court
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: Set in a beautiful Art Deco property, La Residence is the most luxurious hotel in Hue. It boasts many original features and lovely old colonial touches and combining that with luxurious rooms and great service, this is our favourite hotel and top recommendation in the city.
The Life Heritage Resort, Hoi An
Location: Set on the banks of the Thu Bon River on the edge of the French colonial quarter of Hoi An, the Life Heritage Resort is ideally located for those who want to wander out into this ancient city and also just a short drive from Cua Dai beach.
Rooms: 94 rooms and suites
Facilities: Restaurant, bar, coffee shop, room service
Activities: Massage, outdoor pool, spa, boat trips, cycling and cookery classes
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: For those who want to be in Hoi An town itself with the convenience of being able to just wander out and explore this UNESCO World Heritage town, then this is the ideal choice. Nice colonial style, good facilities, great river views and lovely gardens..all in all a great option.
The Park Hyatt
Location: The Park Hyatt is a 5-star hotel situated in Lam Son Square close to the Opera House in central Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Rooms: 244 rooms & suites
Facilities: Restaurant/bar, butler services, mercedes limousine service, internet, business centre
Activities: Fitness facility, sauna, spa, swimming pool, cooking classes, concierge, tours, golf, shopping
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: This is an elegant and luxurious hotel set in a beautiful old colonial property. In our view this is the best hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
Princess D’Annam Resort
Location: The Princess D’Annam Resort is nicely located on the secluded and pristine sandy beach of Ke Ga Bay between Phan Thiet and Mui Ne and overlooked by the century-old French lighthouse
Rooms: 57 villas
Facilities: 2 restaurants, bar, laundry, gift shop, tour desk
Activities: Sauna, spa, fitness centre, massage, private beach, jacuzzi, water sports, kids club and several swimming pools
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: This is an excellent, good value 5 star resort set on a peaceful and beautiful beach. Stylish rooms, some of which have their own plunge pool and courtyard. This is a lovely hotel and a great option.
The Nam Hai
Location: The Nam Hai Resort is located on the beautiful China beach, which is 15 minutes from the historic town of Hoi An and 30 minutes by car from Danang International Airport
Rooms: 100 villas (60 One Bedroom villas & 40 Pool villas)
Facilities: Restaurant, bar,room service, internet, laundry, shops tours, baby sitting and concierge
Activities: Spa, gym, health centre, yoga pavilion, tennis court, fitness centre, swimming pool
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: Stylish, comtemporary and truly luxurious, The Nam Hai was one of the first luxury resorts in Vietnam and remains one of the very best with stunning villas and great service. Client feedback is always excellent.
Six Senses Con Dao
Location: Located off the southeast coast of Vietnam in the Con Dao archipelago, Six Senses Con Dao is set on a long, sandy and secluded beach with the beautiful mountains behind and wonderful views out across the South China Sea.
Rooms: 50 pool villas
Facilities: Restaurant, laundry, Souvenirs/gift shop, poolside bar
Activities: Sauna, spa, fitness centre, massage, private beach, jacuzzi, dive centre, kids club
Children: Accept children above 11 years
Our View: This is the first luxury resort in the Con Dao archipelago and being a Six Senses hotel, it has been beautifully designed with a modern, contemporary feel and very much with the environment in mind to protect the wildlife in the area. This is one of Vietnam’s finest beach properties and has deservedly won many accolades. More expensive than many beach hotels, but well worth it.
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay
Location: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is located on a beautiful private bay and accessible only by a 20 minute boat trip from the Six Senses Lounge, which ensures its exclusivity and privacy away from the busier beaches of Nha Trang.
Rooms: 58 pool villas (Set by the beach, on the hillside and amongst the rocks)
Facilities: 3 restaurants, bar, lobby, laundry, poolside bar
Activities: Spa, sauna, steamroom, fitness centre, massage, private beach, water sports, Children’s hut, tennis court and excursions
Children: Accept children over 1 year
Our View: Set amongst the beautiful natural rock formations with a private bay overlooking the East Vietnam Sea and the stunning mountains behind, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is a true hideaway retreat in every way. Typical Six Senses luxury and style. Quite a few steps to be aware of to get to the hillside villas. Pure heaven!
Sofitel Legend Metropole
Location: The Metropole is an award-winning French colonial-style hotel located in the heart of Hanoi just a short walk from the Opera House and the Hoan Kiem Lake.
Rooms: 364 rooms & suites
Facilities: Restaurant/bar, safe deposit box, laundry, travel desk, currency exchange, internet, shops and salons
Activities: Fitness centre, hammam, jacuzzi, massage, outdoor heated pool, sauna
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: This hotel occupies a beautiful French colonial building and is arguabably the finest and most luxurious hotel in Hanoi and a favourite of ours. Dining in the hotel can be a little expensive compared to local restaurants, but a great hotel nevertheless.
Victoria Can Tho
Location: Victoria Can Tho is a luxury, colonial style hotel located right in the heart of the Mekong Delta just outside the centre of the town of Can Tho. It is set in beautiful gardens on the banks of the Hau River, which is one of the many estuaries of the Mekong Delta.
Rooms: 92 rooms & suites
Facilities: Restaurant, bar, foreign currency exchange, private jetty, laundry, souvenior shop
Activities: Victoria spa & massages, fitness centre, swimming pool, tennis court, sightseeing tours, dinner cruises & cookery classes
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: Not only is this the nicest hotel in the heart of the Mekong Delta, but being a Victoria Hotel, the standards are reliably high and luxurious. A great option for those who don’t necessarily want to cruise aroudn the delta.
The Victoria Sapa Resort
Location: The Victoria Sapa Resort is set in a delightful rural location overlooking the Sapa Valley below and the mountains beyond.
Rooms: 77 rooms & suites
Facilities: Restaurant, 2 bars, lobby, laundry, shops, tours, safety deposit boxes, Wi-Fi
Activities: Kids Club, swimming pool, billiard, spa, massage, fitness centre, sauna, steamroom, tennis court
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: As with all Victoria resorts, the quality is excellent and reliable. The rooms are comfortable, the food delicious and the service is excellent. Definitely the best hotel in Sapa and the perfect place to relax in after a hard day’s trekking.
The Victoria Chau Doc
Location: The hotel is beautifully located on the banks of the Bassac River and close to Vietnam’s border with Cambodia. It is where you can catch the speed boats up to Phnom Penh in Cambodia
Rooms: 93 rooms & suites
Facilities: Restaurant, 2 bars
Activities: Spa, fitness centre, swimming pool
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: This is a delightful colonial style hotel with lovely panoramic views out across the river. Being part of the Victoria group, the hotel is of a very good, reliable 4 star quality with charming service, good food and the ideal place to base yourself if heading up into Cambodia by boat.
Violet Junk
Location: Violet junk offers luxury cruises around Halong Bay
Rooms: 6 suites
Facilities: Restaurant/bar, library, lounge, safety box,
Activities: Spa, sauna & gym, fleet of kayaks, jacuzzi, swimming, snorkeling, cooking classes, rowing boat
Children: Children of all ages are welcome
Our View: The Violet junk is one of the most luxurious junks in Halong Bay. The cabins are beautiful with all the modern amenities and all set within a charming 1930′s style boat. Great staff and a wonderful way to see this unique part of Vietnam.
Vietnam has a wonderfully rich cultural history stretching back to Emperor Ly Thai Tong in the 11th Century and beyond, and to the feudal dynasty of the Nguyen Lords all the way to French colonialism, the American war and the vibrant, Asian tiger that it is seen as today. This huge diversity of influences can be seen and enjoyed throughout the country with its beautiful temples and tombs, delightfully preserved old Chinese towns and the colonial splendour of Hanoi.
From the dramatic beauty of Halong Bay to the myriad waterways of the Mekong delta and the lush, rolling hills of the remote tribal areas, the country is a playground for the inquisitive and adventurous, whilst its heavenly beaches handsomely cater to those in need of a well-earned rest.
On a more human level it is the bustling markets, zipping cyclos, the delicious street cuisine, trendy art festivals and ultimately the people’s gracious hospitality that makes Vietnam such a special place to explore.
Full Vietnam Itineraries with details coming soon. Call us on 01905 731373 for more detailed information.