VIETNAM
LUXURY VIETNAM TOURS & TAILOR-MADE JOURNEYS
WHY TRAVEL TO VIETNAM WITH WAVE HOLIDAYS?
North to south, the country never holds one shape for long..
Hanoi is dense, old and intensely lived-in. Central Vietnam slows the pace around Hoi An, while Ho Chi Minh City feels younger, faster and more outward-looking. Between them are limestone valleys, coastal stretches and the waterways of the Mekong.
A good Vietnam itinerary is less about fitting everything in and more about knowing what deserves time. We shape the route around the places that interest you, with private guides, considered stays and fewer rushed transitions.
PLAN YOUR VIETNAM JOURNEY
Tell us which parts of Vietnam matter to you, and we’ll work out the route, stays and pace around them.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN VIETNAM
Some places reward a list. Vietnam rewards a well-judged route.
A COUNTRY THAT CHANGES AS YOU TRAVEL
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City may sit at opposite ends of the same country, but they rarely feel like variations of the same place. Hanoi carries its history close to the surface, particularly in the Old Quarter. Ho Chi Minh City moves faster, with contemporary restaurants, galleries and neighbourhoods alongside reminders of twentieth-century history.
Central Vietnam changes the pace again. Hoi An works best when the old town is only part of the stay, leaving time for the countryside, food and coast beyond it. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site representing a remarkably well-preserved trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries.
Central Vietnam changes the pace again. Hoi An works best when the old town is only part of the stay, leaving time for the countryside, food and coast beyond it. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site representing a remarkably well-preserved trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries.
NINH BINH, BETWEEN RIVER AND LIMESTONE
A couple of hours south of Hanoi, the city gives way to limestone formations, rice fields and waterways. Ninh Binh is often hurried into a day trip, but that misses much of its appeal.
Stay longer and the pace changes. Boats move through the karst landscape, quieter roads work well by bicycle, and the countryside creates a natural pause between Hanoi and Ha Long. For travellers who dislike collecting destinations simply to say they have seen them, this is one place where another night can be well spent.
Stay longer and the pace changes. Boats move through the karst landscape, quieter roads work well by bicycle, and the countryside creates a natural pause between Hanoi and Ha Long. For travellers who dislike collecting destinations simply to say they have seen them, this is one place where another night can be well spent.
THE BEST OF VIETNAM
HANOI
Vietnam at street level.
Hanoi is best understood between the obvious sights. Walk the Old Quarter early, eat where the city eats, then make time for its lakes, galleries and neighbourhoods once the traffic settles into something you can read.
Its appeal lies in the overlap between old Hanoi and the capital it has become, rather than in treating the historic centre as a museum piece.
Hanoi is best understood between the obvious sights. Walk the Old Quarter early, eat where the city eats, then make time for its lakes, galleries and neighbourhoods once the traffic settles into something you can read.
Its appeal lies in the overlap between old Hanoi and the capital it has become, rather than in treating the historic centre as a museum piece.
HOI AN
The old town is only the beginning.
Hoi An’s preserved trading-port architecture earns the attention, but staying longer makes the difference. The surrounding countryside is easy to reach by bicycle, with vegetable farms and villages close enough to change the rhythm of the day.
It is one of the few stops where heritage, countryside and coast can sit comfortably within the same stay.
Hoi An’s preserved trading-port architecture earns the attention, but staying longer makes the difference. The surrounding countryside is easy to reach by bicycle, with vegetable farms and villages close enough to change the rhythm of the day.
It is one of the few stops where heritage, countryside and coast can sit comfortably within the same stay.
HO CHI MINH CITY
History without standing still.
Ho Chi Minh City needs both halves of its story. The twentieth century matters, but so do the restaurants, markets, contemporary spaces and neighbourhoods of the city that exists now.
Spend enough time here to understand the history, then let the present-day city compete for your attention.
Ho Chi Minh City needs both halves of its story. The twentieth century matters, but so do the restaurants, markets, contemporary spaces and neighbourhoods of the city that exists now.
Spend enough time here to understand the history, then let the present-day city compete for your attention.
FAQs
There is no single best month for every route. March and April offer one of the better overlaps for a north-to-south journey, but weather differs significantly between Hanoi, central Vietnam and the south.
For a first north-to-south journey, allow around 12 to 14 days. Ten days is possible, but it means more frequent moves; two weeks gives Hanoi, central Vietnam and the south more room. Vietnam Tourism publishes both 10-day highlight routes and longer 12- to 14-day itineraries covering similar regions.
Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long and Hoi An make a strong northern and central route. Add Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong if you have enough time to reach the south without turning the trip into a sequence of airports.
Yes, but the boat and route matter. An overnight journey gives the landscape more time than a quick excursion, and the experience should be chosen around the vessel and itinerary rather than simply the words “Ha Long Bay.” Vietnam Tourism continues to recommend overnight cruising as part of its in-depth itineraries..
Not everywhere. But in Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong, a good guide can add context that is difficult to get from sightseeing alone. We would rather use one selectively than attach a guide to every hour of the trip..
Yes. It works best when you have enough time to give both countries proper space rather than treating Cambodia as a short add-on.